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Minnesota WMA
Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
829 acres of wildlife management area ground in Aitkin County, deer permit area 171.
Photo: Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area
Gun Lake WMA on paper: the record in brief
Gun Lake WMA covers 829 acres in Aitkin County. Among Aitkin County’s 27 wildlife management areas, it sits 9th for acres. The 2026 deer designation for DPA 171 is antlerless permit lottery.
Management sits with the Aitkin area wildlife staff, reachable at aitkin.wildlife@state.mn.us.
DNR describes the unit this way: Wildlife sanctuary subunit(s) (DNR flag): Gun Lake WMA; check posted sanctuary/no-trespass periods.
Hunted here: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area
Getting into Gun Lake WMA
Directions and parking for Gun Lake WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (0 parking points mapped).
| Piece | Acres | Town | Status | Lots | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun Lake WMA | 829 | Palisade | Open | – | DNR |
- Gun Lake WMA: From Aitkin, go 8 miles NE on Hwy 169/210, then 3 miles east on Hwy 210, then 4 1/2 miles north on Aitkin County T363, then 1 mile east on Aitkin County T380 to the WMA on the North side of the road.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Use rules to read before hunting Gun Lake WMA
Gun Lake WMA follows the rules below on top of the statewide booklet.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| 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 |
- The entire WMA is a wildlife sanctuary and will be closed for public access from March 1st through May 31st. This is to protect sharp-tailed grouse during their breeding season.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Gun Lake WMA deer rules: DPA 171
DPA 171 is a 100-series area set to antlerless permit lottery for 2026, with 500 antlerless lottery permits. DPA 171 rations does: firearm hunters need an antlerless permit from the Sept. 10 lottery.
| 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 171 has optional CWD testing. At 769 square miles, DPA 171 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 171 overlaps Aitkin, Cass and Crow Wing.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Gun Lake WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Gun Lake WMA by its game species list; trapping-only seasons are on the species pages.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 171 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 171 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 171 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 Gun Lake WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 1,165 deer across DPA 171 (1.57 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 959 | 206 | 1,165 | 1.57 |
| 2024 | 880 | 188 | 1,068 | 1.44 |
| 2023 | 664 | 155 | 819 | 1.11 |
| 2022 | 632 | 348 | 980 | 1.32 |
| 2021 | 746 | 386 | 1,132 | 1.53 |
| 2020 | 460 | 604 | 1,064 | 1.70 |
| 2019 | 626 | 651 | 1,277 | 2.04 |
| 2018 | 916 | 853 | 1,769 | 2.52 |
| 2017 | 1,161 | 1,544 | 2,705 | 3.86 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Gun Lake WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Gun Lake WMA map point; French Lake WMA (3.9 mi, southwest) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Lake WMA | WMA | 535 | 171 | 3.9 mi | southwest |
| Roberts-Wickstrom WMA | WMA | 786 | 171 | 5.4 mi | northeast |
| Waukenabo State Forest | State forest | 15,624 | 155, 171 | 7.2 mi | west |
| Aitkin WMA | WMA | 3,412 | 155 | 7.3 mi | southwest |
| Newstrom Lake WMA | WMA | 795 | 155 | 8.0 mi | south |
| Deer Run WMA | WMA | 699 | 171 | 8.7 mi | southwest |
| Little Willow River WMA | WMA | 1,860 | 171 | 8.7 mi | west |
| Wold WMA | WMA | 425 | 171 | 9.4 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Aitkin County around Gun Lake WMA
In Aitkin County there are 43 records like Gun Lake WMA to choose from. The feeding and attractant ban covers Aitkin County. Bear: quota area 51 reaches the county, 51 (1500 permits) for 2026. Turkey permit area 508 covers the county. Aitkin Area Wildlife Office (Aitkin) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre. Watch for closed ground in Aitkin County such as Cedar Lake 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 Gun Lake WMA
Closest town: Palisade, 3.1 mi in a straight line from Gun Lake WMA. Most services: Aitkin, population 2,174. The unit page lists Palisade as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is Aitkin Area Wildlife Office in Aitkin, 14 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palisade | Aitkin | 169 | 3.1 mi | northeast |
| McGregor | Aitkin | 378 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Aitkin | Aitkin | 2,174 | 13 mi | southwest |
| Tamarack | Aitkin | 61 | 19 mi | east |
| Hill City | Aitkin | 615 | 22 mi | north |
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 Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Minnewawa Sportsmen's Club (12 miles), the nearest listing. Target shooting is not allowed on the property itself.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Legal hunting hours worked out for Gun Lake WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Gun Lake WMA; 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 | 6:55 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 7:20 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 | 7:23 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:04 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:34 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 4:31 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:58 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. | 8:29 p.m. | 7:59 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 Gun Lake WMA
Quick answers before you hunt Gun Lake WMA
Gun Lake WMA size: how much huntable ground?
Gun Lake WMA covers 829 acres.
May the public hunt Gun Lake WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Gun Lake WMA.
What can you hunt on Gun Lake WMA?
Expect deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove on Gun Lake WMA, per the record.
What are the 2026 deer rules on Gun Lake WMA?
It is in deer permit area 171 (antlerless permit lottery). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Which office should I call about Gun Lake WMA?
Gun Lake WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Aitkin office.
What route leads to Gun Lake WMA?
From Aitkin, go 8 miles NE on Hwy 169/210, then 3 miles east on Hwy 210, then 4 1/2 miles north on Aitkin County T363, then 1 mile east on Aitkin County T380 to the WMA on the North side of the road. Parking points on file: 0.
When is legal light on Gun Lake WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:34 a.m. to 5:22 p.m.; birds stop at 4:52 p.m..
Do deer from Gun Lake WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (171) is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Can decoys or gear stay on Gun Lake WMA overnight?
Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Where can I hunt public land close to Gun Lake WMA?
The nearest public units are French Lake WMA (3.9 mi), Roberts-Wickstrom WMA (5.4 mi) and Waukenabo State Forest (7.2 mi).
Is camping at Gun Lake WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
Gun Lake WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Gun Lake WMA can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).