As the metro area has continued to expand, parks have become enclosed with roadways and developments, isolating deer populations. With the lack of sufficient natural predators, deer populations have increased beyond the carrying capacity of the land. In an effort to control deer populations, increase public safety on the roadways, and minimize impacts on the environment as well as private property surrounding park land; the City of Elk River recommends implementation of controlled archery deer hunts. The intent of these hunts is to maintain a healthy population of deer within the parks while minimizing the damage as a result of over population.
Hunts will be managed by volunteers appointed by the City of Elk River.
The hunts will follow the current year MN DNR deer hunting regulations with the following additional restrictions.
Type of hunt
For hunters 18 and older, archery hunting for antlerless whitetail deer or antlered buck having at least one 4-point antler. Bucks with less than one 4-point antler are not legal to harvest.
For disabled hunters and hunters 17 years of age and under, harvest will be hunters’ choice (one deer of either sex with no antler point restrictions).
This is a walk-in hunt. All Elk River City parks are closed to public motor vehicle use. Vehicles must be parked in designated areas and display their vehicle permit; hunters are required to access their hunting location on foot. The retrieval of harvested deer must also be on foot, non-motorized carts for hauling deer are permitted.