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DNR Region 2 · Aitkin County town
Hill City, Minnesota, and the public land in reach
How far Hill City sits from WMAs, waterfowl production areas and state forests, which DPAs set the deer rules in Aitkin County, and where to register, process and mount a deer.
Photo: Public ground 7.2 mi from Hill City: Savanna Portage State Park (nearby stand-in). Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hill City is a city in Aitkin County, whose seat is Aitkin. Hill City made the list as the base town for Hill River State Forest, whose closest boundary lies less than a mile out. Hunters headed for Moose Willow Wildlife Management Area can stay in Hill City; the boundary sits 2.9 miles out. Roughly 615 people lived in Hill City as of the 2024 estimate. 12 public units lie within 10 miles; the mapped public polygons there cover about 72,602 acres. The quickest public ground to reach is Hill Lake Aquatic Management Area, its nearest boundary less than a mile out.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over DNR, USFS and USFWS boundaries (places.json). DNR region from the DNR county region list. Checked October 28, 2026.
Public land in reach of Hill City
Ground that reaches the 10-mile ring around Hill City comes first, and a base-area tag marks the unit this town was chosen for.
| Land | Heading | Kind | Managed by | DPA | Boundary | Middle | Acreage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Lake AMA | 0.5 mi NE | AMA | DNR | 679 | 0.5 mi | 1.4 mi | 96 | General Use |
| Hill Lake WMA | 0.5 mi SW | WMA | DNR | 171 | 0.5 mi | 0.5 mi | 5 | – |
| Hill River State Forest Base area | 0.7 mi SE | State forest | DNR | 171, 679 | 0.7 mi | 7.6 mi | 79,323 | – |
| Moose Willow WMA Base area | 2.9 mi SE | WMA | DNR | 171 | 2.9 mi | 5.9 mi | 16,946 | – |
| Little Hill River WMA | 5.7 mi W | WMA | DNR | 679 | 5.7 mi | 6.1 mi | 274 | CWD notice |
| Savanna Portage State Park | 7.2 mi SE | State park | DNR | 173 | 7.2 mi | 24 mi | 15,186 | Special hunts |
| Savanna State Forest | 7.2 mi E | State forest | DNR | 155, 156 | 7.2 mi | 10 mi | 128,689 | – |
| Hay Point WMA | 7.5 mi S | WMA | DNR | 171 | 7.5 mi | 7.9 mi | 350 | – |
| Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 8.6 mi NW | Ranger district | USFS | 110, 169 | 8.6 mi | 55 mi | 187,217 | – |
| Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 8.6 mi N | Ranger district | USFS | 169, 171 | 8.6 mi | 36 mi | 297,666 | – |
| Walker Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 8.6 mi W | Ranger district | USFS | 171, 172 | 8.6 mi | 35 mi | 174,775 | – |
| Golden Anniversary State Forest | 8.7 mi NE | State forest | DNR | 679 | 8.7 mi | 9.4 mi | 1,832 | – |
Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, at 297,666 acres, is the largest unit inside the ring. The 10-mile list breaks down into 4 WMAs, 3 state forests and grouse areas, 3 federal units and 2 AMAs, SNAs and parks. For a state WMA, Hill Lake Wildlife Management Area is the first stop from Hill City. DNR posts a CWD notice for deer hunters on 1 unit within 10 miles. Savanna Portage State Park opens only for special hunts with their own application.
Lands from DNR WMA, state forest, SNA, AMA and parks records, USFS and USFWS (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, center miles from each mapped point. WPA rules from the USFWS Minnesota WMD hunting regulations; WMA rules from the DNR WMA rules. Checked October 28, 2026.
Where Hill City hunters take a deer after the shot
The table counts each trade within 15 and 35 miles of Hill City and shows the closest few below it. Donated deer go to registered processors such as Emily Meats (25 mi). For a CWD test, Capture The Memory Taxidermy (42 mi) takes samples for DNR.
| Category | Count, 15 mi | Count, 35 mi | First stop | How far | Located in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game processors | 0 | 3 | Emily Meats | 25 mi SW | Emily |
| Taxidermy | 2 | 7 | Councilman Taxidermy | 13 mi N | Grand Rapids |
| Gun and archery stores | 0 | 15 | Remer Trading Post | 16 mi W | Remer |
| Guides and preserves | 0 | 4 | Pheasants Plus | 16 mi NE | Warba |
Game processors
Taxidermy
Gun and archery stores
Guides and preserves
Processors from the MDA venison donation processor list, the DNR CWD partner list and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from the DNR partner list, DNR license agent feed and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked October 28, 2026; hours were not checked.
DPA designations for Hill City hunters
Archery runs Sept. 19 to Dec. 31 in every DPA here; the table holds what differs between the DPAs near Hill City.
| Deer area | Share | Designation | Firearm days | Late season | Black powder | Early antlerless | CWD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 171 | 30% | Antlerless permit lottery (500) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 155 | 25% | Antlerless permit lottery (750) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 173 | 16% | Antlerless permit lottery (50) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 156 | 15% | Antlerless permit lottery (1,000) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 249 | 5% | 2-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 157 | 4% | 2-deer limit | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 679 closest land | 3% | Either-sex | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | Mgmt zone |
| DPA 604 | 3% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | Mgmt zone |
The deer permit area under Hill Lake Aquatic Management Area, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, is DPA 679 (600 series). DPA 679 allows one deer of either sex in 2026, with no bonus permits. The firearms window in DPA 679 is Nov 7–22. Because it is in the CWD management zone, the carcass disposal rule replaces the old movement limits here. The CWD feeding and attractant ban covers Aitkin County.
DPA designations, lottery quotas, season windows and CWD status from the DNR deer permit area service and the 2026-2027 booklet DPA lists; county shares from a GIS overlay (counties.json). CWD rules from the booklet CWD pages; shotgun ordinances from the booklet county list. Checked October 28, 2026.
Hill City dates from bow opener to spring turkey
Waterfowl rows follow the North, Central and South zones and furbearer rows the North and South zones, so check which side of the line you hunt in Aitkin County.
| Game | Segment | DPA or zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | All DPAs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer | All DPAs here | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (100 series) | DPAs 155, 156, 157, 171, 173, 604, 679 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (200 series) | DPA 249 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota area 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 and 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 and 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 | |
| Snow, Blue and Ross's Geese | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Early teal season | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Ducks | 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | South Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Take-a-Kid weekend | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| American Badger | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| American Badger | 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 | |
| Snow, Blue and Ross's Geese | Spring light goose | Statewide | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and the DNR deer permit area map, checked October 28, 2026.
Hill City permit areas beyond deer
| Unit | Coverage | 2026 permits | Recent harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear area 51 | 98% of county | 1,500 permits | 436 bears (2025) |
| Over-the-counter bear | 2% of county | Unlimited | – |
| Turkey zone 508 | 100% of county | Periods A-F | 3,067 spring birds (2026) |
Quota bear area 51 covers 98% of Aitkin County; DNR set 1,500 permits for 2026. Spring turkey harvest in area 508: 3,067 in 2026, 3,248 the year before. Waterfowl zone lines follow highways (MN 210/23/39 between North and Central, US 212/I-494/I-94 between Central and South), so check the DNR map for which zone Hill City falls in. Furbearers follow the I-94/US 10 line between the North and South zones.
Bear areas and 2026 permits from the 2026 bear regulations; bear harvest from the DNR bear harvest reports; turkey harvest from the DNR spring turkey reports; elk, sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken from DNR pages; refuges from the booklet state game refuge table; zone lines from the booklet waterfowl map. Shares are GIS overlays. Checked October 28, 2026.
Registered deer near Hill City, by permit area
Harvest is labelled by DPA because that is how DNR reports it; DPA 679 reaches past the Aitkin County line. Hunters registered 2,146 deer there in 2025, against 3,157 in 2022. 1,238 adult bucks were registered in 2025. The DPA averaged 2.1 deer per square mile of land in 2025.
| Year | All deer | Adult male | Adult female | Deer/sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,157 | 1,232 | 1,381 | 3.08 |
| 2023 | 2,046 | 1,044 | 757 | 2.0 |
| 2024 | 1,929 | 1,086 | 613 | 1.88 |
| 2025 | 2,146 | 1,238 | 635 | 2.1 |
From the DNR 2025 deer harvest report and earlier reports (harvest.json); DPA numbers as in each report year, and boundaries changed over time. Checked October 28, 2026.
Hill City: hunting dates nearby
NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser inside a 30-mile circle: 1 upcoming event.
Dates ahead
| Date | Event | Away | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2027 | North Country Spurs NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 18 | Grand Rapids | Buy tickets | Source |
Gun ranges and clubs by Hill City
Top of the list for Hill City: Moose-Willow Sportsmen Club, 6 miles away.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Hill City DNR contacts
Call the Aitkin area wildlife office about land in Aitkin County. Regional matters go to Grand Rapids, home of the Northeast Region office. Licenses come through the electronic licensing system; call the office for local land questions.
Minnesota DNR Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 17 mi away
Minnesota DNR Region 2 (Northeast) Headquarters, 17 mi north
Offices from the DNR wildlife area offices page and the DNR regions page; work-area shares from the DNR wildlife admin layer (counties.json). Checked October 28, 2026.
Sunrise-based hunting hours at Hill City
Sun times below are calculated for Hill City; the big game column adds the half hour after sunset and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Big game hours | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:25 a.m.–7:50 p.m. | 6:25 a.m.–7:20 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:34 a.m.–7:36 p.m. | 6:34 a.m.–7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:53 a.m.–7:08 p.m. | 6:53 a.m.–6:38 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:33 a.m.–5:22 p.m. | 6:33 a.m.–4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:33 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 7:03 a.m.–5:01 p.m. | 7:03 a.m.–4:31 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:58 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 7:28 a.m.–5:05 p.m. | 7:28 a.m.–4:35 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–8:28 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–7:58 p.m. |
Hours rule from the DNR booklet shooting hours page; sun times calculated for the county centre (NOAA method, Central Time), checked against U.S. Naval Observatory tables; checked October 28, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Hill City hunting, quick answers
Do I need a paper tag for deer near Hill City?
No paper tag: validate in the app or mark the validation on the paper license at the kill site, then register within 48 hours.
Who manages the WMAs around Hill City?
The Aitkin area wildlife office (Aitkin); phone (218) 429-3053.
Are there other bases close to Hill City?
Yes: Remer, La Prairie, Grand Rapids and Emily, by straight-line miles.
What are the blaze rules near Hill City?
Firearms deer seasons require orange or pink above the waist; small game hunters need one visible piece at other times.
How much public land lies within 10 miles of Hill City?
About 72,602 acres by GIS measure, over 12 listed units.
Which listed unit sits nearest Hill City, Minnesota?
First on the distance list is Hill Lake Aquatic Management Area, its nearest boundary less than a mile out. Next in line: Hill Lake Wildlife Management Area, its nearest boundary less than a mile out.
How long is the firearms deer season by Hill City?
The DPA 679 window is Nov 7–22, 2026.
Is the DPA near Hill City a lottery area?
No, DPA 679 is either-sex in 2026, not a lottery area.
How do bear licenses work around Hill City?
Apply in the DNR bear drawing for quota area 51 (1,500 permits); leftover licenses went on surplus sale Aug. 5.
Can I move a deer carcass from near Hill City?
Yes, but carcasses from DPA 679 (management zone) must go to a landfill, refuse hauler, Minnesota processor or licensed taxidermist, or stay on the private land of harvest. Deer feeding is illegal across Aitkin County.
Which processor is closest to Hill City?
Emily Meats, 25 mi, tops our list; call first.
When is legal light on Nov. 7 near Hill City?
For the firearms opener, legal light runs 6:33 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. at the county centre.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations; registration from booklet p. 28, blaze rules from booklet p. 39. Checked October 28, 2026.
Ready to leave Hill City for public land?
DNR can change rules between booklets. Re-check the Aitkin County page and the DNR site before the trip.
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); 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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); jcantroot (CC BY 2.0).