September 9, 2024 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester Parks and Recreation Department is once again coordinating a controlled archery hunt this fall in several parks throughout the city. The annual hunt is part of the City’s deer management approach.

Parks and trails will remain open during hunting season. Some areas within the following locations will be designated as off-limits and signed accordingly while the hunt is occurring: Bear Creek, Essex Park, Foster Arend Park, Gamehaven Reservoir, Hadley Creek Golf Course, Indian Heights Park, Northern Heights Park, Riverview West Park, Willow Creek Reservoir, Zumbro South

Participants are required to successfully complete Minnesota Bowhunter Education and pass the MN bowhunter proficiency test. Hunters will be expected to comply with all Minnesota Department of Natural Resources deer hunting rules and regulations. Bowhunting season runs from September 14 to December 31, 2024.

Bowhunting for deer is typically done from a tree stand: a platform attached to a tree 10-20 feet above the ground. Being elevated improves the hunter’s ability to detect deer, reduces the likelihood that deer will detect the hunter and most importantly, establishes a downward shot trajectory so that arrows never travel far from the shooter’s location. This makes bowhunting extremely safe for the public and non-target animals. Most shots are taken at deer that are less than 20 yards away from the shooter, which means they can very clearly and easily identify the target and the arrow is likely to be shot at a steep downward angle. Bowhunting can and does safely occur simultaneously with other recreational land uses such as hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding and mountain biking.