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WMA · 2026-27
Santer Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Todd County.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Santer Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Santer Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 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.
Santer WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Santer WMA spreads over 572 acres of Todd County. Of 30 wildlife management areas in Todd County, Santer WMA is number 6 by acreage. Hunters on Santer WMA follow DPA 213, which DNR made 3-deer limit for 2026.
The DNR Little Falls area wildlife office manages it (littlefalls.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Santer WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
From the DNR unit description: Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of native plants and wildlife.
Game species: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Santer Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Santer WMA
Santer WMA has 9 DNR parking points; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santer WMA | 572 | Gutches Grove | Open | 9 | DNR |
- Santer WMA: From Gutches Grove, go 1.75 miles south on county road 11, then 3 miles west on county road 93. Disabled access is limited to the township road and parking lot on the NE side of the WMA
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Santer WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Santer WMA, adding 1,363 acres; Geroy WPA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geroy WPA | WPA | 122 | 213 | 0.8 mi | north |
| Owen-Hinz WMA | WMA | 332 | 213 | 1.2 mi | southeast |
| Platt Lake WMA | WMA | 159 | 213 | 1.3 mi | west |
| Randall WMA | WMA | 58 | 213 | 3.6 mi | southwest |
| Hollister WMA | WMA | 82 | 213 | 4.5 mi | northwest |
| Quistorff WMA | WMA | 359 | 213 | 6.8 mi | south |
| Spohn WMA | WMA | 162 | 213 | 7.0 mi | southwest |
| Faber WPA | WPA | 89 | 213 | 7.1 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Santer WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Santer 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 |
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA, including on designated parking lots and access road.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
When you can hunt Santer WMA
Every dated hunting window for Santer WMA: 19 species, 35 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 213 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 213 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 213 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 213 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| 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.
Santer WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 213 (200 series) is 3-deer limit in 2026. Hunters may take up to 3 deer in DPA 213 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 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Opening-weekend sampling is required in this surveillance block DPA. Area of DPA 213: 1,163 sq mi. Counties in DPA 213: Douglas, Todd, Otter Tail, Pope and Stearns.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 213 gives up around Santer WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 213 registered 6,423 deer in 2025, 10% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,119 | 3,304 | 6,423 | 6.08 |
| 2024 | 3,051 | 2,763 | 5,814 | 5.50 |
| 2023 | 2,320 | 2,738 | 5,058 | 4.79 |
| 2022 | 2,433 | 3,391 | 5,824 | 5.51 |
| 2021 | 3,014 | 3,674 | 6,688 | 6.33 |
| 2020 | 3,222 | 4,589 | 7,811 | 7.39 |
| 2019 | 2,965 | 3,358 | 6,323 | 5.98 |
| 2018 | 2,583 | 3,277 | 5,860 | 5.54 |
| 2017 | 2,572 | 2,801 | 5,373 | 5.08 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Santer WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Santer WMA is 7.0 mi from Osakis, the nearest community. Long Prairie is the bigger town nearby at 3,710 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Gutches Grove. Little Falls has the nearest DNR office to Santer WMA, 33 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osakis | Douglas | 1,747 | 7.0 mi | southwest |
| West Union | Todd | 91 | 8.7 mi | south |
| Long Prairie | Todd | 3,710 | 9.0 mi | east |
| Nelson | Douglas | 183 | 11 mi | west |
| Carlos | Douglas | 486 | 13 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 Santer WMA
Our Todd County list runs to 40 public areas, including Santer WMA. Bear licenses here come from quota area 45 (45 (700 permits)). Turkey permit area here: 507. The county's nearest wildlife office is Little Falls Area Wildlife Office in Little Falls. Todd County also has 2 closed places, Jensen 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 Santer Wildlife Management Area
Rooster Ridge Hunting Club sits 14 miles from Santer 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.
Santer WMA country, seen through a lens
Santer WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Santer 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. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 7:26 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:10 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. | 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:28 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:08 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:37 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:02 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. | 8:04 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.
Santer WMA: what hunters usually ask
Santer WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Santer WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Santer WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Santer WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Santer WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Santer WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 572 acres.
Santer WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 213, 3-deer limit for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Santer WMA?
On the Santer WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant and waterfowl.
Where do you park at Santer WMA?
From Gutches Grove, go 1.75 miles south on county road 11, then 3 miles west on county road 93. DNR maps 9 parking points.
Who should I contact about Santer WMA?
Santer WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Little Falls office looks after it.
Is Santer WMA inside a CWD zone?
Santer WMA sits in DPA 213, which is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
What time can you shoot deer at Santer WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:38 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:08 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Santer WMA?
Santer WMA neighbors on our list: Geroy WPA (0.8 mi), Owen-Hinz WMA (1.2 mi) and Platt Lake WMA (1.3 mi).
Santer 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); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); GlacierNPS (Public domain).