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WMA · DPA 111
Hunting on Carmelee Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Beltrami County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: jjsmustang1979 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Carmelee Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Carmelee Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 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.
The record behind Carmelee WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Carmelee WMA is 3,907 acres, in Beltrami County. Beltrami County has 22 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 8th largest. Deer rules come from DPA 111, an antlerless permit lottery area in 2026.
Thief River Falls is the DNR wildlife area office for Carmelee WMA (thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records Pittman-Robertson funding for Carmelee WMA.
Species named: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Carmelee Wildlife Management Area
Carmelee WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Carmelee WMA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| 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.
DPA 111 dates for Carmelee WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 111 antlerless permit lottery and offered 25 antlerless permits by lottery; its firearms deer season is the 100-series window. The Sept. 10 lottery hands out the antlerless permits for DPA 111.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 111; testing is optional. Check the special WMA regulations for DPA 111. DPA 111 takes in 1,386 square miles. Part of Lake of the Woods, Beltrami, Roseau and Marshall falls in DPA 111.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Carmelee WMA
35 season windows for 20 species reach Carmelee WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 111 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 111 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 111 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 12, 13, 27, 28, 41, 46 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone (north part) | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Carmelee WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Carmelee WMA, with 1 mapped lot.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmelee WMA | 3,907 | Grygla | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Carmelee WMA: From Grygla, go 5 miles S on CSAH 54 then 1 mile E on Co Rd 2 then 1/4 mile E on CSAH 42
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Carmelee WMA
The closest other public land to Carmelee WMA is Willow-Run WMA, 2.8 mi to the north; the table lists 8 neighbors with 22,685 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow-Run WMA | WMA | 3,564 | 111 | 2.8 mi | north |
| Lee WMA | WMA | 2,244 | 111 | 3.0 mi | east |
| Reiner WMA | WMA | 121 | 208 | 3.9 mi | southwest |
| Wolf Trail WMA | WMA | 7,793 | 111 | 4.7 mi | northeast |
| Sem WMA | WMA | 2,838 | 111, 208 | 4.9 mi | west |
| Espelie WMA | WMA | 3,644 | 111, 208 | 6.4 mi | northwest |
| Benville WMA | WMA | 1,194 | 101 | 6.7 mi | north |
| Saw-whet WMA | WMA | 1,286 | 111 | 6.8 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Carmelee WMA
The town nearest Carmelee WMA is Grygla at 7.1 mi. Thief River Falls (8,779 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Grygla as the nearest town on its unit page. Thief Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office (Middle River) is the closest DNR office, 27 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grygla | Marshall | 171 | 7.1 mi | northwest |
| Goodridge | Pennington | 107 | 12 mi | west |
| Oklee | Red Lake | 407 | 29 mi | southwest |
| Thief River Falls | Pennington | 8,779 | 30 mi | west |
| Holt | Marshall | 87 | 30 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.
Carmelee WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 111 totals, which include all the land around Carmelee WMA: 412 deer in 2025 against 370 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 403 | 9 | 412 | 0.30 |
| 2024 | 364 | 6 | 370 | 0.27 |
| 2023 | 311 | 7 | 318 | 0.23 |
| 2022 | 281 | 9 | 290 | 0.21 |
| 2021 | 390 | 16 | 406 | 0.29 |
| 2020 | 299 | 48 | 347 | 0.25 |
| 2019 | 326 | 136 | 462 | 0.32 |
| 2018 | 418 | 192 | 610 | 0.42 |
| 2017 | 462 | 178 | 640 | 0.45 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Carmelee WMA
Beltrami County holds 47 public hunting records on this site; Carmelee WMA is one of them. No deer feeding or attractants in Beltrami County (DNR ban). Bear permit area 12, 41 and 27 covers part of Beltrami County (12 (100 permits), 41 (250 permits) and 27 (450 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 509 and 508. Beltrami County includes elk zone 10. Wildlife office for Beltrami County: Red Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Carmelee WMA, Bemidji Lake Aquatic Management Area and Big Turtle Lake Isl. Aquatic Management Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Carmelee WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Carmelee WMA, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:32 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 4:56 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:47 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:13 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:36 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 8:09 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
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.
Carmelee Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Carmelee Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Plummer Area Sportsman Club, 31 miles off. Sight in elsewhere: the area rules bar target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Carmelee WMA and country like it, in photos
Carmelee WMA FAQ for 2026-27
Any other public ground within a short drive of Carmelee WMA?
Closest on the map: Willow-Run WMA (2.8 mi), Lee WMA (3.0 mi) and Reiner WMA (3.9 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Carmelee WMA?
No overnight gear on Carmelee WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Carmelee WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Carmelee WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Carmelee WMA a big piece of land?
About 3,907 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Carmelee WMA?
Deer permit area 111; the 2026 designation is antlerless permit lottery. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What game is on Carmelee WMA?
The record for Carmelee WMA lists deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse and waterfowl.
What are the directions to Carmelee WMA?
From Grygla, go 5 miles S on CSAH 54 then 1 mile E on Co Rd 2 then 1/4 mile E on CSAH 42 1 mapped lot.
Which office should I call about Carmelee WMA?
The Thief River Falls office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Carmelee WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Carmelee WMA?
CWD status: DPA 111 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Carmelee WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:46 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Other photos on this page: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).