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Sherburne County, MN · town base
Public ground, DPAs and seasons near Zimmerman, Minnesota
Zimmerman in the DNR Central Region: lands within 10 miles, the deer permit areas over Sherburne County, CWD status, refuges and shops nearby.
Photo: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge (2.0 mi from Zimmerman), shown as a nearby stand-in. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The city of Zimmerman belongs to Sherburne County; Elk River is the county seat. Hunters headed for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge can stay in Zimmerman; the boundary sits 2.0 miles out. Zimmerman made the list as the base town for Sand Dunes State Forest, whose closest boundary lies 2.4 miles out. Census Vintage 2024 counts 6,772 people in Zimmerman, on 3.8 square miles of land. Measured as a GIS union, about 34,287 public acres fall within 10 miles of Zimmerman. Measured from the town point, the first unit is Freemont Wildlife 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.
Where public ground starts around Zimmerman
The map and table share 10 units; bold pins mark a boundary within 10 miles of Zimmerman.
| Public land | Way | Kind | Run by | DPA | To boundary | To center | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freemont WMA | 0.4 mi W | WMA | DNR | 223 | 0.4 mi | 0.7 mi | 181 | – |
| Sherburne NWR Key unit | 2.0 mi NW | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | 224 | 2.0 mi | 7.0 mi | 30,027 | – |
| Sand Dunes State Forest Key unit | 2.4 mi W | State forest | DNR | 223 | 2.4 mi | 5.9 mi | 5,806 | – |
| Uncas Dunes SNA | 4.4 mi W | SNA | DNR | 223 | 4.4 mi | 5.9 mi | 658 | – |
| Vietnam Veterans WMA | 4.7 mi N | WMA | DNR | 223, 227 | 4.7 mi | 5.0 mi | 79 | – |
| Crooked Road WMA | 6.8 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 227 | 6.8 mi | 7.3 mi | 390 | – |
| Carl E. Bonnell WMA | 7.8 mi E | WMA | DNR | 227 | 7.8 mi | 8.1 mi | 78 | – |
| Spencer Brook WMA | 8.2 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 227 | 8.2 mi | 8.8 mi | 309 | – |
| Kunkel WMA | 8.8 mi NW | WMA | DNR | 223 | 8.8 mi | 9.8 mi | 2,757 | – |
| Santiago WMA | 11 mi W | WMA | DNR | 223 | over 10 mi | 11 mi | 81 | – |
The largest unit touching the ring is Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge at 30,027 acres. Sorted by program, the nearby land is 6 WMAs, 1 state forest or grouse area, 1 federal unit and 1 AMA, SNA or park. The WMA closest to Zimmerman is Freemont Wildlife Management Area; WMA rules apply on every subunit.
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.
Zimmerman deer permit areas, 2026 rules
Minnesota sets deer dates and limits by deer permit area, and DPA lines do not follow county lines; 3 DPAs cover 2% or more of Sherburne County.
| Area | County share | Designation | Firearm | Late SE | Muzzle | Early doe | CWD status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 223 nearest unit | 75% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | – |
| DPA 227 | 12% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | – |
| DPA 224 | 11% | 2-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
Freemont Wildlife Management Area, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, lies in DPA 223, a 200 series area. Hunters may take up to 3 deer in DPA 223 this year with bonus permits. Its firearms season: Nov 7–15; muzzleloader follows Nov 28–Dec 13. In Sherburne County, feeding deer and using attractants is illegal under the CWD rules.
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.
Zimmerman zones for bear, birds and elk
| Permit area | County share | Quota | Last count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear, no quota | 100% of county | Unlimited | – |
| Spring turkey area 507 | 87% of county | Periods A-F | 4,287 spring birds (2026) |
| Spring turkey area 510 | 13% of county | Periods A-F | 1,219 spring birds (2026) |
Sherburne County is in the bear no-quota area, where licenses are sold over the counter without a drawing; the season runs Sept. 1 to Oct. 18. The 2026 spring harvest in turkey area 507 was 4,287 birds; spring 2027 runs periods A to F, Apr. 14 to May 31. Duck dates depend on the zone, and the zone lines run along MN 210/23/39 and US 212/I-494/I-94. The furbearer zone line runs along I-94 and US 10 from Moorhead through St. Paul to Hastings. The booklet lists 2 refuges in Sherburne County with special openings.
Refuge rules
| Refuge | Small game | Ducks | Deer/bear guns | Deer/bear bows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake | Open | Closed | Deer only | Deer only |
| St. Cloud | Closed | Closed | Closed | St. Cloud city permit may be required |
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.
Season windows for Zimmerman hunters, 2026-27
Deer dates in Sherburne County follow its deer permit areas (223, 227 and 224), not the county line. The 50 rows below come from the 2026-2027 DNR booklet.
| Game | Season | Unit | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | All DPAs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless | DPAs 223, 227 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer | All DPAs here | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (200 series) | All DPAs here | 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 | |
| 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.
DPA 223 harvest for Zimmerman hunters
Figures cover the entire DPA 223; Minnesota prints no harvest for a single county or town. 2025: 2,839 deer. 2017: 1,501. In 2025, 1,387 registered deer were adult bucks. DNR figured 7.56 deer per square mile (rank 9).
| Year | Total | Adult bucks | Adult does | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,389 | 1,096 | 920 | 6.36 |
| 2023 | 2,249 | 1,087 | 801 | 5.99 |
| 2024 | 2,808 | 1,361 | 1,032 | 7.48 |
| 2025 | 2,839 | 1,387 | 1,026 | 7.56 |
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.
Cutting, mounting and outfitting near Zimmerman
Businesses Zimmerman hunters lean on in the fall, grouped by trade and sorted by miles. To donate a deer to a food shelf, Center Cut Meats – Albertville (14 mi) is on the state venison donation list. Closest CWD sampling partner on the DNR list: Novalee Skulls (8.8 mi).
| Kind | Listings 15 mi | Listings 35 mi | Nearest business | Away | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venison processing | 1 | 8 | Center Cut Meats – Albertville | 14 mi S | Albertville |
| Taxidermy studios | 5 | 32 | Arrowed 1 Taxidermy | 6.9 mi SW | Big Lake |
| Gear shops | 10 | 58 | Hair Trigger Gun Shop | 0.4 mi NE | Zimmerman |
| Preserves and guide services | 2 | 4 | Oakwood Game Farm | 5.8 mi N | Princeton |
Venison processing
Taxidermy studios
Gear shops
Preserves and guide services
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.
Zimmerman DNR phone numbers and addresses
WMAs and wildlife questions in Sherburne County go to the Sauk Rapids office. The DNR Central Region is run from St. Paul. Since 2026 there are no paper tags; offices are for wildlife questions, not license sales.
Minnesota DNR Cambridge Area Wildlife Office, northeast 19 mi
Minnesota DNR North Metro Area Wildlife Office (25 mi southeast)
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.
Hunting events near Zimmerman
6 upcoming events within about 30 straight-line miles, soonest first: NWTF chapter banquet, NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser and firearms safety hybrid class. Checked October 28, 2026.
Still to come
| Held on | Event | How far | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026 | Firearms Safety Hybrid Class, a firearms safety hybrid class | 20 | Cambridge | Register | Source |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Benton Co. Tom Bombers Gun Bash NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 27 | Gilman | Event details | Source |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Sand Dunes Gobblers Hunting Heritage Bqt NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 14 | Monticello | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Rum River Longbeards Hunting Heritage Event NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 22 | Milaca | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Benton Co. Tom Bombers Hunting Heritage NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 22 | Foley | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 25, 2027 | West Metro Struttin Zone Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 24 | Maple Grove | Buy tickets | Source |
Where Zimmerman hunters check a zero
Minnesota Sportsmen's Club heads the Zimmerman list (3 miles), and two more follow.
Elm Creek Park Reserve is the nearest public range, roughly 22 miles out. Details
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Opening and closing minutes for Zimmerman hunts
Deer, bear and elk may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; waterfowl, turkey and small game stop at sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:27 a.m.–7:51 p.m. | 6:27 a.m.–7:21 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–7:37 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–7:07 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:53 a.m.–7:11 p.m. | 6:53 a.m.–6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–5:26 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–4:56 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:31 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:01 a.m.–5:06 p.m. | 7:01 a.m.–4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:55 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:25 a.m.–5:10 p.m. | 7:25 a.m.–4:40 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–8:28 p.m. | 6:03 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.
Questions Zimmerman hunters ask before the season
Which bear permit area covers Zimmerman?
The no-quota area, which takes in 100% of Sherburne County.
When does legal hunting time end near Zimmerman?
Deer hours end half an hour after sunset, 5:26 p.m. on Nov. 7; waterfowl and small game stop at sunset.
Where does a Zimmerman hunter get a deer cut and wrapped?
Center Cut Meats – Albertville (Albertville) is the first on the list.
Who answers WMA questions for Zimmerman hunters?
Staff at Minnesota DNR Sauk Rapids Area Wildlife Office in Sauk Rapids ((320) 223-7878).
How is a deer registered after a hunt near Zimmerman?
Validate at the kill site in the app or on the paper license, then register online, in the app or at a walk-in station within 48 hours.
Do I need blaze orange near Zimmerman?
During the firearms and muzzleloader deer seasons everyone afield wears blaze orange or pink on the cap and above the waist.
Where else can I base a hunt near Zimmerman?
Pages exist for Elk River, Princeton, St. Michael and Anoka.
How near does public land come to Zimmerman?
Straight-line, it is Freemont Wildlife Management Area, its nearest boundary less than a mile out. Behind it comes Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, its nearest boundary 2.0 miles out.
What is the public acreage in a 10-mile ring around Zimmerman?
The 10-mile circle holds some 34,287 acres (9 units).
Which deer permit area is Zimmerman in?
DPA lines, not town limits, decide it: the nearest public land lies in DPA 223, and Sherburne County spans 223, 227 and 224.
When is the firearms deer season near Zimmerman?
In DPA 223 the firearms season runs Nov 7–15, 2026; muzzleloader is Nov 28–Dec 13 and archery Sep 19–Dec 31.
Is Zimmerman in a CWD zone?
No; DPA 223 is outside both the management zone and the 2026 surveillance block. The feeding and attractant ban covers Sherburne County.
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.
Zimmerman pre-trip checks
The DNR booklet and each land page are the final word for hunts from Zimmerman.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0); 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).