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Hunting Crane Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Red Lake County and 1 neighbor, 1,297 acres.
Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Crane Wildlife Management Area
Crane WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,297 acres at Crane WMA, which lies in Red Lake and Polk counties. By size it ranks 2nd of the 8 wildlife management areas we list in Red Lake County. DPA 209 sets the deer limit here: 3-deer limit this year.
The managing office is Thief River Falls (DNR Wildlife), thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Crane WMA.
What the DNR page says about it: The marsh on this unit is the largest in Red Lake County, and the WMA is also the largest in the county. It supports dabbling ducks, sandhill cranes, sharp-tailed grouse, shorebirds, herons, warblers, sparrows, furbearers, deer, and occasionally moose.
Listed game: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Crane Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Crane WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Crane WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| 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.
Deer on Crane WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Crane WMA fall under DPA 209: 3-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 209 limit of 3 with your license plus bonus permits.
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 209: optional. DPA 209 spans 640 square miles. DPA 209 reaches Pennington, Clearwater, Red Lake and Polk counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Crane WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Crane WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 209 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 209 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 209 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Crane WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Crane WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crane WMA | 1,297 | Oklee | Open | – | DNR |
- Crane WMA: From Oklee, go 2 1/2 miles N on CSAH 5 then 6 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Crane WMA
When Crane WMA is crowded, Gully WMA sits 3.8 mi away to the east.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gully WMA | WMA | 446 | 209 | 3.8 mi | east |
| Larix WMA | WMA | 590 | 209 | 7.3 mi | southeast |
| Le Blanc WMA | WMA | 159 | 209 | 7.5 mi | southeast |
| Gully Fen SNA | SNA | 1,626 | 209 | 8.2 mi | southeast |
| Hangaard WMA | WMA | 22 | 209 | 8.8 mi | southeast |
| Emardville WMA | WMA | 87 | 209 | 12 mi | west |
| Enerson WMA | WMA | 283 | 210 | 13 mi | south |
| Oriniak WMA | WMA | 312 | 209 | 13 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Crane WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Oklee lies 7.1 mi from Crane WMA. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Oklee. Nearest DNR desk: Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office, 28 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklee | Red Lake | 407 | 7.1 mi | southwest |
| Trail | Polk | 38 | 7.3 mi | south |
| Gully | Polk | 55 | 9.3 mi | southeast |
| Gonvick | Clearwater | 266 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Brooks | Red Lake | 117 | 14 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.
Crane WMA: deer taken in DPA 209
1,486 deer were registered in DPA 209 during 2025, 2.32 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 755 | 731 | 1,486 | 2.32 |
| 2024 | 769 | 611 | 1,380 | 2.16 |
| 2023 | 620 | 614 | 1,234 | 1.93 |
| 2022 | 569 | 710 | 1,279 | 2.00 |
| 2021 | 766 | 657 | 1,423 | 2.23 |
| 2020 | 716 | 653 | 1,369 | 2.14 |
| 2019 | 708 | 601 | 1,309 | 2.05 |
| 2018 | 638 | 681 | 1,319 | 2.06 |
| 2017 | 672 | 674 | 1,346 | 2.10 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Crane WMA and the rest of Red Lake County
Red Lake County has 8 public hunting areas on file, Crane WMA among them. Red Lake County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 509. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office, (218) 219-8587.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Crane WMA
Sun times computed for Crane WMA itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 4:58 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:47 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:12 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:37 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 8:09 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
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.
Ranges a Crane Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Crane Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Plummer Area Sportsman Club at 15 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Crane WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Crane WMA, short answers
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Crane WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:46 a.m. and ends at 5:28 p.m. at the Crane WMA point.
Crane WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 209 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Crane WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Crane WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Gully WMA (3.8 mi), Larix WMA (7.3 mi) and Le Blanc WMA (7.5 mi).
Does Crane WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Crane WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Crane WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
What deer permit area is Crane WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 209: 3-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Crane WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,297 acres.
How do you get to Crane WMA?
From Oklee, go 2 1/2 miles N on CSAH 5 then 6 1/2 miles E on TWP RD. 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
What game species does Crane WMA list?
The agency names deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and sharp-tailed grouse for Crane WMA.
Crane WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Crane WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Thief River Falls office.
Other photos on this page: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain).