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Home › Minnesota › Public land › Grand Portage State Forest

State forest in Cook County

Hunting Grand Portage State Forest, Minnesota public land

42,596 acres of state forest ground in Cook County, deer permit area 117.

Get driving directionsAll Cook County spots

Banner from elsewhere in Cook County: Calm Clearwater Lake between forested hills at dusk in Cook County.

Photo: AustinMatherne (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to Grand Portage State Forest

Get driving directionsParking on Google MapsTrailheads on Google Maps

Parking, trailheads and gates near Grand Portage State Forest

  • Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Otter Lake RoadTrailhead · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Swamp River Public Water Access SiteBoat ramp · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Jackson Lake Road TrailheadTrailhead · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 5.6 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 5.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • TrailheadTrailhead · 5.7 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.

Grand Portage State Forest at a glance for hunters

You get 42,596 acres at Grand Portage State Forest, which lies in Cook County. By size it ranks 2nd of the 3 state forests we list in Cook County. DPA 117 (it also reaches DPA 126) sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land. DNR land fills 42,596 of the 100,174 acres within the forest boundary. It dates from 1933.

DNR pages name no species list per forest; all open seasons apply (DNR: state forests "hold game such as deer, bear, and ruffed grouse").

From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Grand Portage State Forest

Swamp River Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 2 mi from Grand Portage State Forest

Directions
Judge C. R. Magney State Park

Public land · 10 mi from Grand Portage State Forest

Directions
Gunflint Ranger District, Superior National Forest

Public land · 25 mi from Grand Portage State Forest

Directions
Hunting Near Grand Marais, Minnesota

Town · 25 mi from Grand Portage State Forest

Directions
Cook County

County · 25 mi from Grand Portage State Forest

Directions
Cascade River State Park

Public land · 35 mi from Grand Portage State Forest

Directions

What is allowed on Grand Portage State Forest

Short version of the rules that apply on Grand Portage State Forest, taken from the managing agency.

WhatRule here
Hunting, trappingOpen in season
Game refuges insideClosed unless listed
Near campgrounds, lotsCased within 200 ft
StandsPortable preferred
Shooting lanesNo cutting
Private inholdingsPermission needed
Target shootingUnless posted closed
Forest roadsOHVs unless posted

Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.

Deer on Grand Portage State Forest in 2026-27

Deer on Grand Portage State Forest fall under DPA 117: either-sex, 100 series. No lottery in DPA 117: either sex on the regular license.

Deer windowFromToOpen now?
ArcherySep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Youth deerOct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Firearms, 100 seriesNov 7, 2026Nov 22, 2026
MuzzleloaderNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026

CWD testing in DPA 117: optional. DPA 117 spans 1,134 square miles. DPA 117 reaches Cook and Lake counties.

More DPAs here: DPA 126 (bucks only)

DPA 117 pageDeer areasCWD details

From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Grand Portage State Forest hunting calendar 2026-27

Grand Portage State Forest season dates for 2026-27, picked by the open seasons for its county and its deer permit area.

SpeciesSeasonAppliesOpensClosesToday
DeerArcheryDPAs 117, 126Sep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
DeerYouth deerDPAs 117, 126Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerFirearms, 100 seriesDPAs 117, 126Nov 7, 2026Nov 22, 2026
DeerMuzzleloaderStatewideNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026
Black bearQuota areasQuota areas 22, 31Sep 1, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Wild turkeyFallStatewideOct 3, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Wild turkeySpring archery-onlyStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period AStatewideApr 14, 2027Apr 20, 2027
Wild turkeySpring youthStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period BStatewideApr 21, 2027Apr 27, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period CStatewideApr 28, 2027May 4, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period DStatewideMay 5, 2027May 11, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period EStatewideMay 12, 2027May 18, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period FStatewideMay 19, 2027May 31, 2027
PheasantRegularStatewideOct 10, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Ruffed, spruce grouseRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Hungarian partridgeRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
WoodcockRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Nov 2, 2026
Mourning doveRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026
Rabbits, haresRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
JackrabbitRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
SquirrelsRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
RailsRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
SnipeRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026
Canada gooseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Light geeseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
TealEarly teal seasonStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 9, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth daysStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026
DucksRegular ducksNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Nov 24, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 25, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
Take-a-KidTake-a-KidStatewideSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 29, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Dec 30, 2026
Raccoon, foxesHunting (north)North furbearer zoneOct 17, 2026Mar 15, 2027
Badger, opossum, weaselsHunting (north)North furbearer zoneOct 17, 2026Mar 15, 2027
DucksRegular ducksSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Jan 6, 2027
Raccoon, foxesHunting (south)South furbearer zoneOct 24, 2026Mar 15, 2027
Badger, opossum, weaselsHunting (south)South furbearer zoneOct 24, 2026Mar 15, 2027
BobcatHunt and trap (north)North furbearer zoneDec 12, 2026Jan 17, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideDec 15, 2026Jan 15, 2027
BobcatHunt and trap (south)South furbearer zoneJan 2, 2027Jan 17, 2027
Light geeseSpring light gooseStatewideFeb 18, 2027Apr 30, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideMar 1, 2027Mar 31, 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.

Public land within a drive of Grand Portage State Forest

When Grand Portage State Forest is crowded, Swamp River WMA sits 2.1 mi away to the southwest.

PlaceTypeAcresDPAMiles offDirection
Swamp River WMAWMA2,6021262.1 misouthwest
Swamp River AMAAMA2351264.0 misouthwest
Hovland Woods SNASNA1,3231265.6 misouthwest
Spring Beauty Northern Hardwoods SNA, 597 acSNA5971267.4 misouthwest
Horseshoe Bay WMAWMA2761267.8 misouth
Myhr Creek Ridge SNASNA2001269.6 misouthwest
Judge C. R. Magney State ParkState park4,28012610 misouthwest
East Colvill WMAWMA61712613 misouthwest

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.

Grand Portage State Forest nearest towns and help

Fuel and food: Grand Marais lies 25 mi from Grand Portage State Forest. For more services, Silver Bay (1,776) is 79 mi out. Nearest DNR desk: Two Harbors Area Wildlife Office, 104 mi.

TownCountyPeople (2024)DistanceDirection
Grand MaraisCook1,30625 misouthwest
LutsenCook–41 misouthwest
FinlandLake–72 misouthwest
Silver BayLake1,77679 misouthwest
Beaver BayLake12281 misouthwest
Two Harbors wildlife office

DNR office · Two Harbors, Lake County · about 104 mi away

(218) 834-1453RouteWeb
Tower wildlife office

DNR office · Tower, St. Louis County · about 110 mi away

(218) 300-7860RouteWeb
Lake Superior Trading Post

sporting goods · Grand Marais, Cook County · about 24 mi away

(218) 387-2020RouteWeb

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.

Grand Portage State Forest: deer taken in DPA 117

14 deer were registered in DPA 117 during 2025, 0.02 per square mile of the unit.

YearAdult bucksOther deerDPA harvestPer square mile
2025104140.02
20245270.01
20237180.01
2022103130.01
202192110.01
20201511260.03
20191713300.03
2018169250.03
20172434580.06

2019-2025 from Table 3 (total harvest per permit area; 2024-2025 exclude special hunts); 2017-2018 from Table 9 (all seasons, special hunts reallocated to the surrounding DPA). DPA boundaries changed over time (e.g. 103/108 in 2018), so older DPAs may not match 2026 polygons.

DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.

Grand Portage State Forest and the rest of Cook County

814,586Public land (GIS)
4,728WMA acres
85,184State forest acres
671,155National forest acres
8,488State park acres
2,990SNA acres
858AMA acres

Cook County has 27 public hunting areas on file, Grand Portage State Forest among them. Cook County bear hunting runs through quota area 31 and 22, 31 (400 permits) and 22 (75 permits). The county sits in turkey permit area 508. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Two Harbors Area Wildlife Office, (218) 834-1453. Not every public place in Cook County is open: Butterwort Cliffs Scientific and Natural Area is closed to hunting.

Cook County seasonsTurkey areasBear permit areas

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 Grand Portage State Forest

Sun times computed for Grand Portage State Forest itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.

DateWhySunriseSunsetLegal fromBig game toWaterfowl to
Sep 19, 2026Archery and grouse opener6:41 a.m.7:06 p.m.6:11 a.m.7:36 p.m.7:06 p.m.
Sep 26, 2026Duck opener6:50 a.m.6:52 p.m.6:20 a.m.7:22 p.m.6:52 p.m.
Oct 10, 2026Pheasant opener7:10 a.m.6:23 p.m.6:40 a.m.6:53 p.m.6:23 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Firearms deer opener6:53 a.m.4:34 p.m.6:23 a.m.5:04 p.m.4:34 p.m.
Nov 28, 2026Muzzleloader opener7:24 a.m.4:12 p.m.6:54 a.m.4:42 p.m.4:12 p.m.
Dec 31, 2026Archery close7:49 a.m.4:15 p.m.7:19 a.m.4:45 p.m.4:15 p.m.
Apr 14, 2027Spring turkey opener6:14 a.m.7:46 p.m.5:44 a.m.8:16 p.m.7:46 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.

Grand Portage State Forest region in a few frames

Rolling hills of gold and red autumn forest under a soft sky in Cook County
Rolling hills of gold and red autumn forest under a soft sky in Cook County
Gravel Arrowhead Trail under golden aspen in fall, Cook County
Gravel Arrowhead Trail under golden aspen in fall, Cook County
Blazing red fall sunrise over prairie grass in western Minnesota
Blazing red fall sunrise over prairie grass in western Minnesota

After Grand Portage State Forest, the next four to try

State forest

Pat Bayle State Forest

38,338 ac, 25 mi

State forest

Insula Lake State Forest

471 ac, 64 mi

State forest

Lake Isabella State Forest

62 ac, 65 mi

State forest

Finland State Forest

99,481 ac, 76 mi

State forestsAquatic management areasState park hunts

Hunter questions about Grand Portage State Forest, short answers

What deer permit area is Grand Portage State Forest in?

The record puts it in DPA 117: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.

Grand Portage State Forest acreage: how much ground is it?

It runs to 42,596 acres.

How do you get to Grand Portage State Forest?

Start from Grand Marais (25 mi) and follow the pin on the map.

What game species does Grand Portage State Forest list?

The Grand Portage State Forest record gives no species list; follow the state seasons.

Grand Portage State Forest and CWD: what applies?

For CWD, DPA 117 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.

Grand Portage State Forest: who is the land manager?

Grand Portage State Forest belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Grand Portage State Forest neighbors: what public land is nearby?

Short-drive options from the map: Swamp River WMA (2.1 mi), Swamp River AMA (4.0 mi) and Hovland Woods SNA (5.6 mi).

On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Grand Portage State Forest?

Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:23 a.m. and ends at 5:04 p.m. at the Grand Portage State Forest point.

Does Grand Portage State Forest allow public hunting?

Yes. Grand Portage State Forest is on the list of Minnesota places open to some hunting; the rules band says how.

Can blinds stay up overnight at Grand Portage State Forest?

State forest rules favor portable stands; a stand left up on Grand Portage State Forest is public, not yours alone.

Final notes for a Grand Portage State Forest hunt

Confirm access, permits and the DPA rules for Grand Portage State Forest before the drive.

Map of public landEvery public areaCook CountyDPA 117State forestsManaging agency

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: Chad Davis. (CC BY 2.0); Chad Davis. (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).