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Central Minnesota · 2026-27 booklet
Wabasha County Hunting
Wabasha County from the deer permit area up: how DPA 642 and its neighbours are designated for 2026, what the CWD rules ask, which bear and turkey areas apply, and the state and federal land open to hunters.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Wabasha County spreads across 523 square miles of land plus 27 of lakes and rivers, governed from Wabasha. That ground is shared by some 21,574 residents, near 41 to each square mile. The DNR regional office that covers it sits in St. Paul, home of the Central Region. Permit area lines decide deer limits here, and the ones that matter are 642, 341, 644 and 643. DNR, Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service polygons add up to about 22,370 public acres inside the county.
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.
Wabasha County deer permit areas and 2026 dates
Most of Wabasha County (66%) lies in DPA 642, with slices of 341, 644 and 643. The 2026 designations read 3-deer in 642 and 341; 2-deer in 644; 5-deer in 643. Series decides the firearm calendar, with Nov. 7 through 15 for 642, 341, 644 and 643. The early antlerless season (Oct. 15-18) is open in 642, 341 and 643 and its deer do not count toward the statewide limit. 642, 341, 644 and 643: late southeast firearms Nov. 21 through 29. No hunter may exceed the statewide limit of five deer, one of them a buck (three bucks in 643). Hit the limit in one permit area? Since 2026 you may continue in another one.
| DPA | % of county | 2026 | Lottery | Archery | Firearms | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 642 | 66% | 3-deer | — | Sept. 19–Dec. 31 | Nov. 7–Nov. 15 | Nov. 28–Dec. 13 |
| 341 | 20% | 3-deer | — | Sept. 19–Dec. 31 | Nov. 7–Nov. 15 | Nov. 28–Dec. 13 |
| 644 | 8% | 2-deer | — | Sept. 19–Dec. 31 | Nov. 7–Nov. 15 | Nov. 28–Dec. 13 |
| 643 | 5% | 5-deer | — | Sept. 19–Dec. 31 | Nov. 7–Nov. 15 | Nov. 28–Dec. 13 |
| Permit area | Series | Youth | Antlerless Oct. | Late | CWD | Sq mi | In county |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 642 | 600 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | Dec. 18–20 | Mgmt zone | 374 | 97% |
| 341 | 300 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | — | Voluntary | 624 | 18% |
| 644 | 600 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | — | — | Mgmt zone | 190 | 24% |
| 643 | 600 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | Oct. 15–Oct. 18 | Dec. 18–20 | Mgmt zone | 664 | 4% |
DPA 642 · DPA 341 · DPA 644 · DPA 643 · Deer permit areas · Lottery quotas
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.
Wabasha County harvest record, DPA by DPA
Harvest here means DPA harvest: DNR tables stop at the permit area, which rarely matches the Wabasha County line. Last season DPA 642 gave up 2,077 registered deer (rank 16 in the DNR table). DNR puts the 2025 buck take at 2.49 per square mile of DPA 642. Statewide, Minnesota hunters registered 186,368 deer in 2025, 106,437 of them antlered bucks.
| DPA | County % | DPA % | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Buck rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 642 | 66% | 97% | — | 1,890 | 2,077 | 2.49 |
| 341 | 20% | 18% | 3,034 | 2,953 | 3,312 | 2.62 |
| 644 | 8% | 24% | 977 | 1,014 | 1,086 | 2.62 |
| 643 | 5% | 4% | 3,039 | 3,028 | 3,469 | 2.28 |
What DPA 642 hunters registered
| Season | Males 1+ | Male fawns | Females 1+ | Female fawns | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 870 | 193 | 817 | 197 | 2,077 |
| 2024 | 842 | 186 | 685 | 177 | 1,890 |
DNR 2025 registered deer harvest report and earlier yearly reports (2017-2024); statewide totals from the DNR deer harvest statistics. Checked October 28, 2026.
What is open around Wabasha County and when
Rows marked with a DPA apply only in that part of Wabasha County; firearms deer runs Nov. 7 to 15 in 200-series areas and Nov. 7 to 22 in the 100 series.
| Species | Season | Applies in | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | All DPAs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless | DPAs 341, 642, 643 | 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 | Late southeast | All DPAs here | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late CWD season | DPAs 642, 643 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 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.
CWD status and county ordinances for Wabasha County
Part of Wabasha County lies in the CWD management zone (642, 644 and 643); deer carcasses from there must end up at a landfill, with a hauler, a processor or taxidermist, or back on the land of harvest. In the zone DNR sells disease management permits for added does. Late CWD hunting returns to 642 and 643 Dec. 18 through 20. Leave the corn and the doe urine at home: Wabasha County is on the feeding and attractant ban list. With the shotgun zone repealed and no county ordinance, Wabasha County deer hunters may use rifles. Blaze camouflage passes only if each square foot is at least half orange or pink. Your license is your tag now: validate it where the deer fell and register within two days.
CWD history for Wabasha County
| Period | Summary | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Winter: 1 sick deer in DPA 604. Fall: first detection in DPA 285; 122 more in management-zone DPAs 604, 605, 643-649, 655, 666, 671, 684 (first in 644 and 655). | 124 |
CWD page · Law summary · Buying a license
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.
Wabasha County game besides deer
Bear permits
The no-quota bear area covers the whole county; no lottery is needed. Bait stations may be stocked from Aug. 14 ahead of the Sept. 1 opener; the season closes Oct. 18.
Spring and fall turkey
Wabasha County lies in turkey permit areas 501 (92%) and 502 (8%). The 2026 spring harvest in permit area 501 was 2,341 birds. 501 drew 9,310 permit declarations for spring 2026. Fall birds may be either sex; the fall season closes Nov. 1.
| Area | County % | 2023 spring | 2024 spring | 2025 spring | 2026 spring | 2025 fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 92% | 2,530 | 2,782 | 2,565 | 2,341 | 90 |
| 502 | 8% | 238 | 270 | 272 | 246 | 5 |
Wabasha County ducks and geese
For ducks, the North-Central line follows MN 210, 23 and 39 and the Central-South line US 212, I-494 and I-94; the map decides where Wabasha County ground falls. North of I-94/US 10 is the North Furbearer Zone; south of it, the South Zone.
Bear permit areas · Turkey areas 501-512 · Duck zone lines · State game refuges
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.
Public ground a Wabasha County hunter can walk
By kind, Wabasha County public land counts 4 wildlife management areas, 1 state forest, 1 national wildlife refuge and 1 aquatic management area. Forests add 10,641 state forest acres by GIS measure. Parks are closed to general hunting; special hunts are the exception.
- State forests: 1 on fileRichard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest (48,840 ac*)
- Wildlife management areas, 4 hereWhitewater Wildlife Management Area (27,451 ac*), Mc Carthy Lake Wildlife Management Area (3,262 ac), Pool 4 Wildlife Management Area (142 ac), Izaak Walton League Wildlife Management Area (120 ac)
- National wildlife refuges: 1 on fileUpper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Minnesota portion) (19,205 ac*)
- Scientific and natural areas, 1 hereZumbro Falls Woods Scientific and Natural Area (440 ac)
- Aquatic management areas, 1 hereWest Indian Creek Aquatic Management Area (22 ac)
Over the line
- Frontenac State Park18 miles off · 2,644 ac
- Tiedemann Wildlife Management Area18 miles off · 136 ac
- Haverhill Wildlife Management Area18 miles off · 398 ac
- Perched Valley Wildlife Management Area18 miles off · 247 ac
- Buck Family Memorial Wildlife Management Area18 miles off · 159 ac
Hunting is barred at Bald Eagle Bluff Scientific and Natural Area, Cold Spring Brook Aquatic Management Area, East Indian Creek Aquatic Management Area, Gilbert Creek Aquatic Management Area, Gorman Creek Aquatic Management Area, Kellogg Weaver Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, Long Creek Aquatic Management Area and Mazeppa Creek Aquatic Management Area and 5 more, so plan around them.
All land pages · WMAs statewide · WIA program · 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.
Hunting services and contacts in Wabasha County
Processors marked venison donation are on the state donation list for 2026.
Who answers for Wabasha
St. Paul is home to the Central Region office that covers Wabasha County. Day-to-day wildlife work here belongs to the Rochester area office in Rochester.
Deer processors
Mounts
Outdoor stores
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.
Seat, towns and next-door counties of Wabasha County
Pick a base in Wabasha County: every town below links to a page with nearby public land and services.
- Wabashacounty seat · 2,598 people in 2024 · 14,170 open ac in a 10-mi circle
- Kellogg426 people in 2024 · 25,528 open ac in a 10-mi circle
There are 3 Minnesota counties on the far side of the Wabasha County line; Buffalo (WI) and Pepin (WI) lie beyond the border.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Wabasha County ranges and shoot dates
Wabasha County has no range in this guide; the nearest three are below, with miles.
Nearest public range: Spring Lake Park Archery Range in Dakota County, about 49 miles from the county centre. Details
Ranges from the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026. The DNR Shooting Range Finder could not be read.
Wabasha County shooting time on key dates
Sun times below are calculated for Wabasha County; 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 | 6:51 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:53 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:21 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:44 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:29 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:50 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.
Coming up around Wabasha County this season
As of October 28, 2026, 1 upcoming event.
Dates ahead
| Date | Event | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2027 | Whitewater Longbeards Hunting Heritage NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | Kellogg | Buy tickets | Source |
For firearms safety, Wabasha County had 2 DNR classes in 2026, last starting Aug 19, 2026 in Zumbo Falls and Zumbro Falls. All DNR classes.
Asked about hunting Wabasha County
When is the next bear lottery deadline for Wabasha County?
May 1, 2027 for the 2027 season (booklet date).
How many spring turkeys came from area 501?
2,341 in spring 2026.
How much land can the public hunt in Wabasha County?
Yes: 8 listed units and about 22,370 public acres by GIS.
Where can a Wabasha County hunter buy a license?
Online, by phone or at a DNR license agent.
What day do ducks open in Wabasha County?
Sept. 26, 2026 in all three zones; Central and South close for a split before reopening.
Is a venison processor close to Wabasha County?
Huettl's Locker & Dressing Plant comes first for Wabasha County, then Dennison Meat Locker and Lorentz Processing.
Can I shoot a doe in Wabasha County without a permit?
Yes, archery and either-sex or multi-deer areas allow antlerless deer under the statewide limit.
Does any Wabasha County permit area sit in the CWD management zone?
Yes: 642, 644 and 643. The carcass disposal rule applies there.
What caliber is legal for deer in Wabasha County?
Centerfire .220 or larger with expanding bullets.
What was the best recent year in DPA 642?
2025 leads the run at 2,077 registered deer for the whole area.
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.
Last look at the Wabasha County rules
DNR can change dates and rules between license years, and later notices can override the booklet.
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: Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (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).