Nov. 3, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

Nov. 3, 2025




*For more information:*

Contact the DNR Information Center

by email  <[email protected]>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Report bear den locations in Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Duluth areas [ #link_1491411977526 ]

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DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac

"A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife and habitat management."

*Deer harvest numbers available online*

People who are interested in deer harvest data can find preliminary current and final past harvest information on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ deer reports and statistics webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/statistics.html). The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualize the data.

In Minnesota, archery deer season began Sept. 13 and continues through Wednesday, Dec. 31. The statewide firearms deer season begins Saturday, Nov. 8, with various closing dates depending on a hunter’s deer permit area. Muzzleloader season begins Saturday, Nov. 29, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 14.

*Deer carcass movement restrictions in place for 17 deer permit areas *

Deer carcass movement restrictions are in place for 17 deer permit areas located in southeastern, western, and north-central Minnesota, and the metro area. 

Hunters are not allowed to take whole deer carcasses outside of chronic wasting disease management zones that cover deer permit areas 601, 604, 605, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661, 666, 671, 679 and 684 until a “not detected” CWD test result is received. The restrictions apply to all deer, including fawns. Hunters are allowed to move whole deer carcasses between contiguous disease management zone DPAs, such as DPAs 601 and 605, and the block of DPAs in southeast Minnesota.

In CWD management zone DPAs, sampling is mandatory during opening weekend of firearms season, Nov. 8-9. If hunters harvest a deer before or after the opening weekend of firearms season and choose not to submit a sample from their deer or want to transport a deer outside CWD management zones before getting a test result, they must debone or quarter their deer, properly disposing of the head and spinal column inside the zone. Meat and quarters with the main leg bone can leave the zone immediately.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides dumpsters in some areas for hunters to use to help facilitate carcass disposal. In addition to these dumpsters, carcasses may be disposed of on private land with the permission of the landowner, through a refuse hauler by following the hauler’s instructions, or at a local landfill. Carcasses cannot be left on public land, including wildlife management areas, state forests, and road rights-of-way, or in any waterbody.

Hunters who harvest a deer within Minnesota’s CWD management zones are allowed to take intact heads from deer with or without the cape and neck attached outside of CWD management zones if they are delivered to a licensed taxidermist within 48 hours of leaving the zones.

Carcass movement restrictions are part of a comprehensive strategy to keep Minnesota’s deer, elk and moose healthy by limiting the spread of disease. Hunters can find details for the DPA in which they hunt, including locations of dumpsters and instructions for carcass disposal, by visiting the Minnesota DNR’s CWD webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/cwd) and using the “find the requirements for your DPA” tool.

Hunters should be aware that self-service testing stations are only available within CWD zones during opening weekend of firearms season and during CWD late hunts this year. After opening weekend or outside of CWD zones, hunters can choose to get their deer tested for CWD using mail-in kits or the partner sampling program, or by making an appointment with an area wildlife office. Information on testing options is available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/cwd/cwd-testing.html).

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Report bear den locations in Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Duluth areas

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters and other recreationists spending time outdoors this fall to report the locations of bear dens they encounter in and around the Brainerd, Grand Rapids and Duluth areas. Bear researchers with the DNR and University of Minnesota Duluth hope to fit additional bears with GPS tracking collars this winter.

“Getting a few bears collared in winter would really help these studies,” said Andrew Tri, Minnesota DNR bear project leader. “It would allow us to get a whole year of movement data, which we can’t do with bears that we catch and collar in mid-summer.”

The purpose of this research is to document bear movements on the landscape (both rural and urban) and assess the age of first reproduction in these study areas.

Anyone finding a den in any of the three areas should obtain a GPS location (if possible) and call DNR bear research in Grand Rapids at 218-328-8879 or 218-328-8874. Having pictures (from a safe distance) is also helpful.

The Minnesota DNR has collared and studied bears for decades in the Chippewa National Forest and the Brainerd area to assess survival, reproduction and movement. Assessing the age of first reproduction is critical to keeping tabs on the bear population and effectively set harvest quotas. This age appears to be changing in some areas of Minnesota, and the DNR is looking to understand how and why.

Bear research provides a better understanding of factors that cause populations to change, and in this way enables the DNR and its partners to better manage and conserve the species.

“Bears can cause conflicts when they live near people, and collaring and tracking bears in the Duluth area will help us better understand how they are using the developed landscape,” said Michael Joyce, NRRI wildlife ecologist. “Ultimately, we would like to use the information we gather to help reduce human-bear conflicts and promote coexistence.”

Separate from the bear den study, the Minnesota DNR also has an online tool that allows people to report bear sightings. The bear sightings tool and more information about bear management in Minnesota are available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/bear).

The Duluth research project was funded, in part, by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

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