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State park in Fillmore County
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park hunting, 2026-27
Seasons, access rules and the nearest towns for this state park in Fillmore County.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Angler ParkingParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
What the file says about Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park adds 3,343 acres of public ground to Fillmore County. It is the only one of the state parks on our list in Fillmore County. Its deer permit area is 647; the 2026 designation there is 5-deer limit.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages it. Only the described portion of the unit is open to public hunting.
Species on the record: deer.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park access rules
The rows below restate the access rules on the agency record for Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| Hunting | Hunt dates only |
| Hunt areas | Hunt map only |
| Ammunition | Lead-free required |
| LIMITED hunts | Visitors share the park |
| Public hunting | Listed portion only |
| Licenses | Regular DNR licenses |
- Approximately 430 acres of the park is open to public hunting but closed to trapping.
Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park: permit hunt dates
1 hunt listed for Forestville Mystery Cave State Park; CLOSED means the area is shut to everyone but permit hunters.
| Hunt no. | Type | Permits | When | Limit | Deer type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 933 | Adult firearm, permit required | 75 | Nov 7-8, 2026 | 3 | Either-Sex |
| Hunt | Starts | Ends | Park access | Hunt map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | LIMITED | Map |
DNR special deer hunts and DNR state park hunts; checked October 28, 2026. Special hunts and lotteries.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park and deer permit area 647
The 2026 designation for DPA 647 is 5-deer limit; firearms dates follow the 200-series window. DPA 647 allows 5 deer, so bonus permits come into play after the first deer.
| Hunt | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Late southeast firearms | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Late CWD hunt | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 |
DNR lists DPA 647 in the CWD management zone. Expect the Dec. 18-20 late CWD season in DPA 647. Three-buck rule: DPA 647. A carcass disposal rule covers the area. The DPA covers 434 square miles. DPA 647 counties: Fillmore, Mower and Olmsted.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons open on Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Dated seasons that apply on Forestville Mystery Cave State Park (7 rows), with today's status in the last column.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 647 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 647 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 647 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 647 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late southeast | DPA 647 | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late CWD hunt | DPA 647 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 |
Waterfowl rows show the North, Central and South zones because DNR draws those lines on highways (MN 210/23/39, US 212/I-494/I-94), not by unit; check the DNR map.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
DPA 647 harvest, the area around Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Harvest numbers below are DPA 647 totals (1,444 in 2025), the closest DNR figure for Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
| Season | Bucks (adult) | Others | Registered | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 690 | 754 | 1,444 | 3.33 |
| 2024 | 690 | 668 | 1,358 | 3.13 |
| 2023 | 606 | 641 | 1,247 | 2.87 |
| 2022 | 584 | 612 | 1,196 | 2.76 |
| 2021 | 640 | 617 | 1,257 | 2.90 |
| 2020 | 662 | 705 | 1,367 | 3.15 |
| 2019 | 706 | 674 | 1,380 | 3.18 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park on the map with nearby land
Big pins mark Forestville Mystery Cave State Park; Seven Springs WMA is the nearest neighbor at 3.1 mi.
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Springs WMA | WMA | 340 | 647 | 3.1 mi | west |
| Cherry Grove WMA | WMA | 78 | 647 | 4.3 mi | southwest |
| Etna Creek AMA | AMA | 63 | 647 | 6.7 mi | southwest |
| Goethite WMA | WMA | 304 | 647 | 7.3 mi | west |
| Nosek WMA | WMA | 141 | 647 | 9.5 mi | southwest |
| Pin Oak Prairie SNA | SNA | 183 | 647 | 11 mi | north |
| Beaver Creek WMA | WMA | 781 | 655 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Spring Valley WMA | WMA | 81 | 647 | 13 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR state parks management units layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
What Fillmore County adds to a Forestville Mystery Cave State Park trip
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park is one of 23 public places we list in Fillmore County. Feeding ban: Fillmore County is inside it. Bear licenses in Fillmore County are no-quota, sold over the counter. Turkey: permit area 501 and 503. Area wildlife office: Rochester Area Wildlife Office ((507) 206-2858). Do not mistake Forestville Mystery Cave State Park for closed Fillmore County ground such as Bear Creek Aquatic Management Area and Big Springs Creek Aquatic Management Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Supplies and help close to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
From Forestville Mystery Cave State Park the nearest town is Wykoff (5.6 mi). Spring Valley, with 2,445 residents, is the biggest town on the list. DNR staff closest to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park work out of Rochester (29 mi).
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wykoff | Fillmore | 430 | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| Preston | Fillmore | 1,316 | 7.2 mi | east |
| Fountain | Fillmore | 406 | 8.4 mi | northeast |
| Spring Valley | Fillmore | 2,445 | 9.4 mi | northwest |
| Ostrander | Fillmore | 226 | 11 mi | west |
Towns from the 2024 Census gazetteer and population estimates; offices and businesses from services.json (DNR and business listings, chain stores and license agents left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 28, 2026.
Closest Minnesota ranges to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, 14 miles away, is the nearest range to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park; check its access rule before going.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park legal light on key dates
Legal light at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer and bear, and to sunset for turkey, waterfowl and small game.
| Day | Season point | Sun up | Sun down | Shooting opens | Deer close | Bird close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:51 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 7:01 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:15 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:51 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:19 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:42 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:29 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. | 8:19 p.m. | 7:49 p.m. |
Raccoon and fox may be hunted at night under DNR rules.
Hours rule from the DNR booklet shooting hours page; sun times calculated for the unit point (NOAA method, Central Time); checked October 28, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photos to set the scene for Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Forestville Mystery Cave State Park questions answered from its record
How many acres of hunting does Forestville Mystery Cave State Park offer?
3,343 acres.
What DPA is Forestville Mystery Cave State Park, and what is its designation?
DPA 647 (600 series, 5-deer limit). Firearms deer runs Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026 there.
What animals can be hunted at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park?
Deer, according to the agency page for Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
How do hunters reach Forestville Mystery Cave State Park?
Head for Wykoff, 5.6 mi off, and use the map.
Who holds title to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park?
Land manager for Forestville Mystery Cave State Park: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Does chronic wasting disease testing apply on Forestville Mystery Cave State Park?
DPA 647 is in the CWD management zone.
What are the legal shooting hours at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park?
On the Nov. 7 firearms opener, legal deer hours at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park run 6:21 a.m. to 5:24 p.m..
If Forestville Mystery Cave State Park is full, where is the next public land?
Public ground nearest by straight line: Seven Springs WMA (3.1 mi), Cherry Grove WMA (4.3 mi) and Etna Creek AMA (6.7 mi).
Is hunting legal on Forestville Mystery Cave State Park in 2026-27?
Yes, but only under the special hunt or open-portion rules.
Last checks before driving to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted refuge areas on Forestville Mystery Cave State Park.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0); Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).