OutdoorMN News - City of Grand Rapids special deer hunt enters fourth season; Applications due Sept. 8

[Rick]

The city of Grand Rapids will hold its fourth special deer hunt this fall in an attempt to further reduce deer numbers within the city limits. Following back-to-back mild winters, higher than desired deer numbers have persisted within the city limits.

The hunt is open to archery, firearms and muzzleloader hunters during the regular season dates for those hunts. In order to participate in the hunt, a hunter must purchase a regular license for the type of hunt they want to participate in through the DNR’s electronic licensing system (ELS), and then may purchase up to four bonus permits through the ELS to take additional antlerless deer. The city hunt limit is five deer and hunters may take only one antlered buck. Muzzleloader and firearms hunters will have to apply for their special hunt permit through the ELS by Thursday, Sept. 8. Special hunt numbers are 931 for firearms, and 946 for muzzleloader.

Firearms or muzzleloader hunters who want to hunt in a lottery area and participate in the Grand Rapids special hunt must make a choice whether to apply for an antlerless permit or participate in the special hunt; they cannot apply for both.

Special hunt permits for the archery season hunt can be obtained at the Grand Rapids Police Department at any time. After buying an archery hunting license, hunters will be issued a permit to possess up to four bonus tags, which they can buy through the ELS.

Deer taken in the special hunt must be registered under the special hunt numbers (995 for archery, 931 for firearms, and 946 for muzzleloader) and not the larger permit area 179. A deer taken outside of the city hunt boundary cannot be registered under the city hunt number. Most of the land in the allowed hunting areas is privately owned. Hunters must get permission directly from private landowners to hunt or cross private land. A map depicting allowed hunting areas is available on the city of Grand Rapids website at www.cityofgrandrapidsmn.com under the map tab. Itasca County plat books and online public records can help prospective hunters identify landowners in order to seek permission to hunt.

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