Deer Permit Area 250, Minnesota

Flat to gently rolling southwest Minnesota agricultural plain at approximately 1,300–1,600 ft elevation. Landscape is 79% annual row crops (corn/soybeans), 10% grassland and wetlands, 2% woody cover, 3% open water, and 6% developed. Key deer habitat concentrates along the Des Moines River corridor and in publicly owned lands near Heron Lake and Sioux Valley. Total land area is 713 square miles.

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Deer are the primary big game species. Pheasant hunting is present given the southwest MN agricultural landscape with grassland/wetland pockets and proximity to high-density pheasant counties (Nobles, Cottonwood, Jackson). Wild turkey are present in river-bottom and wooded corridors typical of southwest MN. No bear or ruffed grouse habitat — this is open agricultural country far south of the primary bear/grouse range.

Antlerless tags are lottery only (450 permits in 2025, down from prior years as population is at or slightly below goal). Buck tags are over-the-counter (one-deer limit, bucks only designation also available). Des Moines River corridor provides the best deer habitat with timber and cover. Heron Lake and Sioux Valley WMAs offer accessible public hunting. Hunter success rate was 29% in 2024 with roughly 2 hunters per square mile — light pressure for Minnesota. Optional CWD testing available; no mandatory CWD restrictions noted. Contact: Brian Nyborg, 507-832-6017.