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Minnesota state forest
Cloquet Valley State Forest: seasons, rules and access
50,513 acres of state forest ground in St. Louis County, deer permit area 130.
Photo: Abnormally Weird (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Cloquet Valley State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Cloquet Valley State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.5 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.
Cloquet Valley State Forest on paper: the record in brief
Cloquet Valley State Forest covers 50,513 acres in St. Louis County. Among St. Louis County’s 10 state forests, it sits 4th for acres. The 2026 deer designation for DPA 130 (it also reaches DPA 132, DPA 178 and DPA 181) is bucks only.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land. Its statutory boundary holds 357,592 acres, of which DNR administers the mapped 50,513. DNR gives 1933 as its founding year.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cloquet Valley State Forest
Use rules to read before hunting Cloquet Valley State Forest
Cloquet Valley State Forest follows the rules below on top of the statewide booklet.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| 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.
Cloquet Valley State Forest deer rules: DPA 130
DPA 130 is a 100-series area set to bucks only for 2026. Bucks only in DPA 130: firearm and archery hunters may take legal bucks, with narrow exceptions in the booklet.
| Deer season | Opening | Closing | Right 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 |
DPA 130 has optional CWD testing. At 773 square miles, DPA 130 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 130 overlaps St. Louis and Lake.
Also inside: DPA 132 (bucks only), DPA 178 (antlerless permit lottery), DPA 181 (antlerless permit lottery)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Cloquet Valley State Forest dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Cloquet Valley State Forest by the open seasons for its county; trapping-only seasons are on the species pages.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 130, 132, 178, 181 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 130, 132, 178, 181 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPAs 130, 132, 178, 181 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 22, 24, 25, 31, 51, 53 | 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 |
Zone rows for ducks and furbearers depend on map lines, not on this unit; DNR draws them along highways.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Harvest trend near Cloquet Valley State Forest
In 2025 hunters registered 142 deer across DPA 130 (0.19 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 141 | 1 | 142 | 0.19 |
| 2024 | 120 | 1 | 121 | 0.16 |
| 2023 | 103 | 3 | 106 | 0.14 |
| 2022 | 101 | 2 | 103 | 0.14 |
| 2021 | 150 | 5 | 155 | 0.21 |
| 2020 | 148 | 6 | 154 | 0.21 |
| 2019 | 190 | 33 | 223 | 0.30 |
| 2018 | 268 | 180 | 448 | 0.60 |
| 2017 | 327 | 311 | 638 | 0.86 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Cloquet Valley State Forest and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Cloquet Valley State Forest map point; Whiteface River State Forest (7.8 mi, west) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteface River State Forest | State forest | 2,503 | 178, 181 | 7.8 mi | west |
| Little Whiteface River WMA | WMA | 442 | 178 | 8.2 mi | west |
| Whiteface River AMA | AMA | 188 | 178 | 9.3 mi | northeast |
| Sax WMA | WMA | 943 | 178 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Zim WMA | WMA | 909 | 178 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Whiteface River RGMA | RGMA | 3,674 | 132, 178 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Fermoy WMA | WMA | 503 | 178 | 13 mi | northwest |
| St. Louis River RGMA | RGMA | 873 | 181 | 14 mi | south |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
St. Louis County around Cloquet Valley State Forest
In St. Louis County there are 59 records like Cloquet Valley State Forest to choose from. Bear: quota area 24, 25 and 31 reaches the county, 24 (100 permits), 25 (375 permits) and 31 (400 permits) for 2026. Turkey permit area 508 covers the county. Tower Area Wildlife Office (Tower) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre. Watch for closed ground in St. Louis County such as Amity Creek Aquatic Management Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Gas, food and processors near Cloquet Valley State Forest
Closest town: Meadowlands, 12 mi in a straight line from Cloquet Valley State Forest. Most services: Hermantown, population 10,265. The nearest DNR office is Cloquet Area Wildlife Office in Cloquet, 21 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadowlands | St. Louis | 140 | 12 mi | west |
| Brookston | St. Louis | 116 | 14 mi | southwest |
| Rice Lake | St. Louis | 4,168 | 19 mi | southeast |
| Mahnomen | St. Louis | – | 20 mi | south |
| Hermantown | St. Louis | 10,265 | 21 mi | southeast |
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.
Before Cloquet Valley State Forest: where to check a zero
Hunters on Cloquet Valley State Forest can sight in at Wild Experience Hunting Preserve (14 miles), the nearest listing.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Legal hunting hours worked out for Cloquet Valley State Forest
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Cloquet Valley State Forest; the two closing columns split big game from birds.
| Date | Season | Sunrise | Sunset | First shot | Last, big game | Last, birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:51 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 7:16 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:00 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 7:02 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:00 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 4:47 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:31 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 4:25 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:56 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 4:29 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:26 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. | 8:25 p.m. | 7:55 p.m. |
Early teal runs sunrise to sunset.
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.
Pictures that suit a day on Cloquet Valley State Forest
Quick answers before you hunt Cloquet Valley State Forest
What are the 2026 deer rules on Cloquet Valley State Forest?
It is in deer permit area 130 (bucks only). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Cloquet Valley State Forest size: how much huntable ground?
Cloquet Valley State Forest covers 50,513 acres.
What route leads to Cloquet Valley State Forest?
The nearest town is Meadowlands, 12 mi away; use the map on this page for the route.
What can you hunt on Cloquet Valley State Forest?
The agency names no species list for Cloquet Valley State Forest; all open seasons apply under its rules.
Do deer from Cloquet Valley State Forest need CWD testing?
Its DPA (130) is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Which office should I call about Cloquet Valley State Forest?
Cloquet Valley State Forest is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Where can I hunt public land close to Cloquet Valley State Forest?
The nearest public units are Whiteface River State Forest (7.8 mi), Little Whiteface River WMA (8.2 mi) and Whiteface River AMA (9.3 mi).
When is legal light on Cloquet Valley State Forest for the opener?
For the opener, 6:30 a.m. to 5:17 p.m.; birds stop at 4:47 p.m..
May the public hunt Cloquet Valley State Forest?
Yes, in season, following the managing agency rules for Cloquet Valley State Forest.
Can decoys or gear stay on Cloquet Valley State Forest overnight?
Portable is the rule of thumb on Cloquet Valley State Forest; stands left out are public property in practice.
Cloquet Valley State Forest: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Cloquet Valley State Forest can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).