Central Minnesota Deer Numbers Up for 2026 Opener, CWD Testing Required in Stearns, Morrison and Wright Counties

(KNSI) – Deer hunters in central Minnesota should have no shortage of deer to watch for when the firearms season opens November 7th, but many will also have a new requirement once they fill their tag.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says deer numbers in the central part of the state keep climbing. Deer came through last winter in good shape, had a strong year raising fawns and have had plenty to eat. Most deer permit areas in the region are trending upward, while a few are leveling off near the DNR’s population goals.

Many central Minnesota hunters will be required to have their deer tested for chronic wasting disease, a fatal brain disease that affects deer. The DNR has divided the state into four zones and will rotate mandatory testing through one zone each year. This year’s zone includes deer permit areas 215, 218 and 219, which cover much of Stearns, Morrison and Wright counties. Any deer a year old or older taken in those areas during opening weekend must be tested.

Hunters in the testing zone can take their deer to a staffed or self-service sampling station, use a free mail-in kit or visit a participating taxidermist. Mail-in kits have to be picked up before opening weekend. Hunters outside the zone can still get their deer tested for free.

Wildlife managers report a good acorn crop this fall, one of the most nutritious foods a deer can find. The region’s mix of woods, prairie and farm field edges has also given deer plenty of food and places to hide all year long.

Farmers and people living in metro-area cities are noticing more deer too. With high numbers in some spots and many permit areas allowing hunters to take more than one deer, area wildlife managers are encouraging hunters and landowners to take advantage of every season available to help keep herds in check.

More than 400,000 hunters are expected to head into the woods statewide, and there are a few other changes to know about before opening morning.

The state has done away with its shotgun zone for deer hunting. Counties that were part of it can now decide for themselves whether to adopt their own restrictions, so hunters should check the rules for the county they plan to hunt in.

Elsewhere in the state, deer numbers are stable or growing in southern Minnesota, and herds in the northwest have bounced back after three mild winters, bringing looser bag limits to many areas. The northeast is more of a mixed bag, with numbers still low in the far northeast after a long, snowy winter.

Testing station locations and a map of this year’s testing zone are available by clicking here. Regulation updates are listed under “new for 2026” and can be found by clicking here.

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