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WMA · 2026-27
Gun-dog Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Beltrami County.
Photo: jjsmustang1979 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Gun-dog Wildlife Management Area
Gun-dog WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Gun-dog WMA spreads over 1,357 acres of Beltrami County. Of 22 wildlife management areas in Beltrami County, Gun-dog WMA is number 12 by acreage. Hunters on Gun-dog WMA follow DPA 111, which DNR made antlerless permit lottery for 2026.
The DNR Thief River Falls area wildlife office manages it (thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us).
Game species: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Gun-dog Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Gun-dog WMA
Gun-dog WMA has 1 DNR parking point; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun-dog WMA | 1,357 | Fourtown | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Gun-dog WMA: From Fourtown, go 2 1/4 miles W on SH89
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Gun-dog WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Gun-dog WMA, adding 23,035 acres; Fireweed WMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fireweed WMA | WMA | 2,266 | 111 | 2.0 mi | south |
| Saw-whet WMA | WMA | 1,286 | 111 | 2.6 mi | west |
| Hamre WMA | WMA | 4,530 | 111 | 4.2 mi | south |
| Wolf Trail WMA | WMA | 7,793 | 111 | 4.5 mi | west |
| Steenerson WMA | WMA | 159 | 111 | 5.0 mi | east |
| Lee WMA | WMA | 2,244 | 111 | 6.5 mi | southwest |
| Benville WMA | WMA | 1,194 | 101 | 7.7 mi | west |
| Willow-Run WMA | WMA | 3,564 | 111 | 8.8 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Gun-dog WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Gun-dog 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 Gun-dog WMA
Every dated hunting window for Gun-dog WMA: 13 species, 21 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 111 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 111 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 111 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 12, 13, 27, 28, 41, 46 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 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 | |
| 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.
Gun-dog WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 111 (100 series) is antlerless permit lottery in 2026; the antlerless lottery quota is 25. Without a lottery permit, firearm hunters in DPA 111 are limited to a buck.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 100 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Testing for CWD is optional in DPA 111. Special WMA rules apply in DPA 111. Area of DPA 111: 1,386 sq mi. Counties in DPA 111: Lake of the Woods, Beltrami, Roseau and Marshall.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 111 gives up around Gun-dog WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 111 registered 412 deer in 2025, 11% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 403 | 9 | 412 | 0.30 |
| 2024 | 364 | 6 | 370 | 0.27 |
| 2023 | 311 | 7 | 318 | 0.23 |
| 2022 | 281 | 9 | 290 | 0.21 |
| 2021 | 390 | 16 | 406 | 0.29 |
| 2020 | 299 | 48 | 347 | 0.25 |
| 2019 | 326 | 136 | 462 | 0.32 |
| 2018 | 418 | 192 | 610 | 0.42 |
| 2017 | 462 | 178 | 640 | 0.45 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Gun-dog WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Gun-dog WMA is 12 mi from Grygla, the nearest community. Directions on the DNR page begin at Fourtown. Roosevelt has the nearest DNR office to Gun-dog WMA, 25 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grygla | Marshall | 171 | 12 mi | west |
| Goodridge | Pennington | 107 | 22 mi | southwest |
| Ponemah | Beltrami | – | 27 mi | southeast |
| Little Rock | Beltrami | – | 31 mi | southeast |
| Red Lake | Beltrami | – | 32 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 Gun-dog WMA
Our Beltrami County list runs to 47 public areas, including Gun-dog WMA. Deer feeding and attractants are banned in Beltrami County. Bear licenses here come from quota area 12, 41 and 27 (12 (100 permits), 41 (250 permits) and 27 (450 permits)). Turkey permit area here: 509 and 508. Elk zone 10 overlaps Beltrami County. The county's nearest wildlife office is Red Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office in Roosevelt. Beltrami County also has 6 closed places, Bemidji Lake Aquatic Management 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 Gun-dog Wildlife Management Area
Clearwater County Extension sits 38 miles from Gun-dog 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.
Gun-dog WMA country, seen through a lens
Gun-dog WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Gun-dog 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 | 7:02 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 7:28 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:12 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:32 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:15 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:47 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:12 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:35 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 8:09 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.
Gun-dog WMA: what hunters usually ask
Are there campsites on Gun-dog WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Gun-dog WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Gun-dog WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Gun-dog WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,357 acres.
Gun-dog WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 111, antlerless permit lottery for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Gun-dog WMA?
On the Gun-dog WMA record the game list reads deer, black bear, small game and ruffed grouse and woodcock.
Where do you park at Gun-dog WMA?
From Fourtown, go 2 1/4 miles W on SH89 DNR maps 1 parking point.
Who should I contact about Gun-dog WMA?
Gun-dog WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Thief River Falls office looks after it.
Is Gun-dog WMA inside a CWD zone?
Gun-dog WMA sits in DPA 111, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Gun-dog WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:45 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:15 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Gun-dog WMA?
Gun-dog WMA neighbors on our list: Fireweed WMA (2.0 mi), Saw-whet WMA (2.6 mi) and Hamre WMA (4.2 mi).
Gun-dog WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Gun-dog WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Gun-dog 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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0).