Controlled Deer Hunt at Saint John's

2009 Application to Hunt

2009 Media Release

2009 Hunter Handout

2009 Deer Hunt Map

View the 2009 Aerial Deer Survey of Saint John's Abbey lands.

Saint John’s will host a controlled harvest of antlerless deer on November 7th and 8th. Conservation of the entire ecosystem is the purpose of the hunt. A large number of deer over-winter at Saint John’s, and if that influx is added to a high local population, the result is over-browsing of the tree seedlings, shrubs and annual forbs. The goal is to assure a population level that will allow both adequate regeneration of the forest and a healthy deer herd on the Abbey's 2,700 acres.

About 30 hunters will be allowed hunting privileges on Abbey land in DNR permit area 218 (south of I-94) and 3 hunters will be allowed in DNR area 215 (north of I-94). Applications will be selected by lottery. Youth of any age with a valid license are allowed to hunt at Saint John's, but hunters under 18 are allowed only with an adult supervisor. Bow hunting is not permitted. Only shotguns will be allowed.

Application Procedure

1. Thursday, September 10: Deadline to apply to the DNR for an anterless permit for area 218. Anterless permits for area 215 are available over the counter and do not require a DNR application.
2. Tuesday, October 6: Applications to hunt at Saint John's must be received by 4 p.m. on Oct 6. Download a pdf of the application at the top of this page. A $5 application fee must accompany the completed application.
3. If more applications are received than there are hunting sites, hunters will be selected by lottery. For those selected to hunt at Saint John's, an additional $25 fee is required.
4. Thursday, October 22: Mandatory safety meeting held at Saint John's for all eligible hunters at 7:30 p.m. All applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting regardless of lottery number. It is common for several hunting sites to open up during and after the meeting, and only applicants attending the meeting will be eligible to move up in the lottery.

For more information, contact the Saint John's Arboretum Office at 320-363-3163.