Home › Minnesota › Public land › Agassiz-Olson WMA
WMA · 2026-27
Agassiz-Olson Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Norman County.
Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Agassiz-Olson Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Agassiz-Olson Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 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.
Agassiz-Olson WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Agassiz-Olson WMA spreads over 1,776 acres of Norman County. Of 15 wildlife management areas in Norman County, Agassiz-Olson WMA is number 2 by acreage. Hunters on Agassiz-Olson WMA follow DPA 265, which DNR made 3-deer limit for 2026.
The DNR Detroit Lakes area wildlife office manages it (detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Agassiz-Olson WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
Game species: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Agassiz-Olson Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Agassiz-Olson WMA
Agassiz-Olson WMA has 1 DNR parking point; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agassiz-Olson WMA | 1,776 | Gary | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Agassiz-Olson WMA: From Gary, go 5 mile North on MN 32, 4½ miles West on County 5. There are no parking lots or wheelchair accesible facilities on this WMA.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Agassiz-Olson WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Agassiz-Olson WMA, adding 4,834 acres; Agassiz-Nelson WMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agassiz-Nelson WMA | WMA | 120 | 265 | 3.5 mi | southeast |
| Prairie Smoke Dunes SNA | SNA | 1,248 | 265 | 4.2 mi | east |
| Prairie Dunes WMA | WMA | 1,082 | 265 | 5.0 mi | east |
| Liberty WMA | WMA | 1,369 | 265 | 6.3 mi | north |
| Lee WPA | WPA | 152 | 265 | 8.2 mi | south |
| Sundal WPA | WPA | 119 | 265 | 8.7 mi | east |
| Pheasants Forever Inc. WPA | WPA | 464 | 265 | 9.5 mi | southeast |
| Onstad WMA | WMA | 280 | 256, 265 | 9.7 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Agassiz-Olson WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Agassiz-Olson WMA; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Regular seasons |
| Vehicles | Designated roads, lots |
| Target shooting | Not allowed |
| Guns in transit | Cased, unloaded |
| Camping | Designated or permit |
| Portable stands, blinds | Remove daily |
| Overnight stands, northwest | Nov 1-Dec 31 |
| Dogs | Leash Apr 16-Jul 14 |
| Drones | Not allowed |
| Gear left overnight | Not allowed |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
When you can hunt Agassiz-Olson WMA
Every dated hunting window for Agassiz-Olson WMA: 18 species, 33 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 265 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 265 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 265 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| Rabbits, hares | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbit | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal season | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (north) | North furbearer zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Dec 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (south) | South furbearer zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Spring light goose | Statewide | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Pheasant shooting starts at 9 a.m.; ducks, geese and small game stop at sunset.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Agassiz-Olson WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 265 (200 series) is 3-deer limit in 2026. Hunters may take up to 3 deer in DPA 265 across licenses and bonus permits; only one may be a buck in most DPAs.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Testing for CWD is optional in DPA 265. Area of DPA 265: 495 sq mi. Counties in DPA 265: Norman and Polk.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 265 gives up around Agassiz-Olson WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 265 registered 1,177 deer in 2025, 10% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 599 | 578 | 1,177 | 2.38 |
| 2024 | 631 | 436 | 1,067 | 2.16 |
| 2023 | 479 | 451 | 930 | 1.88 |
| 2022 | 520 | 658 | 1,178 | 2.38 |
| 2021 | 616 | 729 | 1,345 | 2.72 |
| 2020 | 648 | 763 | 1,411 | 2.86 |
| 2019 | 607 | 698 | 1,305 | 2.64 |
| 2018 | 559 | 827 | 1,386 | 2.81 |
| 2017 | 575 | 674 | 1,249 | 2.53 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Agassiz-Olson WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Agassiz-Olson WMA is 7.2 mi from Fertile, the nearest community. Ada is the bigger town nearby at 1,696 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Gary. Thief River Falls has the nearest DNR office to Agassiz-Olson WMA, 46 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fertile | Polk | 780 | 7.2 mi | northeast |
| Gary | Norman | 223 | 8.4 mi | southeast |
| Beltrami | Polk | 90 | 8.5 mi | northwest |
| Ada | Norman | 1,696 | 13 mi | southwest |
| Twin Valley | Norman | 697 | 15 mi | southeast |
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.
County rules that reach Agassiz-Olson WMA
Our Norman County list runs to 23 public areas, including Agassiz-Olson WMA. Deer feeding and attractants are banned in Norman County. No bear lottery in Norman County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 509. The county's nearest wildlife office is Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office in Detroit Lakes. Norman County also has 4 closed places, Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area among them.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Shooting lines in reach of Agassiz-Olson Wildlife Management Area
Walter Ranz Memorial Shooting Park sits 4 miles from Agassiz-Olson Wildlife Management Area, closer than any public range on file. Target shooting is off limits here.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Agassiz-Olson WMA country, seen through a lens
Agassiz-Olson WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Agassiz-Olson WMA hours use the NOAA solar formula for the unit's coordinates.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Opens | Deer, bear end | Birds end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:35 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:17 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:48 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:13 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:41 a.m. | 8:11 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. | 8:41 p.m. | 8:11 p.m. |
Clock times include Daylight Saving Time until Nov. 1.
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.
Agassiz-Olson WMA: what hunters usually ask
What is there to hunt on Agassiz-Olson WMA?
On the Agassiz-Olson WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and waterfowl.
Where do you park at Agassiz-Olson WMA?
From Gary, go 5 mile North on MN 32, 4½ miles West on County 5. DNR maps 1 parking point.
Who should I contact about Agassiz-Olson WMA?
Agassiz-Olson WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Detroit Lakes office looks after it.
Is Agassiz-Olson WMA inside a CWD zone?
Agassiz-Olson WMA sits in DPA 265, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Agassiz-Olson WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:47 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:17 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Agassiz-Olson WMA?
Agassiz-Olson WMA neighbors on our list: Agassiz-Nelson WMA (3.5 mi), Prairie Smoke Dunes SNA (4.2 mi) and Prairie Dunes WMA (5.0 mi).
Agassiz-Olson WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Agassiz-Olson WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Agassiz-Olson WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Agassiz-Olson WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Agassiz-Olson WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Agassiz-Olson WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,776 acres.
Agassiz-Olson WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 265, 3-deer limit for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Agassiz-Olson WMA trip checklist from this page
No paper tags in Minnesota: validate the electronic license where the animal falls, then register it on time.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).