Late CWD season

Disease hunts are an important tool in disease management, helping limit the disease spread and showing where disease is more prevalent through CWD testing of harvested deer.

Although the bag limit for this hunt is unlimited and designed to encourage participation in the management hunt, experience indicates few successful hunters will take more than two deer. In 2023, 88% of successful hunters in the late CWD season took just one deer, and 98% of successful hunters took two or fewer deer.

When & where

Dates

  • Friday, Dec. 20, through Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.

Deer permit areas

What you need to know

Valid license: A hunter may use any unfilled archery, firearms, muzzleloader or landowner deer hunting license. Unfilled bonus permits, disease management permits and early antlerless permits also may be used. The hunting method used must match the hunter’s deer license.

Shotgun zone remains: The shotgun zone remains in place during the late CWD season.

Disease management permits: Hunters also may use any unfilled disease management permits or they may purchase a disease management permit for $2.50. During this hunt, individuals using disease management permits may hunt by archery, firearms or muzzleloader and do not need any additional license or permit.

Places to hunt: Hunters must obtain permission to hunt on private land but may hunt wildlife management areas and other public lands that are normally open to deer hunting within the designated deer permit areas. View the special public land access information below to hunt some areas normally closed to deer hunting.

Respect trails: Hunters using ATVs are reminded to not drive on designated snowmobile and cross-country ski trails.

Bag limit: There are no restrictions on the number of deer that a hunter may take. Unlike other hunts, disease management permits may be used to tag both antlered and antlerless deer. Bonus permits and early antlerless tags can only be used to tag antlerless deer.

CWD sampling: CWD sampling is mandatory. Harvested deer one year and older must be taken to a staffed or self-service station. Staffed sampling stations will be open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the hunt. Self-service sampling stations will be available on Monday, Dec. 23, following the hunt.

Special public land access

Some public lands in southern Minnesota where deer hunting is not normally allowed will be opened to limited hunting. Special, no-cost permits to access these areas are required to limit the number of hunters.

Nontoxic ammunition must be used for most of these hunts. State law requires the use of nontoxic ammunition when hunting on scientific natural areas, state parks and lands managed by the DNR's parks and trails division.

Permits will be available from any DNR license vendor or online on a first-come, first-served basis starting at noon on Friday, Dec. 6, and ending Tuesday, Dec. 17, or until all permits are sold, whichever comes first. Use the listed hunt number when selecting a permit. The permit and a hunting license are required. When hunting in a state park, a state park permit is required.

Areas opened to hunting are:

LocationELS NumberPermitPermits AllocatedNontoxic ammo requiredNotes
Rushford Sand Barrens SNAN/ANoN/AYes 
Savage Fen SNAN/ANoN/AN/AArchery only
Cannon River Turtle Preserve SNAN/ANoN/AYesOnly portions within DPA 605 are open
Cannon River Wilderness Area809Yes50N/AArchery only. Contact the Owatonna area wildlife office.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park801Yes75YesContact Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Pin Oak Prairie SNA803Yes4Yes 
Great River Bluffs State Park805Yes50YesContact Great River Bluffs State Park
King's and Queen's SNA805YesSee notesYesPart of the Great River Bluffs State Park hunt with a total of 50 permits available for both locations.
Minnesota Valley State Recreation AreaNoNoN/AYesArchery only within the Carver Rapids unit
Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park802Yes50YesContact Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
Prairie Creek Woods SNA802YesSee notesYesPart of the Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park hunt with a total of 50 permits available for both locations.

Vermillion Highlands WMA is closed to public hunting during this hunt.

Sampling stations

Click on the list containing the permit area you plan to hunt

DPA 605

Carcass movement restrictions are in place. Available dumpsters (D) and quartering stations (QS) are listed in the the Dumpster column.

Slide text left to view all columns

  • Staffed sampling stations will be open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 – Sunday, Dec. 22 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 23.
  • Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 23
CityLocationAddressStatus
Cannon FallsLake Byllesby Goodhue County Park5001 Highway 19 Blvd.Self-service
FaribaultRice County Fairgrounds1814 2nd Ave. NWSelf-service
HastingsLake Rebecca Park415 Lock and Dam RoadSelf-service
KenyonKenyon Sportsmens Club44954 10th AveSelf-service
LonsdaleRice County Highway Department shop110 5th Ave. NWSelf-service
New Market/LakevilleNew Market Township Hall8950 230th St. ESelf-service
New PragueSkluzacek's Quality Meats400 Main Street WestSelf-service
NorthfieldNorthfield Archery Range10353 Hall Ave.Self-service
RosemountDNR wildlife office15325 Babcock Ave. EStaffed
DPAs 642, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649

Carcass movement restrictions are in place. Available dumpsters (D) and quartering stations (QS) are listed in the the Dumpster column.

Slide text left to view all columns

  • Staffed sampling stations will be open from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 – Sunday, Dec. 22 and have self-service facilities on Monday, Dec. 23.
  • Self-service stations remain available through Monday, Dec. 23
CityLocationAddressStatus
CaledoniaHouston County Fairgrounds1316 E. Washington St.Self-service
ChatfieldMagnum Sports20 Main Street SouthSelf-service
GrangerNorth of Granger near intersection of 120th St and Kingbird Rd (319)43.529806, -92.158889Self-service
HoustonBP Gas Station801 E. Cedar St.Self-service
KassonHardware Hank11 4th Street SESelf-service
La CrescentLa Crescent Joint Public Works facility450 South Chestnut StStaffed
MabelSteam Engine Days Park90 E. Alpine Ave.Self-service
Pine IslandNext to Dollar General and at the intersection of 1st Ave NE and County Rd 11/Center Drive222 E Center StSelf-service
PlainviewKreofsky Do It Best Building Supply865 Enterprise Dr SWSelf-service
PrestonDNR forestry office912 Houston St. NWStaffed
RochesterDNR shop, Gordon Yeager WMA280 Energy Parkway NEStaffed
RushfordDNR Building305 Industrial DriveStaffed
Spring ValleyCity lot across from Spring Valley Public Utilities101 South Section StSelf-service
St. CharlesWinona County Fairgrounds518 W. 6th St.Self-service
StewartvilleBear Cave Park800 10th St. NWSelf-service
WilsonRiverland Trucking29622 County Road 12Self-service
WinonaFleet Farm920 US-61Staffed
Using self-service sampling stations

Learn what to expect and how to use a self-service sampling station.

Back to top