Maplewood State Park (Joe Leier photo credit)
A special deer hunt will be held November 7-10, 2026 at Maplewood State Park to control deer
overpopulation and to protect natural resources. Maplewood State Park will remain open to
visitors, but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) advises wearing blaze
orange or blaze pink if visiting the park while the hunt is in progress. Visitors should check for
hunt-related information on the park website and at the ranger station when they arrive.
Special hunts will take place at other Minnesota state parks and recreation areas this fall, and
access to the parks will vary. Park visitors are advised to check the alerts and notices on state
park and recreation area websites (mndnr.gov/park-list) to find details about any upcoming
special hunts as they make their plans.
"Overpopulation of a species can throw an ecosystem out of balance," said Mark Cleveland,
Parks and Trails natural resource policy and program coordinator. "When deer become too
numerous, they over browse on native plants and young trees, making it harder for forests to
regenerate. Dense deer herds also create conditions where diseases spread more easily. Special
deer hunts in state parks and recreation areas are one of the tools we use to protect natural
resources and keep ecosystems healthy."
The deadlines have passed for youth and adults to apply for the permits to participate in these
special hunts, which include regular firearms, muzzleloader and archery options
Lead-free ammunition is required, without exception, for all special hunts in Minnesota state
parks and recreation areas. Prior to this year there was an exception to the lead-free
requirement for youth special state park and recreation area hunts in the former shotgun-only
deer hunting area of Minnesota. Beginning this year, youth hunters are also required to use
lead-free ammunition in special hunts in state parks and recreation areas. For details, visit the
DNR hunting regulations webpage (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting).
Lead-free ammunition protects animals such as bald eagles, ravens and bobcats from ingesting
lead while feeding on deer gut piles. It takes only a very small amount of lead to cause lead
poisoning in wildlife.
For a list of parks that are hosting special hunts during the 2026 hunting season, visit the state
park hunts webpage (mndnr.gov/parkhunts).
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