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State forest in Itasca County
Hunting Big Fork State Forest, Minnesota public land
45,186 acres of state forest ground in Itasca County, deer permit area 109.
Photo: Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Big Fork State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Big Fork State Forest
- County Road 14 Public Water Access SiteBoat ramp · 5.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Big Fork Public Water Access SiteBoat ramp · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 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.
Big Fork State Forest at a glance for hunters
You get 45,186 acres at Big Fork State Forest, which lies in Itasca County. By size it ranks 3rd of the 5 state forests we list in Itasca County. DPA 109 (it also reaches DPA 169) sets the deer limit here: antlerless permit lottery this year.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land. DNR land fills 45,186 of the 127,933 acres within the forest boundary. It dates from 1963.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Big Fork State Forest
What is allowed on Big Fork State Forest
Short version of the rules that apply on Big Fork State Forest, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| 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.
Deer on Big Fork State Forest in 2026-27
Deer on Big Fork State Forest fall under DPA 109: antlerless permit lottery, 100 series, 50 lottery permits. Firearm hunters who want a doe in DPA 109 must win the antlerless lottery (apply by Sept. 10).
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 109: optional. DPA 109 spans 1,203 square miles. DPA 109 reaches Koochiching, St. Louis and Itasca counties.
More DPAs here: DPA 169 (antlerless permit lottery)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Big Fork State Forest hunting calendar 2026-27
Big Fork State Forest season dates for 2026-27, picked by the open seasons for its county and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 109, 169 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 109, 169 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPAs 109, 169 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 24, 25, 27, 28, 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 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Public land within a drive of Big Fork State Forest
When Big Fork State Forest is crowded, Scenic State Park sits 11 mi away to the southeast.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic State Park | State park | 2,558 | 169 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Caldwell Brook Cedar Swamp SNA | SNA | 81 | 104 | 11 mi | northwest |
| George Washington State Forest | State forest | 95,433 | 109, 169 | 11 mi | east |
| Ladies Tresses Swamp SNA | SNA | 40 | 169 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Little Too Much Lake SNA, 58 ac | SNA | 58 | 169 | 13 mi | south |
| Lost 40 SNA | SNA | 136 | 169 | 17 mi | west |
| Dishpan WMA | WMA | 1,556 | 169 | 18 mi | west |
| Potato Lake SNA | SNA | 84 | 109 | 19 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.
Big Fork State Forest nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Effie lies 4.5 mi from Big Fork State Forest. For more services, Bigfork (403) is 5.6 mi out. Nearest DNR desk: Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 41 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effie | Itasca | 107 | 4.5 mi | northeast |
| Bigfork | Itasca | 403 | 5.6 mi | southeast |
| Inger | Itasca | – | 21 mi | southwest |
| Squaw Lake | Itasca | 102 | 23 mi | southwest |
| Mizpah | Koochiching | 53 | 24 mi | west |
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.
Big Fork State Forest: deer taken in DPA 109
415 deer were registered in DPA 109 during 2025, 0.35 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 370 | 45 | 415 | 0.35 |
| 2024 | 339 | 36 | 375 | 0.32 |
| 2023 | 295 | 53 | 348 | 0.29 |
| 2022 | 265 | 53 | 318 | 0.27 |
| 2021 | 323 | 75 | 398 | 0.34 |
| 2020 | 257 | 57 | 314 | 0.27 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Big Fork State Forest and the rest of Itasca County
Itasca County has 43 public hunting areas on file, Big Fork State Forest among them. Itasca County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Itasca County bear hunting runs through quota area 27, 28 and 51, 27 (450 permits), 28 (60 permits) and 51 (1500 permits). The county sits in turkey permit area 508. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office, (218) 328-8860. Not every public place in Itasca County is open: Bear River Aquatic Management Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Big Fork State Forest
Sun times computed for Big Fork State Forest itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 7:22 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 7:07 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:07 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:39 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 4:28 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:04 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 4:31 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:29 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. | 8:31 p.m. | 8:01 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
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.
Ranges a Big Fork State Forest hunter can reach
From Big Fork State Forest, the nearest listed range is Udovich Guide Service at 34 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Big Fork State Forest region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Big Fork State Forest, short answers
How do you get to Big Fork State Forest?
Start from Effie (4.5 mi) and follow the pin on the map.
What game species does Big Fork State Forest list?
The Big Fork State Forest record gives no species list; follow the state seasons.
Big Fork State Forest and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 109 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Big Fork State Forest: who is the land manager?
Big Fork State Forest belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Big Fork State Forest neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Scenic State Park (11 mi), Caldwell Brook Cedar Swamp SNA (11 mi) and George Washington State Forest (11 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Big Fork State Forest?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:37 a.m. and ends at 5:20 p.m. at the Big Fork State Forest point.
Does Big Fork State Forest allow public hunting?
Yes. Big Fork State Forest is on the list of Minnesota places open to some hunting; the rules band says how.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Big Fork State Forest?
State forest rules favor portable stands; a stand left up on Big Fork State Forest is public, not yours alone.
What deer permit area is Big Fork State Forest in?
The record puts it in DPA 109: antlerless permit lottery. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Big Fork State Forest acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 45,186 acres.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (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).