City Deer Hunt

To apply for the City Archery Hunt:   CLICK  APPLY FOR ARCHERY PERMIT 

You can also apply in person at:

     Grand Grand Police Department
     420 N. Pokegama Avenue
     Grand Rapids, MN 55744 
     
If you have any questions please call 218-326-3464. 
2024 City of Grand Rapids Special Hunt FAQs
(Updated 8/8/2024)

Why is Grand Rapids having a City Special Hunt?
The city hunt helps reduce the local deer population within the city to reduce deer car collisions, damage to vegetation and the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Special Hunt is managed and administered by the Grand Rapids City Police Department with the support and cooperation of the MNDNR.

Reminders for the 2024 season:
✓ The city special hunt bag limit is 5 deer (only one may be a buck).
✓ CWD testing is mandatory for all deer harvested in the city hunt for all seasons.
✓ Crossbows may be used during the archery season where archery is allowed.
✓ Harvest regulation for DPA 679 is one deer either sex. (No disease management tags offered outside of the city hunt.)
✓ Deer attractant and feeding bans are in place for all of Itasca County.

What do I have to do to participate in the City Special Hunt?
For archery: First, purchase your regular DNR archery license and up to four additional disease management antlerless permits or bonus antlerless permits. Then, stop at the city police department office or download from their website a city archery special hunt permit, and get it signed and approved by the city. If approved by the city, this will allow you to hunt within open archery areas within the city. Deer harvested by archery in the city hunt must be registered under permit area #995 and tested for CWD.

For Firearms and Muzzleloader: No special permit is required to hunt with firearms or muzzleloader in the city special hunt. Just purchase your regular Firearms and or Muzzleloader license and up to four disease management or bonus permits which then can be used within the city following all regulations. Deer harvested by firearms or muzzleloader must be registered under the appropriate permit area (see below) and tested for CWD.

* A bonus antlerless permit is not restricted to a specific deer permit area. Bonus permits may only be used in 2-deer, 3-deer, and 5-deer limit areas, and almost all special hunts. Disease management permits may only be used in the following 600-series deer permit areas: 604, 605, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, and 661 as well as special hunts within DPAs 679 and 684 where the harvest of more than 1 deer is allowed.

Where in the city can I hunt?

• Look at the city hunting map available on the city police web site https://cityofgrandrapidsmn.com/police which shows areas of the city that are open to hunting and also shows what weapon can be used in each area.
• Not all areas within the city are open to hunting and have restrictions on what weapon can be used.
• If you have specific questions about an area that is not shown clearly on the map, contact the police office.
• There is very little public land open to hunting within the city and most land is privately owned.
• You can only hunt on private land with the permission of the landowner.

Do I have to register deer that I take?
Yes, you must always register any deer taken. This provides important information to the City and the DNR on how effective the city special hunt is and for tracking the local deer population. Collecting this vital information may ensure a city special hunt in future years.

How do I register deer taken within the city?
You can register your deer online, by phone, or at any ELS agent where you purchase licenses.

• For Archery register your deer as taken in Permit area #995
• For Firearms register your deer as taken in Permit area #931
• For Muzzleloader register your deer as taken in Permit Area #946

It is very important to use the right permit number, because it is illegal to register a deer under a different permit area other than where it was taken.

Am I required to have my deer tested for CWD?
Yes, CWD sample submission will be mandatory this year for all deer harvested within the city during the entire archery, firearms and muzzleloader season.

How do I have my deer tested for CWD?
Throughout all seasons, hunters may drop off their deer heads for sampling at the self-service station located in the truck entrance parking lot at the DNR headquarters at 1201 East Hwy 2, Grand Rapids, or hunters may call to make an appointment to have their deer tested at the Grand Rapids DNR headquarters by calling 218-328-8860. Hunters may also use self-sample mail-in kits or the taxidermists partner sampling program. More CWD information is available in the 2024 regulations booklet.

What is the Limit or how many deer can I take during and within the City Special hunt?
You may take up to 5 deer in the city hunt (only one may be a buck) using any combination of weapons and licenses and disease management or bonus permits. You may not exceed the 5 deer statewide limit, and only one buck may be taken statewide. There are exceptions to the one buck limit in other CWD management zones in SE Minnesota see regulations book for more information.

What if I shoot other deer outside the city, can I still shoot 5 more within the city?
NO, you may not exceed the 5 deer statewide limit, and only one buck may be taken.
If you take a buck in the city hunt, you must tag it with your regular license and you may not tag another deer in DPA 679.
Outside of the city hunt, DPA 679 will have a harvest regulation of one deer, either sex. (Commonly called “hunter’s choice”). Any deer (buck or antlerless) harvested in DPA 679 must be tagged with your regular license. This may change your city hunt strategy so please plan ahead and know what you can and cannot harvest. If you fill your tag outside the city, you may purchase up to four additional disease management or bonus tags for the city hunt or party hunt along with other eligible hunters in the city.