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WMA · Northeast region
Bowstring Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area hunting, 2026-27
Seasons, access rules and the nearest towns for this wildlife management area in Itasca County.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bowstring Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Bowstring Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 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.
What the file says about Bowstring Deer Yard WMA
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA adds 771 acres of public ground to Itasca County. Line up the 13 wildlife management areas in Itasca County by acres and Bowstring Deer Yard WMA comes 5th. Its deer permit area is 197; the 2026 designation there is antlerless permit lottery.
DNR runs Bowstring Deer Yard WMA from its Grand Rapids area office; email grandrapids.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid noted by DNR for Bowstring Deer Yard WMA: Pittman-Robertson.
In DNR's words: Both units have hunter walking trails that extend onto other public lands open to hunting. The WMA is open to hunting and trapping. The 2 forty acre parcels in section 7 were purchased by the Izaac Walton League from Itasca County and donated to the MN DNR. The 160 acres in section 16 were donated by the Egg Lake Conservation Club in 1993.
Species on the record: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bowstring Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA route text and lots
Use these DNR directions to find Bowstring Deer Yard WMA; the map pins its 2 parking points.
| Section | Acres | Town | Hunting | Lots | DNR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowstring Deer Yard WMA | 771 | Deer River | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Bowstring Deer Yard WMA: From Deer River, go 8 miles north on State Highway 6, 2.5 miles west on County Road 37, then 1.5 miles north on County Road 153 to section 7. For Sec 16, From Deer River, go 12 miles north on State Highway 46, then 1.5 miles east on County Road 37
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA access rules
The rows below restate the access rules on the agency record for Bowstring Deer Yard WMA.
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Regular seasons |
| Vehicles | Designated roads, lots |
| Target shooting | Not allowed |
| Guns in transit | Cased, unloaded |
| Camping | Designated or permit |
| Portable stands, blinds | Remove daily |
| Overnight stands, northwest | Nov 1-Dec 31 |
| Dogs | Leash Apr 16-Jul 14 |
| Drones | Not allowed |
| Gear left overnight | Not allowed |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA and deer permit area 197
The 2026 designation for DPA 197 is antlerless permit lottery, and 300 antlerless permits go out by lottery; firearms dates follow the 100-series window. Antlerless deer in DPA 197 need a lottery permit for the firearms seasons; the declaration deadline was Sept. 10.
| Hunt | First day | Last day | 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 sampling in DPA 197 is voluntary. The DPA covers 1,351 square miles. DPA 197 counties: Cass, Itasca, Beltrami and Hubbard.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons open on Bowstring Deer Yard WMA
Dated seasons that apply on Bowstring Deer Yard WMA (21 rows), with today's status in the last column.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 197 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 197 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 197 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Waterfowl rows show the North, Central and South zones because DNR draws those lines on highways (MN 210/23/39, US 212/I-494/I-94), not by unit; check the DNR map.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
DPA 197 harvest, the area around Bowstring Deer Yard WMA
Harvest numbers below are DPA 197 totals (1,098 in 2025), the closest DNR figure for Bowstring Deer Yard WMA.
| Season | Bucks (adult) | Others | Registered | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 947 | 151 | 1,098 | 1.13 |
| 2024 | 697 | 134 | 831 | 0.85 |
| 2023 | 667 | 204 | 871 | 0.90 |
| 2022 | 714 | 236 | 950 | 0.98 |
| 2021 | 780 | 222 | 1,002 | 1.03 |
| 2020 | 699 | 278 | 977 | 1.02 |
| 2019 | 851 | 337 | 1,188 | 1.24 |
| 2018 | 1,087 | 314 | 1,401 | 1.47 |
| 2017 | 1,157 | 359 | 1,516 | 1.59 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA on the map with nearby land
Big pins mark Bowstring Deer Yard WMA and its parking; Deer River Ranger District (Chippewa NF) is the nearest neighbor at 2.7 mi.
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer River Ranger District (Chippewa NF), 297,666 ac | Ranger district | 297,666 | 169, 171 | 2.7 mi | east |
| Birds Eye Lake AMA | AMA | 223 | 197 | 9.6 mi | north |
| Bowstring State Forest | State forest | 115,891 | 169, 197 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Little Too Much Lake SNA, 58 ac | SNA | 58 | 169 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Nature's Lake WMA | WMA | 40 | 197 | 14 mi | northwest |
| Balsam-Deer Islands WMA | WMA | 36 | 679 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Crawford Island AMA | AMA | 35 | 679 | 15 mi | southeast |
| Wabu Woods SNA | SNA | 145 | 679 | 16 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
What Itasca County adds to a Bowstring Deer Yard WMA trip
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA is one of 43 public places we list in Itasca County. Feeding ban: Itasca County is inside it. Quota bear area 27, 28 and 51 overlaps the county (27 (450 permits), 28 (60 permits) and 51 (1500 permits)). Turkey: permit area 508. Area wildlife office: Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office ((218) 328-8860). Do not mistake Bowstring Deer Yard WMA for closed Itasca County ground such as Bear River Aquatic Management Area and Botany Bog Scientific and Natural Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Supplies and help close to Bowstring Deer Yard WMA
From Bowstring Deer Yard WMA the nearest town is Inger (6.7 mi). Deer River, with 930 residents, is the biggest town on the list. On the DNR record, the reference town is Deer River. DNR staff closest to Bowstring Deer Yard WMA work out of Grand Rapids (24 mi).
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inger | Itasca | – | 6.7 mi | north |
| Ball Club | Itasca | – | 9.6 mi | south |
| Deer River | Itasca | 930 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Zemple | Itasca | 79 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Squaw Lake | Itasca | 102 | 14 mi | northwest |
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.
Closest Minnesota ranges to Bowstring Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area
Grand Rapids Gun Club, 23 miles away, is the nearest range to Bowstring Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area; check its access rule before going. The property rules exclude target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA legal light on key dates
Legal light at Bowstring Deer Yard WMA: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer and bear, and to sunset for turkey, waterfowl and small game.
| Day | Season point | Sun up | Sun down | Shooting opens | Deer close | Bird close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 7:22 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 7:08 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:07 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:38 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:33 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:31 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. | 8:32 p.m. | 8:02 p.m. |
Raccoon and fox may be hunted at night under DNR rules.
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.
Photos to set the scene for Bowstring Deer Yard WMA
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA questions answered from its record
Does chronic wasting disease testing apply on Bowstring Deer Yard WMA?
DPA 197 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What are the legal shooting hours at Bowstring Deer Yard WMA?
On the Nov. 7 firearms opener, legal deer hours at Bowstring Deer Yard WMA run 6:37 a.m. to 5:22 p.m..
If Bowstring Deer Yard WMA is full, where is the next public land?
Public ground nearest by straight line: Deer River Ranger District (Chippewa NF) (2.7 mi), Birds Eye Lake AMA (9.6 mi) and Bowstring State Forest (12 mi).
Are tree stands allowed on Bowstring Deer Yard WMA, and for how long?
No. Portable stands and blinds come off Bowstring Deer Yard WMA every day (northwest Minnesota has an overnight exception Nov. 1-Dec. 31), and no equipment stays overnight.
Bowstring Deer Yard WMA: is overnight camping allowed?
Not unless DNR designates a site or issues a permit; WMA rules bar other camping.
Is hunting legal on Bowstring Deer Yard WMA in 2026-27?
Yes, in the regular seasons. Read the special restrictions on the DNR page and watch for posted refuge areas.
How many acres of hunting does Bowstring Deer Yard WMA offer?
771 acres.
What DPA is Bowstring Deer Yard WMA, and what is its designation?
DPA 197 (100 series, antlerless permit lottery). Firearms deer runs Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026 there.
What animals can be hunted at Bowstring Deer Yard WMA?
Deer, black bear, small game and ruffed grouse and woodcock, according to the agency page for Bowstring Deer Yard WMA.
How do hunters reach Bowstring Deer Yard WMA?
From Deer River, go 8 miles north on State Highway 6, 2.5 miles west on County Road 37, then 1.5 miles north on County Road 153 to section 7. For Sec 16, From Deer River, go 12 miles north on State Highway 46, then 1.5 miles east on County Road 37 Lots mapped: 2.
Who holds title to Bowstring Deer Yard WMA?
Land manager for Bowstring Deer Yard WMA: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids office.
Last checks before driving to Bowstring Deer Yard WMA
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted refuge areas on Bowstring Deer Yard WMA.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).