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State forest in Cass County
Hunting on Battleground State Forest in 2026-27
State forest hunting in Cass County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Ron Cogswell (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Battleground State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Battleground State Forest
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 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.
The record behind Battleground State Forest, summed up
The mapped area of Battleground State Forest is 9,624 acres, in Cass County. Cass County has 8 state forests on our list; this one is the 4th largest. Deer rules come from DPA 172 (it also reaches DPA 197), an antlerless permit lottery area in 2026.
The land manager is Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Inside the statutory line (17,969 acres) DNR manages 9,624 acres; the rest is county, federal or private. It has been a state forest since 1963.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Battleground State Forest
Battleground State Forest regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Battleground State Forest; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Open in season |
| Game refuges inside | Closed unless listed |
| Near campgrounds, lots | Cased within 200 ft |
| Stands | Portable preferred |
| Shooting lanes | No cutting |
| Private inholdings | Permission needed |
| Target shooting | Unless posted closed |
| Forest roads | OHVs unless posted |
Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
DPA 172 dates for Battleground State Forest
For 2026, DNR made DPA 172 antlerless permit lottery and offered 500 antlerless permits by lottery; its firearms deer season is the 100-series window. The Sept. 10 lottery hands out the antlerless permits for DPA 172.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | 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 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 172; testing is optional. DPA 172 takes in 772 square miles. Part of Cass and Crow Wing falls in DPA 172.
Other DPAs: DPA 197 (antlerless permit lottery)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Battleground State Forest
47 season windows for 24 species reach Battleground State Forest, filtered by the open seasons for its county.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 172, 197 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 172, 197 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPAs 172, 197 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 28, 45, 46, 47, 51 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring archery-only | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period A | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period B | Statewide | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period C | Statewide | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period D | Statewide | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period E | Statewide | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period F | Statewide | May 19, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 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 | |
| Rails | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 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 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Other places to hunt near Battleground State Forest
The closest other public land to Battleground State Forest is Five Mile Point AMA, 3.0 mi to the west; the table lists 8 neighbors with 309,678 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Mile Point AMA | AMA | 32 | 197 | 3.0 mi | west |
| Walker Ranger District (Chippewa NF) | Ranger district | 174,775 | 171, 172 | 5.3 mi | southwest |
| Buetow AMA | AMA | 234 | 197 | 6.6 mi | south |
| Bear Island AMA | AMA | 86 | 197 | 6.6 mi | southwest |
| Hole in the Bog Peatland SNA | SNA | 1,642 | 197 | 7.1 mi | north |
| Lost Lake AMA | AMA | 6.5 | 197 | 9.2 mi | west |
| Bowstring State Forest | State forest | 115,891 | 169, 197 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Mud Goose WMA | WMA | 17,011 | 172, 197 | 12 mi | east |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Battleground State Forest
The town nearest Battleground State Forest is Federal Dam at 2.8 mi. Longville (158 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office (Grand Rapids) is the closest DNR office, 33 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Dam | Cass | 119 | 2.8 mi | northeast |
| Boy River | Cass | 24 | 6.2 mi | southeast |
| Bena | Cass | 152 | 9.5 mi | north |
| Whipholt | Cass | – | 13 mi | southwest |
| Longville | Cass | 158 | 15 mi | south |
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.
Battleground State Forest area deer harvest by year
DPA 172 totals, which include all the land around Battleground State Forest: 1,687 deer in 2025 against 1,536 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,332 | 355 | 1,687 | 2.45 |
| 2024 | 1,247 | 289 | 1,536 | 2.23 |
| 2023 | 954 | 304 | 1,258 | 1.83 |
| 2022 | 1,103 | 669 | 1,772 | 2.58 |
| 2021 | 1,324 | 694 | 2,018 | 2.93 |
| 2020 | 1,155 | 1,334 | 2,489 | 3.62 |
| 2019 | 1,174 | 1,443 | 2,617 | 3.81 |
| 2018 | 1,586 | 1,812 | 3,398 | 4.95 |
| 2017 | 1,935 | 2,587 | 4,522 | 6.59 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Battleground State Forest
Cass County holds 69 public hunting records on this site; Battleground State Forest is one of them. No deer feeding or attractants in Cass County (DNR ban). Bear permit area 46, 45 and 47 covers part of Cass County (46 (950 permits), 45 (700 permits) and 47 (40 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 508 and 507. Wildlife office for Cass County: Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Battleground State Forest, Long Lake Aquatic Management Area and Poplar Creek Aquatic Management Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Battleground State Forest: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Battleground State Forest, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:58 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 7:24 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:07 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 7:09 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:08 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:38 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 4:32 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:32 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. | 8:32 p.m. | 8:02 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
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.
Battleground State Forest hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Battleground State Forest, the closest range on file is Northern Mississippi Range Association, 21 miles off.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Battleground State Forest and country like it, in photos
Battleground State Forest FAQ for 2026-27
Battleground State Forest: is hunting allowed there?
Yes. Check the rules table on this page for Battleground State Forest first.
Is Battleground State Forest a big piece of land?
About 9,624 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Battleground State Forest?
Deer permit area 172; the 2026 designation is antlerless permit lottery. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What game is on Battleground State Forest?
No per-site species list exists for Battleground State Forest; legal game in season can be hunted.
What are the directions to Battleground State Forest?
Drive from Federal Dam (2.8 mi); the agency publishes no directions.
Which office should I call about Battleground State Forest?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Battleground State Forest.
What are the CWD rules on Battleground State Forest?
CWD status: DPA 172 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Battleground State Forest: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:38 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Battleground State Forest?
Closest on the map: Five Mile Point AMA (3.0 mi), Walker Ranger District (Chippewa NF) (5.3 mi) and Buetow AMA (6.6 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Battleground State Forest?
On Battleground State Forest, a stand left overnight can be used by any hunter, and shooting lanes cannot be cleared.
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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).