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WMA · DPA 270
Hunting on Doran Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Otter Tail County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Doran Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Doran Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 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 Doran WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Doran WMA is 616 acres, in Otter Tail County. Otter Tail County has 37 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 7th largest. Doran WMA comes in 3 parts, North Unit (59 ac), Yaggie Unit (480 ac) and Schott Tract Unit (78 ac).
Deer rules come from DPA 270, an antlerless permit lottery area in 2026. Fergus Falls is the DNR wildlife area office for Doran WMA (fergusfalls.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records Pittman-Robertson funding for Doran WMA.
The WMA page says: Excellent upland bird and dove hunting, as well as deer hunting opportunities.
Species named: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Mourning Dove
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Doran Wildlife Management Area
Doran WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Doran 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 270 dates for Doran WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 270 antlerless permit lottery and offered 150 antlerless permits by lottery; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. The Sept. 10 lottery hands out the antlerless permits for DPA 270.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
DNR placed it in the 2026 surveillance block (sampling Nov. 7-8). DPA 270 takes in 746 square miles. Part of Wilkin, Otter Tail and Grant falls in DPA 270.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Doran WMA
34 season windows for 19 species reach Doran WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 270 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 270 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 270 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Doran WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Doran WMA, with 4 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Unit | 59 | Campbell | Open | – | DNR |
| Yaggie Unit | 480 | Campbell | Open | 3 | DNR |
| Schott Tract Unit | 78 | Campbell | Open | 1 | DNR |
- North Unit: From Campbell, go 8 miles E on CSAH 4 and 26 then 3 miles N on CSAH 7. Parking area on south side of unit off of 130th St.
- Yaggie Unit: From Campbell, go 8 miles E on CSAH 4 and 26 then 3 miles N on CSAH 7. Two parking areas on south side of unit off of 120th St., and one in NW corner off of 130th St.
- Schott Tract Unit: From Campbell, go 8 miles E on CSAH 4 and 26 then 3 miles N on CSAH 7. Parking area on NE corner off of 130th St.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Doran WMA
The closest other public land to Doran WMA is West Township County Gravel Pit WMA, 0.9 mi to the east; the table lists 8 neighbors with 1,942 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Township County Gravel Pit WMA, 15 ac | WMA | 15 | 270 | 0.9 mi | east |
| Prairie Ridge WMA | WMA | 160 | 270 | 1.4 mi | northeast |
| Hensch WPA | WPA | 347 | 270 | 1.5 mi | north |
| Rabbit River WPA | WPA | 604 | 270 | 2.0 mi | southeast |
| Copeland WMA | WMA | 200 | 270 | 2.1 mi | south |
| Coyour Memorial WMA | WMA | 240 | 270 | 2.4 mi | southeast |
| Meyer Prairie WPA | WPA | 139 | 270 | 2.5 mi | southeast |
| Jorgenson WPA | WPA | 237 | 270 | 2.8 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Doran WMA
The town nearest Doran WMA is Nashua at 8.2 mi. Wendell (167 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Campbell as the nearest town on its unit page. Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office (Fergus Falls) is the closest DNR office, 13 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | Wilkin | 64 | 8.2 mi | southwest |
| Campbell | Wilkin | 164 | 8.8 mi | west |
| Foxhome | Wilkin | 121 | 9.8 mi | north |
| Wendell | Grant | 167 | 10.0 mi | southeast |
| Tintah | Traverse | 61 | 10 mi | southwest |
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.
Doran WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 270 totals, which include all the land around Doran WMA: 330 deer in 2025 against 304 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 278 | 52 | 330 | 0.44 |
| 2024 | 274 | 30 | 304 | 0.41 |
| 2023 | 191 | 56 | 247 | 0.33 |
| 2022 | 246 | 63 | 309 | 0.41 |
| 2021 | 275 | 64 | 339 | 0.45 |
| 2020 | 307 | 98 | 405 | 0.54 |
| 2019 | 272 | 65 | 337 | 0.45 |
| 2018 | 254 | 87 | 341 | 0.46 |
| 2017 | 230 | 57 | 287 | 0.38 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Doran WMA
Otter Tail County holds 164 public hunting records on this site; Doran WMA is one of them. Bear permit area 45 covers part of Otter Tail County (45 (700 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 507 and 506. Wildlife office for Otter Tail County: Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Doran WMA, Gilmore Waterfowl Production Area and Holmstad Creek 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.
Doran WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Doran 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 | 7:06 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 7:31 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:15 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:13 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:43 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:07 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:42 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:12 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.
Doran Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Doran Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Fergus Falls Skeet Club, 12 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.
Doran WMA and country like it, in photos
Doran WMA FAQ for 2026-27
What game is on Doran WMA?
The record for Doran WMA lists deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl and mourning dove.
What are the directions to Doran WMA?
From Campbell, go 8 miles E on CSAH 4 and 26 then 3 miles N on CSAH 7. 4 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Doran WMA?
The Fergus Falls office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Doran WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Doran WMA?
CWD status: DPA 270 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Doran WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:43 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Doran WMA?
Closest on the map: West Township County Gravel Pit WMA (0.9 mi), Prairie Ridge WMA (1.4 mi) and Hensch WPA (1.5 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Doran WMA?
No overnight gear on Doran WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Doran WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Doran WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Doran WMA a big piece of land?
About 616 acres in 3 subunits, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Doran WMA?
Deer permit area 270; the 2026 designation is antlerless permit lottery. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0).