Deer Hunting

​​​​​​​​​​Dakota County manages deer populations in its parks by using controlled hunts. Controlling deer populations contributes to natural reforestation and reduces damage to agricultural crops and landscaping.

Reducing deer populations also improves the parks’ habitat for other wildlife that benefit from diverse ground and shrub layer plants.

How to Registe​r for the Deer Hunt Lottery

2024 deer hunting options

• Lebanon Hills Regional Park (archery)​
  
• Nov. 18–20, Nov. 25–27 — these are full-day hunts
  
• Miesville Ravine​ Park Reserve (shotgun and muzzleloader): Register through Department of Natural Resources.
  
• Nov. 9​–17, full day for the shotgun hunt (This is during the 3A season.)
• Dec. 7–15, full day for the muzzleloader hunt
• Spring Lake Park Reserve (archery): No deer hunt in 2024.​

No other deer hunting is allowed in Dakota County Parks.​

Parks closed during controlled deer hunts

Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Miesville Ravine Park Reserve will be closed to the public during controlled deer hunting dates.​​​​

Important information and changes for 2024

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be processing registrations for the Miesville Ravine deer hunts. Find out more about the Miesville hunt.
  
• The Lebanon Hills archery hunt will continue to be processed by Dakota County Parks for 2024. In 2025, we will partner with Metro Bowhunters Resource Base to manage the hunt. Find out more about the Lebanon Hills hunt.
  
• There will not be a hunt at Spring Lake Park Reserve in 2024. Find out more about the canceled hunt. ​
  
• The Miesville shotgun and muzzleloader hunts will not be earn-a-buck hunts in 2024.​​ You will be able to harvest an antlered or antlerless deer.​​
  
• The Miesville hunts will continue to ​be nontoxic ammunition only hunts. No lead ammunition is allowed.​
  

Deer hunt maps

Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Lebanon deer hunt map)
​Miesville Ravine Park Reserve (Miesville d​eer hunt map)

Hunt requirements

To be eligible for hunting, you must complete an online application. You must also obtain a valid hunting license from the Minnesota DNR prior to the hunt. ​

Registration for the 2024 deer hunts is closed.​

Chronic Wasting Disease in Dakota County

Chronic Wasting Disease​ testing is mandatory in Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Miesville Ravine Park Reserve.  To help hunters comply with requirements, the DNR will provide dumpsters to allow hunters to dispose of carcasses (head and spinal column) after quartering or butchering.​ Hunters can leave the CWD areas immediately after disposal in these dumpsters. For more information, go to the DNR's Chronic Wasting Disease page.