Deer Hunts
Three Rivers Park District actively works to keep white-tailed deer herds in balance with the available habitat. As part of its deer management plan, scheduled archery and shotgun hunts are offered at several parks. Upcoming hunt information is listed below when available.
Sharpshooting with trained staff is also used to remove deer from areas not suitable for hunting. Each year, aerial deer surveys are conducted in January or February to help determine where deer hunts should take place.
Hunt Safety
Three Rivers takes several precautions to ensure the safety of hunters, park guests and nearby residents.
All hunters are required to attend a pre-hunt orientation and select their stand sites before the hunt. Because of these safety precautions, parks remain open to the public during archery hunts, including the following areas:
- Paved and turf trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding
- Dog off-leash areas
- Picnic areas
- Golf courses
- Visitor centers
Only the following areas are closed during hunts:
- Group campsites
- Cleary Lake Campground
Park users and nearby residents are informed of hunts through posted signage at park and trail entrances, and notices on the website, social media and in local newspapers.
During shotgun hunts, parks are closed completely, including all trails and facilities. During archery hunts, parks will remain open with access to paved and turf trails, dog off-leash areas, horse trails, golf courses and picnic areas.
Shotgun Hunts
The 2022 shotgun hunt will be held at Elm Creek Park Reserve the first weekend of the gun hunting season. This is a change from previous years when it has been the second weekend. Hunters are selected through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Special hunt lottery.
This hunt is in zone 701, so hunters can harvest up to five (5) deer. These hunts require the use of non-lead ammunition. Hunters are restricted to shotguns and muzzleloaders. Pistols are not permitted.
2022 Shotgun Hunts Schedule
Saturday and Sunday, November 5–6, at Elm Creek Park Reserve
Applying for Shotgun Hunts
Hunters interested in participating can apply online or at a licensing station when purchasing a hunt license. Applications are due Thursday, September 8. Selected hunters are required to attend an orientation meeting prior to the hunt.
Archery Hunts
Three Rivers Park District conducts special permit archery hunts in a number of its parks. Hunts currently take place in Baker, Crow-Hassan, Lake Rebecca and Murphy-Hanrehan park reserves and Cleary Lake, Eagle Lake, Fish Lake and Spring Lake regional parks, and also at Gale Woods Farm. The hunts are two three-day hunts. One hunt period is early in the season and one is later. The hunts run Monday to Wednesday or Friday to Sunday, depending on the park. Applicants are expected to hunt both hunt periods and are required to attend the corresponding orientation.
2022 Archery Hunts and Orientations Schedule
| Park | Hunt Days | First Hunt Period | Second Hunt Period | Orientation Date (All start at 7 PM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Park Reserve | Fri.–Sun. | Oct. 7–9 | Oct. 28–30 | Sept. 13 at Baker National Golf Course |
| Cleary Lake Regional Park | Fri.–Sun. | Sept. 23–25 | Oct. 28–30 | Sept. 7 at Cleary Visitor Center |
| Crow-Hassan Park Reserve | Fri.–Sun. | Oct. 14–16 | Nov. 11–13 | Sept. 20 at Baker National Golf Course |
| Eagle Lake Regional Park | Mon.-Wed. | Oct. 10–12 | Nov. 7–9 | Sept. 14 at French Regional Park (Field Operations Center) |
| Fish Lake Regional Park | Mon.-Wed. | Sept. 26–28 | Oct. 24–26 | Sept. 14 at French Regional Park (Field Operations Center) |
| Gale Woods Farm | Mon.-Wed. | Sept. 26–28 | Oct. 31–Nov. 2 | Sept. 6 at Baker National Golf Course |
| Lake Rebecca Park Reserve | Fri.–Sun. | Sept. 23–25 | Oct. 28–30 | Sept. 6 at Baker National Golf Course |
| Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve | Fri.–Sun. | Oct. 14–16 | Nov. 11–13 | Sept. 21 at Hyland Hills Chalet |
| Spring Lake Regional Park | Mon.-Wed. | Oct. 31–Nov. 2 | Nov. 10–12 | Sept. 7 at Cleary Visitor Center |
Applying for Archery Hunts
Three Rivers selects archery hunters through a preference lottery through the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB). Refer to the MBRB website for additional information.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact the Three Rivers Park District Wildlife section at 763-694-7840 or wildlife@ThreeRiversParks.org.
