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WMA in Douglas County
Hunting Forada Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Douglas County, 829 acres.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Forada Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Forada Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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.
Forada WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 829 acres at Forada WMA, which lies in Douglas County. By size it ranks 2nd of the 37 wildlife management areas we list in Douglas County. DPA 213 sets the deer limit here: 3-deer limit this year.
The managing office is Fergus Falls (DNR Wildlife), fergusfalls.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Forada WMA.
Listed game: deer, pheasant, wild turkey.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Forada Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Forada WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Forada WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| 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.
Deer on Forada WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Forada WMA fall under DPA 213: 3-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 213 limit of 3 with your license plus bonus permits.
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Mandatory CWD sampling applies Nov. 7-8 (2026 surveillance block). DPA 213 spans 1,163 square miles. DPA 213 reaches Douglas, Todd, Otter Tail, Pope and Stearns counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Forada WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Forada WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 213 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 213 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 213 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 213 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 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 |
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.
Forada WMA: access points
2 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Forada WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forada WMA | 829 | Forada | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Forada WMA: From Forada, go 1 1/2 miles E on CSAH 4.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Forada WMA
When Forada WMA is crowded, Hudson WPA sits 1.8 mi away to the southwest.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson WPA | WPA | 207 | 213 | 1.8 mi | southwest |
| Yanda-Paulzine WPA | WPA | 90 | 213 | 2.2 mi | west |
| Engelbrecht WMA | WMA | 316 | 213 | 2.6 mi | southeast |
| Volkman WMA | WMA | 276 | 213 | 3.3 mi | south |
| Forada WPA | WPA | 236 | 213 | 3.3 mi | west |
| Orange WPA | WPA | 433 | 213 | 4.5 mi | east |
| Blair Pond WMA | WMA | 32 | 213 | 4.8 mi | north |
| Trousil WPA | WPA | 62 | 273 | 4.9 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Forada WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Forada lies 2.0 mi from Forada WMA. For more services, Alexandria (14,914) is 6.6 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Forada. Nearest DNR desk: New London Area Wildlife Office, 35 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forada | Douglas | 187 | 2.0 mi | west |
| Villard | Pope | 224 | 5.8 mi | south |
| Alexandria | Douglas | 14,914 | 6.6 mi | northwest |
| Nelson | Douglas | 183 | 7.0 mi | north |
| Westport | Pope | 46 | 8.9 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.
Forada WMA: deer taken in DPA 213
6,423 deer were registered in DPA 213 during 2025, 6.08 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,119 | 3,304 | 6,423 | 6.08 |
| 2024 | 3,051 | 2,763 | 5,814 | 5.50 |
| 2023 | 2,320 | 2,738 | 5,058 | 4.79 |
| 2022 | 2,433 | 3,391 | 5,824 | 5.51 |
| 2021 | 3,014 | 3,674 | 6,688 | 6.33 |
| 2020 | 3,222 | 4,589 | 7,811 | 7.39 |
| 2019 | 2,965 | 3,358 | 6,323 | 5.98 |
| 2018 | 2,583 | 3,277 | 5,860 | 5.54 |
| 2017 | 2,572 | 2,801 | 5,373 | 5.08 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Forada WMA and the rest of Douglas County
Douglas County has 103 public hunting areas on file, Forada WMA among them. Douglas County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 507 and 506. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office, (218) 671-7969. Not every public place in Douglas County is open: Crestwood Hills 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 Forada WMA
Sun times computed for Forada WMA 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 | 7:03 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 7:27 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:12 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:47 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:09 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:38 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:02 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:35 p.m. | 8:05 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.
Forada Wildlife Management Area: hunts and banquets nearby
DU gun or purse bingo and NWTF chapter banquet: 2 upcoming events, on site or a few miles away.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | Minnewaska DU Sportsman's Bingo 2026, a DU gun or purse bingo | 9 | Minnewaska House (Glenwood) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Gobblers of Glacial Ridge Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 9 | Glenwood | Buy tickets | Source |
Ranges a Forada Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Forada Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Alexandria Shooting Park at 4 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Forada WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Forada WMA, short answers
What game species does Forada WMA list?
The agency names deer, pheasant and wild turkey for Forada WMA.
What deer permit area is Forada WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 213: 3-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Forada WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Forada WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Fergus Falls office.
How do you get to Forada WMA?
From Forada, go 1 1/2 miles E on CSAH 4. 2 parking spots on the DNR map.
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Forada WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:39 a.m. and ends at 5:31 p.m. at the Forada WMA point.
Forada WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 213 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Can blinds stay up overnight at Forada WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Forada WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Hudson WPA (1.8 mi), Yanda-Paulzine WPA (2.2 mi) and Engelbrecht WMA (2.6 mi).
Does Forada WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Forada WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Forada WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Forada WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 829 acres.
Other photos on this page: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).