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WMA in Beltrami County
Hunting Lee Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Beltrami County, 2,244 acres.
Photo: jjsmustang1979 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Lee Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lee Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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.
Lee WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 2,244 acres at Lee WMA, which lies in Beltrami County. By size it ranks 11th of the 22 wildlife management areas we list in Beltrami County. DPA 111 sets the deer limit here: antlerless permit lottery this year.
The managing office is Thief River Falls (DNR Wildlife), thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us.
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 Lee Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Lee WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Lee 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 Lee WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Lee WMA fall under DPA 111: antlerless permit lottery, 100 series, 25 lottery permits. Firearm hunters who want a doe in DPA 111 must win the antlerless lottery (apply by Sept. 10).
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 111: optional. DNR flags special WMA regulations for DPA 111. DPA 111 spans 1,386 square miles. DPA 111 reaches Lake of the Woods, Beltrami, Roseau and Marshall counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Lee WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Lee 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 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 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone (north part) | 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.
Lee WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Lee WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee WMA | 2,244 | Grygla | Open | – | DNR |
- Lee WMA: From Grygla, go 5 miles S on CSAH 54 then 1 mile E on Co Rd 2 then 4 miles E on CSAH 42
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Lee WMA
When Lee WMA is crowded, Wolf Trail WMA sits 2.7 mi away to the north.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Trail WMA | WMA | 7,793 | 111 | 2.7 mi | north |
| Carmelee WMA | WMA | 3,907 | 111 | 3.0 mi | west |
| Hamre WMA | WMA | 4,530 | 111 | 4.0 mi | east |
| Willow-Run WMA | WMA | 3,564 | 111 | 4.5 mi | northwest |
| Saw-whet WMA | WMA | 1,286 | 111 | 4.6 mi | northeast |
| Fireweed WMA | WMA | 2,266 | 111 | 5.8 mi | east |
| Reiner WMA | WMA | 121 | 208 | 6.2 mi | southwest |
| Gun-dog WMA | WMA | 1,357 | 111 | 6.5 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Lee WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Grygla lies 8.9 mi from Lee WMA. For more services, Oklee (407) is 31 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Grygla. Nearest DNR desk: Thief Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office, 29 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grygla | Marshall | 171 | 8.9 mi | northwest |
| Goodridge | Pennington | 107 | 15 mi | west |
| Ponemah | Beltrami | – | 30 mi | southeast |
| Little Rock | Beltrami | – | 30 mi | southeast |
| Oklee | Red Lake | 407 | 31 mi | southwest |
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.
Lee WMA: deer taken in DPA 111
412 deer were registered in DPA 111 during 2025, 0.3 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Lee WMA and the rest of Beltrami County
Beltrami County has 47 public hunting areas on file, Lee WMA among them. Beltrami County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Beltrami County bear hunting runs through quota area 12, 41 and 27, 12 (100 permits), 41 (250 permits) and 27 (450 permits). The county sits in turkey permit area 509 and 508. The county touches elk zone 10. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Red Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office, (218) 783-6861. Not every public place in Beltrami County is open: Bemidji Lake Aquatic Management Area is closed to hunting.
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 Lee WMA
Sun times computed for Lee 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 | 7:03 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 7:29 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. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 4:56 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 | 6:36 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:06 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 Lee Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Lee Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Plummer Area Sportsman Club at 33 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.
Lee WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Lee WMA, short answers
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Lee WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Lee WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Lee WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 2,244 acres.
Does Lee WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Lee WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Lee WMA list?
The agency names deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and sharp-tailed grouse for Lee WMA.
What deer permit area is Lee WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 111: antlerless permit lottery. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Lee WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Lee WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Thief River Falls office.
How do you get to Lee WMA?
From Grygla, go 5 miles S on CSAH 54 then 1 mile E on Co Rd 2 then 4 miles E on CSAH 42 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Lee WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:45 a.m. and ends at 5:26 p.m. at the Lee WMA point.
Lee WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 111 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Lee WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Wolf Trail WMA (2.7 mi), Carmelee WMA (3.0 mi) and Hamre WMA (4.0 mi).
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).