Minnesota Wildlife

Have your plan for deer season?

Firearms deer season starts this weekend! More than 400,000 deer hunters are preparing for the firearms deer season that opens Saturday, Nov. 5.

We’re reminding all deer hunters to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable hunt. The DNR’s online make a plan tool provides a comprehensive step-by-step list of information hunters need to consider before heading to deer camp. The tool covers topics including hunting regulations, deer processing, chronic wasting disease sampling, safety and how to make the most out of a hunt.

Photo courtesy of Sharon (Moline) Servaty, of four generations of deer hunters in the Upper Red Lake area 

Field reports: What deer hunters can expect this season

Deer season offers opportunities to spend time outdoors with friends and family, find adventure and put venison in the freezer.

DNR wildlife managers report good opportunities to harvest deer in most areas. Read the reports from four regions of Minnesota.

Photo courtesy of Randy Roemer, with his daughter Chandler and her buck

Register your deer

Hunters are required to register every deer they harvest before processing, before antlers are removed and within 48 hours after taking the animal. Hunters can register deer online, via phone or in person. Information from deer registration is essential for the DNR to track and manage deer populations. Detailed registration instructions for all methods are available on the DNR website.

Find CWD sampling information

Chronic wasting disease sampling is occurring in eight distinct areas throughout the state where CWD has been found in captive or wild deer in Minnesota or an adjacent state. And even outside these distinct areas, Minnesota hunters can get their deer sampled for CWD.

As you make your deer hunting plans, check the CWD requirements and sampling options for your deer permit area by visiting the DPA lookup tool, available on the DNR chronic wasting disease webpage along with other information and resources. 

Deer carcass movement restrictions in place 

Deer carcass movement restrictions are in place for 14 deer permit areas located in southeastern and north-central Minnesota and the south metro area.

DPAs 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661 and 679 together form the Chronic Wasting Disease management zone. Hunters are not allowed to bring whole deer carcasses outside of the management zone until a “not detected” test result is received. DPAs 255, 343 and 344 form a control zone and whole deer carcasses cannot be moved out of a control zone or the adjacent management zone until a “not-detected” test result is received. Hunters are allowed to move whole deer carcasses in between contiguous management zone DPAs or from a control zone DPA into the management zone.

If hunters do not submit their deer for sampling or want to transport a deer outside of these zones before getting a test result, they must debone or quarter their deer, properly disposing of the head and spinal column inside the zones. The DNR provides dumpsters for hunters to use for this purpose.

These 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 by visiting the DNR chronic wasting disease webpage and using the “find your requirements for your DPA” tool.

Wildfire danger is high — be cautious with ATVs and campfires

Much of Minnesota is experiencing high or very high fire danger this fall. ATV exhaust pipes can start fires, and campfires can rekindle or escape easily in these conditions. Be extra careful at deer camp this year! Find current fire conditions on the DNR website.

Deer hunters invited to share wildlife observations

Minnesota deer hunters, please consider using our online questionnaire to report wildlife you see while hunting. Data from the observation logs help the DNR estimate population level trends for deer and track wildlife distribution for other species across the state. Hunters are encouraged to fill out a report after each hunt, even if they don’t see any deer that day. The online questionnaire will be available until Jan. 15, 2023.

Gray fox in a tree courtesy of Scott King, iNaturalist

Participate in Offal Wildlife Watching this season

You’re invited to participate in a community science project that enlists deer hunters, those who participate in deer camps, or those who know hunters and have access to deer gut piles, to set remote cameras at gut piles immediately after the deer is harvested and field dressed.

A postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota is conducting this research to better understand what and when species use deer gut piles provided by hunters across all of Minnesota. For more information, instructions, or to participate, contact Ellen Candler at [email protected].

Photo courtesy of Ellen Candler

Deer harvest numbers available 

Hunters, media and anyone interested in deer harvest data can find current deer harvest figures and harvest reports for past years on the DNR deer reports and statistics page.

The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualizes the data.

Webinars cover winter fat-tire biking and wildlife photography

Webinars are coming up about winter fat-tire biking, and wildlife photography. Find registration information on the DNR website for these free webinars.

The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, Nov. 9. Gunnar Carlson from Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists will share some of the great opportunities to bike year-round in Minnesota. From trail etiquette to snow grooming, Carlson will share the joy of winter fat-tire biking and tips on getting started.

The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Nov. 16. Gordon Dietzman, a retired national park ranger, will discuss what it takes to become a better wildlife photographer, including equipment, where to look for subjects, techniques and composition, and ethics.

Photo courtesy of Kalli Hawkins