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State forest in Itasca County
George Washington State Forest hunting, season by season
95,433 acres of public land open to hunters in Itasca County, with DPA 109 deer dates.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to George Washington State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near George Washington State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 6.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 7.1 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.
George Washington State Forest in brief, from the agency file
95,433 acres of Itasca County belong to George Washington State Forest. Size rank in Itasca County: 2nd of 5 state forests. For deer it falls in DPA 109 (it also reaches DPA 169, DPA 176 and DPA 177), set at antlerless permit lottery for 2026.
Management: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The legal forest boundary covers 320,589 acres, but only 95,433 are DNR land. The forest was created in 1931.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around George Washington State Forest
George Washington State Forest pinned among nearby tracts
Ladies Tresses Swamp SNA lies 3.1 mi southwest of George Washington State Forest, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladies Tresses Swamp SNA | SNA | 40 | 169 | 3.1 mi | southwest |
| Scenic State Park | State park | 2,558 | 169 | 3.9 mi | southwest |
| Potato Lake SNA | SNA | 84 | 109 | 11 mi | northeast |
| Big Fork State Forest | State forest | 45,186 | 109, 169 | 11 mi | west |
| Little Too Much Lake SNA, 58 ac | SNA | 58 | 169 | 16 mi | southwest |
| Balsam Island WMA | WMA | 0.5 | 679 | 16 mi | south |
| Peloquin WMA | WMA | 322 | 176 | 17 mi | east |
| Stoney Ridge RGMA | RGMA | 3,364 | 176 | 17 mi | southeast |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting George Washington State Forest
Site rules for George Washington State Forest, condensed from the record.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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.
George Washington State Forest season dates
This table covers George Washington State Forest only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from the open seasons for its county.
| Species | Type | Zone or DPA | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 109, 169, 176, 177 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 109, 169, 176, 177 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPAs 109, 169, 176, 177 | 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 | |
| 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 |
Wear blaze orange or pink in the firearms deer season; waterfowl hunters on water are exempt under DNR rules.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Deer seasons on George Washington State Forest
100-series DPA 109 carries the antlerless permit lottery designation this year (50 lottery permits for antlerless deer). To shoot an antlerless deer with a firearm in DPA 109, declare the area in the lottery by Sept. 10.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Optional CWD testing only in DPA 109. Size of DPA 109: 1,203 square miles. Koochiching, St. Louis and Itasca share DPA 109.
Other deer permit areas on this land: DPA 169 (antlerless permit lottery), DPA 176 (antlerless permit lottery), DPA 177 (antlerless permit lottery), DPA 679 (either-sex)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around George Washington State Forest (DPA 109)
The whole of DPA 109 gave up 415 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for George Washington State Forest itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 370 | 45 | 415 | 0.35 |
| 2024 | 339 | 36 | 375 | 0.32 |
| 2023 | 295 | 53 | 348 | 0.29 |
| 2022 | 265 | 53 | 318 | 0.27 |
| 2021 | 323 | 75 | 398 | 0.34 |
| 2020 | 257 | 57 | 314 | 0.27 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
George Washington State Forest nearby towns
Bigfork is the closest town to George Washington State Forest, about 7.4 mi away. The largest nearby is Nashwauk (961 people). For questions, the Grand Rapids DNR office is 36 mi from George Washington State Forest.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigfork | Itasca | 403 | 7.4 mi | west |
| Effie | Itasca | 107 | 8.7 mi | northwest |
| Inger | Itasca | – | 26 mi | southwest |
| Nashwauk | Itasca | 961 | 30 mi | southeast |
| Taconite | Itasca | 642 | 31 mi | south |
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.
George Washington State Forest: Itasca County facts
Counting George Washington State Forest, Itasca County has 43 listed public areas. Itasca County is one of the feeding ban counties. For bear, Itasca County lies partly in quota area 27, 28 and 51; 2026 permits: 27 (450 permits), 28 (60 permits) and 51 (1500 permits). Itasca County turkey hunters declare area 508. County questions go to Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office, Grand Rapids. 11 places in Itasca County are closed to hunting, such as Bear River Aquatic Management Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Range time on the drive to George Washington State Forest
Three ranges near George Washington State Forest follow, starting with Udovich Guide Service at 27 miles.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
A look at the landscape around George Washington State Forest
George Washington State Forest shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the George Washington State Forest map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Open | Big game close | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:24 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:38 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:37 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 4:27 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:29 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
Times are rounded to the minute.
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.
Straight answers on hunting George Washington State Forest
Can you hunt on George Washington State Forest this season?
George Washington State Forest allows hunting under the rules its agency lists.
Can I leave a stand on George Washington State Forest overnight?
Portable stands are preferred on George Washington State Forest; a stand left on state forest land is open to public use, and no shooting lanes may be cut.
Which deer permit area holds George Washington State Forest?
George Washington State Forest falls in DPA 109, antlerless permit lottery. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Roughly how large is the George Washington State Forest unit?
The mapped size is 95,433 acres.
Where is the access for George Washington State Forest?
No directions are published; Bigfork is the closest town at 7.4 mi.
Which species does George Washington State Forest hold?
Any game in season, since no species list is published for George Washington State Forest.
Is CWD sampling required at George Washington State Forest?
DNR lists DPA 109 as outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Who do I call about George Washington State Forest?
George Washington State Forest falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Which public ground lies closest to George Washington State Forest?
Next-closest public land: Ladies Tresses Swamp SNA (3.1 mi), Scenic State Park (3.9 mi) and Potato Lake SNA (11 mi).
How early does shooting start at George Washington State Forest on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:36 a.m., done by 5:19 p.m..
George Washington State Forest: three things to confirm first
Carry your license, validate a deer or turkey at the kill site and register it (48 hours for deer and bear, 24 for turkey).
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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).