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WMA · 2026-27
Devils Playground Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Kittson County.
Photo: Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Devils Playground Wildlife Management Area
Devils Playground WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Devils Playground WMA spreads over 1,461 acres of Kittson County. Of 13 wildlife management areas in Kittson County, Devils Playground WMA is number 9 by acreage. Hunters on Devils Playground WMA follow DPA 263, which DNR made 2-deer limit for 2026.
The DNR Karlstad area wildlife office manages it (karlstad.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Devils Playground WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
From the DNR unit description: This unit's name was the name given to this general area because of the ease of getting turned around and lost. A compass is recommended.
Game species: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse.
- White-tailed Deer
- 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 Devils Playground Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Devils Playground WMA
DNR maps no parking point for Devils Playground WMA; use the route text below.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devils Playground WMA | 1,461 | Karlstad | Open | – | DNR |
- Devils Playground WMA: From Karlstad, go 2 mi N on Co Rd 14, 0.5 mi W on Twp Rd Wheelchair access is limited to adjacent roads.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Devils Playground WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Devils Playground WMA, adding 22,305 acres; Pelan WMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelan WMA | WMA | 3,640 | 263 | 4.9 mi | northeast |
| Twin Lakes WMA | WMA | 8,874 | 263, 264 | 5.1 mi | east |
| Halma Swamp WMA | WMA | 3,031 | 263 | 5.3 mi | west |
| Deerwood WMA | WMA | 322 | 264 | 5.9 mi | south |
| Lake Bronson State Park | State park | 2,514 | 263 | 6.3 mi | north |
| Two Rivers Aspen Parkland SNA, 1,396 ac | SNA | 1,396 | 263 | 8.9 mi | east |
| Lind WMA | WMA | 653 | 264 | 10 mi | east |
| Percy WMA | WMA | 1,875 | 263 | 12 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Devils Playground WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Devils Playground 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 |
- Access is poor but possible from roads on the north and south sides. Access roads on the west and east sides have been eliminated by adjacent landowners. A groomed snowmobile trail is on the south side.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
When you can hunt Devils Playground WMA
Every dated hunting window for Devils Playground WMA: 13 species, 21 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 263 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 263 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 263 | 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 | |
| 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 |
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.
Devils Playground WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 263 (200 series) is 2-deer limit in 2026. Hunters may take up to 2 deer in DPA 263 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 263. Special WMA rules apply in DPA 263. Area of DPA 263: 706 sq mi. Counties in DPA 263: Kittson and Roseau.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 263 gives up around Devils Playground WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 263 registered 1,024 deer in 2025, 11% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 763 | 261 | 1,024 | 1.45 |
| 2024 | 699 | 221 | 920 | 1.30 |
| 2023 | 535 | 494 | 1,029 | 1.46 |
| 2022 | 543 | 451 | 994 | 1.41 |
| 2021 | 681 | 576 | 1,257 | 1.78 |
| 2020 | 716 | 596 | 1,312 | 1.86 |
| 2019 | 540 | 437 | 977 | 1.91 |
| 2018 | 515 | 525 | 1,040 | 2.03 |
| 2017 | 476 | 468 | 944 | 1.84 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Devils Playground WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Devils Playground WMA is 2.7 mi from Halma, the nearest community. Karlstad is the bigger town nearby at 671 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Karlstad. Karlstad has the nearest DNR office to Devils Playground WMA, 4.5 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halma | Kittson | 56 | 2.7 mi | northwest |
| Karlstad | Kittson | 671 | 4.4 mi | south |
| Lake Bronson | Kittson | 170 | 8.4 mi | northwest |
| Strandquist | Marshall | 68 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Donaldson | Kittson | 17 | 16 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.
County rules that reach Devils Playground WMA
Our Kittson County list runs to 15 public areas, including Devils Playground WMA. No bear lottery in Kittson County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 509. Elk zone 20 and 30 overlaps Kittson County. The county's nearest wildlife office is Karlstad Area Wildlife Office in Karlstad. Kittson County also has 1 closed place, Lake Bronson Parkland 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 Devils Playground Wildlife Management Area
Lock & Load Hunting Club sits 23 miles from Devils Playground 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.
Devils Playground WMA country, seen through a lens
Devils Playground WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Devils Playground 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. | 7:33 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 7:33 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:17 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:37 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:21 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:53 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:19 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:14 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:44 p.m. | 8:14 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.
Devils Playground WMA: what hunters usually ask
Is Devils Playground WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Devils Playground WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Devils Playground WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,461 acres.
Devils Playground WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 263, 2-deer limit for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Devils Playground WMA?
On the Devils Playground WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and sharp-tailed grouse.
Where do you park at Devils Playground WMA?
From Karlstad, go 2 mi N on Co Rd 14, 0.5 mi W on Twp Rd No parking point is mapped.
Who should I contact about Devils Playground WMA?
Devils Playground WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Karlstad office looks after it.
Is Devils Playground WMA inside a CWD zone?
Devils Playground WMA sits in DPA 263, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Devils Playground WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:51 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:21 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Devils Playground WMA?
Devils Playground WMA neighbors on our list: Pelan WMA (4.9 mi), Twin Lakes WMA (5.1 mi) and Halma Swamp WMA (5.3 mi).
Devils Playground WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Devils Playground WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Devils Playground WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Devils Playground 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: Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain).