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WMA · DPA 256
Hunting on Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Pennington County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area
The record behind Higinbotham WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Higinbotham WMA is 984 acres, in Pennington County. Pennington County has 5 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 2nd largest. Deer rules come from DPA 256, a 2-deer limit area in 2026.
Thief River Falls is the DNR wildlife area office for Higinbotham WMA (thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records Pittman-Robertson funding for Higinbotham WMA.
Species named: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area
Higinbotham WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Higinbotham 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 256 dates for Higinbotham WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 256 2-deer limit; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Up to 2 deer can come out of DPA 256 this season, using bonus permits for the extra antlerless deer.
| 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 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 256; testing is optional. DPA 256 takes in 655 square miles. Part of Polk, Pennington, Red Lake and Marshall falls in DPA 256.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Higinbotham WMA
44 season windows for 21 species reach Higinbotham WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 256 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 256 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 256 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | 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 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 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.
Higinbotham WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Higinbotham WMA, with 1 mapped lot.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higinbotham WMA | 984 | St. Hilaire | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Higinbotham WMA: From St. Hilaire, go 3 1/2 miles W on CO RD 55.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Higinbotham WMA
The closest other public land to Higinbotham WMA is Pembina WMA, 8.8 mi to the west; the table lists 8 neighbors with 8,546 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembina WMA | WMA | 6,677 | 256 | 8.8 mi | west |
| Moran WMA | WMA | 426 | 256 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Huot WMA | WMA | 425 | 256 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Jacksnipe WMA | WMA | 203 | 209, 257 | 11 mi | east |
| Belgium WMA | WMA | 190 | 256 | 12 mi | west |
| Gervais WMA | WMA | 83 | 257 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Stipa WMA | WMA | 162 | 256 | 13 mi | south |
| Marcoux WMA | WMA | 380 | 257 | 14 mi | south |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Higinbotham WMA
The town nearest Higinbotham WMA is St. Hilaire at 3.7 mi. Thief River Falls (8,779 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names St. Hilaire as the nearest town on its unit page. Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office (Thief River Falls) is the closest DNR office, 8.9 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Hilaire | Pennington | 256 | 3.7 mi | east |
| Red Lake Falls | Red Lake | 1,327 | 8.3 mi | south |
| Thief River Falls | Pennington | 8,779 | 9.2 mi | northeast |
| Plummer | Red Lake | 273 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Viking | Marshall | 78 | 16 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.
Higinbotham WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 256 totals, which include all the land around Higinbotham WMA: 1,042 deer in 2025 against 1,033 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 633 | 409 | 1,042 | 1.59 |
| 2024 | 631 | 402 | 1,033 | 1.58 |
| 2023 | 458 | 409 | 867 | 1.33 |
| 2022 | 501 | 511 | 1,012 | 1.55 |
| 2021 | 595 | 474 | 1,069 | 1.64 |
| 2020 | 611 | 451 | 1,062 | 1.62 |
| 2019 | 548 | 440 | 988 | 1.51 |
| 2018 | 561 | 592 | 1,153 | 1.76 |
| 2017 | 605 | 606 | 1,211 | 1.85 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Higinbotham WMA
Pennington County holds 5 public hunting records on this site; Higinbotham WMA is one of them. Bear: Pennington County is in the no-quota area, with licenses over the counter. For turkey the county is in permit area 509. Wildlife office for Pennington County: Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Higinbotham WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Higinbotham 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. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:35 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:18 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:50 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:15 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:42 p.m. | 8:12 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.
Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Sportsmans Park, 8 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.
Higinbotham WMA and country like it, in photos
Higinbotham WMA FAQ for 2026-27
Higinbotham WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Higinbotham WMA a big piece of land?
About 984 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Higinbotham WMA?
Deer permit area 256; the 2026 designation is 2-deer limit. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Higinbotham WMA?
The record for Higinbotham WMA lists deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl and wild turkey.
What are the directions to Higinbotham WMA?
From St. Hilaire, go 3 1/2 miles W on CO RD 55. 1 mapped lot.
Which office should I call about Higinbotham WMA?
The Thief River Falls office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Higinbotham WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Higinbotham WMA?
CWD status: DPA 256 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Higinbotham WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:48 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Higinbotham WMA?
Closest on the map: Pembina WMA (8.8 mi), Moran WMA (10 mi) and Huot WMA (10 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Higinbotham WMA?
No overnight gear on Higinbotham WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Higinbotham WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Other photos on this page: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).