Cascade River and Judge C.R. Magney state parks will again hold a special firearms deer hunt this fall during regular firearms season Nov. 4-19. 

Hunters wishing to participate in one of the special state park hunts will need to obtain a state park deer hunt permit in addition to their regular license. Hunters must apply to participate in either the Cascade River State Park hunt or the Judge C.R. Magney State Park hunt (deer permit area 900 or 911, respectively). This can be done at any electronic licensing station (ELS) agent by Sept. 7.

Deer hunters with a special deer hunt permit for Cascade River State Park or Judge C.R. Magney State Park will be able to harvest one deer of either sex within the selected park with their regular license.

Additionally, hunters may purchase a bonus tag to harvest an anterless deer within the park and still use their regular license to hunt another area outside the special park hunt area as long as they follow all applicable rules for that area. Statewide bag limits still apply, so a hunter may tag one legal buck per year, without exception.

“The special hunt permit is not a license or tag.  It simply allows for an efficient way to monitor the number of hunters participating and the harvest within the park’s boundaries,” said park manager Peter Mott. “If the available permits are not filled through ELS, additional permits may be available at the park office after Oct. 13 on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Deer taken within the park’s special hunt area must be registered to the special hunt number for the park (area 900 or 911). It is unlawful to register a deer taken outside the park boundary under the special hunt number.

Portable deer stands are allowed for this special state park hunt, but must be removed within a day after the hunt. Permanent deer stands, screw-in steps or other devices that damage trees are not permitted. See page 76 of the 2017 Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations booklet for further information.

The goal of state park hunts is to ensure healthy natural communities. High concentrations of deer in one area can negatively impact the native plants and other animals. Numerous hunts are scheduled to take place at Minnesota state parks this fall; see page 85 of the Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations booklet for a complete listing.

For more information, contact the DNR Information Center at [email protected] or 888-646-6367 (8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday).