Rydell National Wildlife Refuge will be closed to the general public during two special deer hunts that will be held on the Refuge in October of 2023. This closure also applies to archery deer hunters and small game hunters who intend to use the Refuge. The Accessible Deer Hunt is conducted in cooperation with the Options Interstate Resource Center for Independent Living and will occur Thursday, October 12, through Saturday, October 14. The Mentored Youth Deer Hunt is a cooperative effort with the Minnesota DNR. It will occur on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29. Both hunts have a limited number of participants that were selected through a drawing earlier in the year. Signs will be posted at refugee entry points during both of these closures.
Several spots remain open for the Mentored Youth Deer Hunt, to be held the last weekend in October. The key requirements for this hunt include (1) participants are 12-15 years old and have completed their firearms safety training, (2) participants are accompanied during the hunt by an adult mentor, and (3) participants and their mentor attend a mandatory three-hour orientation at Rydell Refuge on Sunday, October 22. If you know of a youth who would like to participate in the Mentored Youth Deer Hunt at Rydell, please contact Gregg Knutsen no later than Friday, October 13.
For more information on these closures or special youth hunt opportunities, contact Gregg Knutsen, Refuge Manager, at 218-686-4329 or gregg_knutsen@fws.gov.