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2026-27 · DPA 157
Kanabec County Hunting
A county brief for Kanabec County in Central Minnesota: 2026 DPA designations and lottery quotas, firearm and muzzleloader windows, harvest by permit area, bear permits, turkey numbers and public acres by kind.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
With Mora as its seat, Kanabec County takes in 522 square miles of the Twin Cities, the St. Croix Valley and the southeast bluff country. Roughly 16,608 people lived here in 2024, 3.6% up on the 2020 base. Its DNR region is the Central Region; staff there work out of St. Paul. 2 deer permit areas split the county: 157 and 225. GIS layers count close to 28,204 acres of state and federal ground within the line.
Land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates, region from the DNR county region list, DPAs from the DNR deer permit area layer, public acres from DNR, USFS and USFWS GIS layers (not official acreages). Checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kanabec County
Kanabec County DPAs, designations and windows
The 2026 deer map puts 79% of Kanabec County in DPA 157 and divides what is left among 225. Designation by area this year: 2-deer in 157; 3-deer in 225. Firearm dates split by series: 157 with the longer Nov. 7-22 run; Nov. 7-15 in 225. Mid-October brings antlerless-only days to 225. Whatever the DPA, the statewide limit stays at five deer including one buck. One change for 2026: a filled DPA limit lets you switch to another permit area.
| DPA | Share | Designation | Lottery permits | Archery | Firearms | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 79% | 2-deer | — | Sept. 19–Dec. 31 | Nov. 7–Nov. 22 | Nov. 28–Dec. 13 |
| 225 | 19% | 3-deer | — | Sept. 19–Dec. 31 | Nov. 7–Nov. 15 | Nov. 28–Dec. 13 |
| Area | Series | Youth | Early antlerless | Late | CWD status | Square miles | DPA share here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 100 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | — | — | Voluntary | 902 | 47% |
| 225 | 200 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | — | Voluntary | 635 | 16% |
DPA 157 · DPA 225 · DPA index · Permit lottery
Shares, designations and dates from the DNR deer permit area layer (2026 seasons) and the booklet DPA designation list; lottery quotas from the booklet lottery page; limits from the booklet deer rules. Checked October 28, 2026.
Kanabec County deer harvest by permit area
There is no official Kanabec County deer harvest: DNR reports registered deer by DPA, and each DPA here also takes in ground outside the county. In 2025, hunters registered 4,606 deer across DPA 157, 2,950 of them adult bucks. That is 26% less than the 6,261 of 2017; the peak was 2017 at 6,261. Per square mile, DPA 157 hunters registered 3.32 bucks. For scale, all of Minnesota registered 186,368 deer in 2025.
| DPA | Of county | DPA in county | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Bucks/sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 79% | 47% | 3,716 | 4,255 | 4,606 | 3.32 |
| 225 | 19% | 16% | 4,326 | 5,038 | 5,598 | 4.6 |
Bucks, does and fawns in DPA 157
| Season | Adult males | Buck fawns | Adult females | Doe fawns | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,950 | 314 | 1,165 | 177 | 4,606 |
| 2024 | 2,678 | 294 | 1,095 | 188 | 4,255 |
| 2023 | 2,309 | 240 | 1,028 | 139 | 3,716 |
| 2022 | 2,462 | 436 | 1,623 | 357 | 4,878 |
| 2021 | 2,707 | 302 | 1,207 | 190 | 4,406 |
| 2020 | 2,671 | 381 | 1,497 | 257 | 4,806 |
| 2019 | 2,128 | 310 | 1,145 | 196 | 3,779 |
| 2018 | 2,516 | 454 | 1,772 | 306 | 5,048 |
| 2017 | 2,896 | 614 | 2,276 | 475 | 6,261 |
DNR 2025 registered deer harvest report and earlier yearly reports (2017-2024); statewide totals from the DNR deer harvest statistics. Checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons that reach Kanabec County
WMAs, state forests and private land share these dates in Kanabec County; refuges, state parks and special hunts add their own rules.
| Animal | Hunt | Area | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | All DPAs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless | DPA 225 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer | All DPAs here | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (100 series) | DPA 157 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (200 series) | DPA 225 | 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.
CWD, feeding and firearm rules in Kanabec County
The four-year CWD rotation has not reached 157 and 225 yet; voluntary samples are still welcome. Deer feeding is not banned in Kanabec County, but placing food to hunt over is. The Legislature repealed the shotgun zone in 2025 and Kanabec County is not among the 13 counties with a shotgun-only ordinance, so legal rifles, handguns and shotguns may be used for deer. Firearm deer season means blaze orange or pink on your outer clothing above the waist and on any cap. Validate at the kill site and register within 48 hours; phone registration has ended.
CWD details · Legal reference · Fees and licenses
CWD zones from the booklet CWD page and the CWD rules; history from the DNR CWD page; shotgun ordinances from the booklet firearm page; orange from the booklet clothing rule; registration from the booklet registration page. Checked October 28, 2026.
Bear, turkey and birds in Kanabec County
Black bear
Bear hunting here runs by lottery permit in area 51 (1,500 permits). Aug. 5 surplus counts: area 51, 274. Whole-unit bear harvest for 2025: 436 in unit 51. Bear hunters may buy an over-the-counter no-quota license for the 87% of the county outside quota areas. From Sept. 1 to Oct. 18 bears may be hunted; baits go out from Aug. 14.
| Quota area | Share | Permits | Leftovers | Bears 2022 | Bears 2023 | Bears 2024 | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 13% | 1,500 | 274 | 350 | 313 | 669 | 436 |
Wild turkey
The turkey map puts Kanabec County in 508 (98%) and 512 (2%). 3,067 gobblers and bearded hens came from area 508 in spring 2026. Spring 2026 permits listing 508: 12,933. Fall turkey runs Oct. 3-Nov. 1, and spring periods A to F fill Apr. 14-May 31, 2027.
| Area | Of county | Spring 2023 | Spring 2024 | Spring 2025 | Spring 2026 | Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 508 | 98% | 2,118 | 3,018 | 3,248 | 3,067 | 328 |
| 512 | 2% | 49 | 56 | 41 | 35 | 3 |
Ducks, geese and furbearers
Kanabec County waterfowl dates depend on the zone map: MN 210/23/39 and US 212/I-494/I-94 are the dividing lines. Check the I-94/US 10 line for furbearer dates. Fish Lake-Ann River: state game refuge, closed unless listed open.
State game refuges
| Refuge | Small game | Ducks | Deer gun | Deer bow | Trapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Lake-Ann River | Open | Open for ducks and geese | Open | Open | Open |
Bear areas statewide · Turkey area map · Waterfowl zone map · Refuge list
Bear areas and permits from the 2026 bear regulations; BMU harvest from the DNR bear status report; turkey areas and harvest from the DNR turkey harvest reports; elk from the DNR elk page; prairie chicken from the DNR prairie chicken page (map-read); waterfowl lines from the DNR waterfowl page; refuges from the booklet refuge table. Checked October 28, 2026.
WMAs, forests and refuges of Kanabec County
Open ground in Kanabec County spans 20 records: 15 wildlife management areas, 3 aquatic management areas and 2 state forests. Forest acreage by GIS: state 12,942.
- Wildlife management areas, 15 listedMille Lacs Wildlife Management Area (38,678 ac*), Dalbo Wildlife Management Area (3,363 ac*), Ann Lake Wildlife Management Area (1,874 ac), Kroschel Wildlife Management Area (1,536 ac), Pomroy Pastures Wildlife Management Area (990 ac), Rice Creek Wildlife Management Area (925 ac*), Erickson-Lidstrom Family Wildlife Management Area (384 ac), Tosher Creek Wildlife Management Area (323 ac), Cranberry Wildlife Management Area (317 ac*), Pine County V&S 4 Wildlife Management Area (285 ac*), Lake Five Wildlife Management Area (276 ac), Bean Dam Wildlife Management Area (246 ac), Hay Snake Wildlife Management Area (237 ac), Whited Wildlife Management Area (170 ac), Wire Tree Wildlife Management Area (39 ac)
- State forests: 2Rum River State Forest (21,100 ac*), Snake River State Forest (9,502 ac)
- Aquatic management areas, 3 listedLittle Knife Aquatic Management Area (168 ac), Quamba Lake Aquatic Management Area (18 ac), Knife Lake FMA (18 ac)
Just outside the county
- Groundhouse Wildlife Management Area12 miles out · 161 ac
- Pine County V&S 2 Wildlife Management Area13 miles out · 81 ac
- Pine County V&S 3 Wildlife Management Area15 miles out · 296 ac
- Kraft Wildlife Management Area15 miles out · 94 ac
- Conservation Officer Eugene H. Wynn Jr. Memorial Wildlife Management Area15 miles out · 694 ac
Public land hub · WMA index · Walk-In Access page · All 60 state forests
Units from our Minnesota land list (DNR WMA, SNA, AMA, forest and park pages, USFWS and USFS records); acres by kind from the DNR management units layer, the USFS ownership layer and the USFWS interest layer (GIS measures); Walk-In Access from the DNR Walk-In Access program; special hunts from the booklet special hunt tables. Checked October 28, 2026.
Offices and businesses serving Kanabec County
Mileage is measured as the crow flies from the middle of Kanabec County.
Kanabec wildlife staff
Questions about Kanabec County that go beyond the area office reach the Central Region in St. Paul. Kanabec County WMAs are managed mostly from Cambridge.
Processors near the county
Taxidermy shops
Guide businesses
Sporting goods
Offices from the DNR wildlife area offices and DNR regions pages; processors from the MDA venison donation list, the DNR CWD partner list and directories; shops from directories and store locators. Checked October 28, 2026; call ahead. All Minnesota hunting services.
Towns plus the counties that touch Kanabec County
Population figures are 2024 Census estimates for incorporated towns; unincorporated places show none.
- Moraseat town · 3,779 inhabitants · 4,723 public ac in 10 mi
- Ogilvie400 inhabitants · 21,509 public ac in 10 mi
The county line of Kanabec County touches 5 Minnesota counties.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Kanabec County ranges, clubs and shoots
This guide lists 2 ranges in Kanabec County.
Hennepin County holds the public range closest to Kanabec County: Elm Creek Park Reserve, 57 miles off. See the range
Ranges from the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026. The DNR Shooting Range Finder could not be read.
Kanabec County legal hunting light
Legal light for deer at Kanabec County brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; ducks and geese open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:01 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:30 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:55 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:31 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 8:27 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:57 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.
Kanabec County hunting calendar and winners
5 printed results (grouse dog championship and grouse dog trial), checked October 28, 2026.
Placings
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2026 | Minnesota Grouse Dog Association 2026, a grouse dog trial | First in Open Shooting Dog – Northwoods Sir Gordon [setter male · Ben McKean, owner · Ryan Hough, handler] | Source |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Minnesota Grouse Dog Association 2026, a grouse dog trial | First in Open Shooting Dog – Little Hawk [setter female · Paul Cook, owner and handler] | Source |
| Oct 6, 2025 | Minnesota Grouse Championship 2025, a grouse dog championship | Winner in Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship – Over The Hill Try [pointer female · Rod Lein, owner and handler] | Source |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Minnesota Grouse Dog Association 2025, a grouse dog trial | First in Open Shooting Dog – I'm Easy Money [setter male · Kyle Peterson, owner and handler] | Source |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Minnesota Grouse Dog Association 2025, a grouse dog trial | First in Open Shooting Dog – Lake Effect Ali [setter female · Tim Kaufman, owner and handler] | Source |
The 2026 DNR calendar lists 3 firearms safety classes here, taught in Braham and Ogilvie; 1 was full when read. Class schedule.
Kanabec County FAQ
Can I hunt geese on a state refuge in Kanabec County?
Not on a listed goose refuge here; most refuges are closed.
Where do Kanabec County hunters take a whitetail for processing?
Most start with Bramham Custom Meat, the closest on our list.
What is the 2026 deer designation in Kanabec County?
157: 2-deer; 225: 3-deer.
Is deer feeding banned in Kanabec County?
Not by county rule, but hunting deer over bait is illegal statewide.
Does Kanabec County close any season on Sundays?
No. Neither the booklet nor chapter 97B limits Sunday hunting.
How many bucks came from DPA 157 in 2025?
2,950 adult males, by the DNR harvest report.
How many bear permits were there for Kanabec County in 2026?
1,500 in area 51 (whole-area quotas).
Is autumn turkey hunting allowed around Kanabec County?
Yes. The fall season runs Oct. 3 to Nov. 1, 2026, statewide.
Does Kanabec County have any Walk-In Access land?
No Walk-In Access sites are listed in the county for 2026.
Who answers regional DNR questions for Kanabec County?
The Central Region office in St. Paul at (651) 259-5635.
Answers from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet, the DNR deer permit area layer, DNR harvest reports and the sources above. Checked October 28, 2026.
Kanabec County before opening day
Carry your license on your phone or on paper, validate at the kill site and register on time.
Sources: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations, DNR hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); 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).