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Deer Season Updates: Minnesota Enforces CWD Rules as North Dakota, Indiana and Wisconsin Adjust Management

Wildlife managers prioritize disease control with simpler rules before November firearms hunts.

Overview

  • Minnesota restricts movement of whole deer carcasses from 17 CWD management permit areas and requires mandatory sampling during the firearms opening weekend on Nov. 8–9.
  • Within Minnesota’s CWD zones, whole carcasses cannot leave until a “not detected” test result is returned, with mail-in testing, partner sampling and designated disposal options available.
  • North Dakota issued 42,300 deer licenses for 2025, down 7,800 year over year, with officials describing deer numbers as stable to decreasing following EHD and severe winter impacts.
  • Indiana shifts to county bag limits, permits crossbows under an archery license, requires harvest reporting within 48 hours and allows rifles firing bullets of at least .219 inches.
  • Wisconsin reports higher archery and crossbow harvests, strong youth-hunt totals, increased license sales and updated Deer Management Unit boundaries, while urging additional antlerless donations.