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Minnesota WMA
Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
1,312 acres of wildlife management area ground in Carlton County, deer permit area 156.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 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.
Kettle Lake WMA on paper: the record in brief
Kettle Lake WMA covers 1,312 acres in Carlton County. Among Carlton County’s 10 wildlife management areas, it sits 2nd for acres. The 2026 deer designation for DPA 156 is antlerless permit lottery.
Management sits with the Cloquet area wildlife staff, reachable at cloquet.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid on file for Kettle Lake WMA: OHF.
DNR describes the unit this way: Management emphasis on this WMA is for waterfowl and sharp-tailed grouse habitat which involves active forest management practices.
Hunted here: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area
Getting into Kettle Lake WMA
Directions and parking for Kettle Lake WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (2 parking points mapped).
| Piece | Acres | Town | Status | Lots | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Lake WMA | 1,312 | Cromwell | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Kettle Lake WMA: From Cromwell, go 4 1/2 miles E on SH 210, then 3 miles S on Kettle Lake Road. There is a carry-in canoe access to the lake.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Use rules to read before hunting Kettle Lake WMA
Kettle 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 Corona Ditch Trail gate is open from December 1 to April 1 each year to allow snowmobile traffic. The remainder of the year the gate is closed to protect the road and nesting wildlife (foot traffic is still allowed).
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Kettle Lake WMA deer rules: DPA 156
DPA 156 is a 100-series area set to antlerless permit lottery for 2026, with 1,000 antlerless lottery permits. DPA 156 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 156 has optional CWD testing. At 828 square miles, DPA 156 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 156 overlaps Carlton, Aitkin and Pine.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Kettle Lake WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Kettle 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 156 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 156 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 156 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 51, 53 | 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 | |
| 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 |
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 Kettle Lake WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 1,900 deer across DPA 156 (2.3 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,581 | 319 | 1,900 | 2.30 |
| 2024 | 1,327 | 267 | 1,594 | 1.93 |
| 2023 | 1,066 | 233 | 1,299 | 1.57 |
| 2022 | 1,117 | 989 | 2,106 | 2.55 |
| 2021 | 1,365 | 973 | 2,338 | 2.83 |
| 2020 | 1,207 | 1,219 | 2,426 | 2.94 |
| 2019 | 1,300 | 1,133 | 2,433 | 2.95 |
| 2018 | 1,388 | 1,173 | 2,561 | 3.10 |
| 2017 | 1,826 | 1,889 | 3,715 | 4.50 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Kettle Lake WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Kettle Lake WMA map point; Mervin WMA (2.5 mi, northwest) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mervin WMA | WMA | 242 | 156 | 2.5 mi | northwest |
| Fond du Lac State Forest, 40,830 ac | State forest | 40,830 | 156, 181 | 4.8 mi | north |
| Carl Sandell WMA | WMA | 40 | 181 | 6.0 mi | northwest |
| Sawyer WMA | WMA | 600 | 156 | 7.0 mi | east |
| Red Clover WMA | WMA | 322 | 181 | 7.3 mi | northwest |
| Birch Hill RGMA | RGMA | 696 | 181 | 8.3 mi | north |
| Firebird WMA | WMA | 727 | 156 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Little Otter Creek AMA | AMA | 202 | 156, 199 | 10 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Carlton County around Kettle Lake WMA
In Carlton County there are 18 records like Kettle Lake WMA to choose from. Bear: quota area 51 and 53 reaches the county, 51 (1500 permits) and 53 (20 permits) for 2026. Turkey permit area 508 covers the county. Cloquet Area Wildlife Office (Cloquet) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre. Watch for closed ground in Carlton County such as Anderson Creek 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 Kettle Lake WMA
Closest town: Cromwell, 5.6 mi in a straight line from Kettle Lake WMA. Most services: Barnum, population 610. The unit page lists Cromwell as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is Cloquet Area Wildlife Office in Cloquet, 17 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cromwell | Carlton | 246 | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| Mahtowa | Carlton | – | 8.6 mi | southeast |
| Big Lake | Carlton | – | 8.8 mi | northeast |
| Barnum | Carlton | 610 | 9.6 mi | southeast |
| Kettle River | Carlton | 173 | 11 mi | southwest |
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 Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Schelonka's Concealed Carry (16 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 Kettle Lake WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Kettle 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 | 6:52 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 7:17 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. | 7:03 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:01 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:31 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 4:28 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:55 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 4:32 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:27 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. | 8:26 p.m. | 7:56 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 Kettle Lake WMA
Quick answers before you hunt Kettle Lake WMA
When is legal light on Kettle Lake WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:31 a.m. to 5:19 p.m.; birds stop at 4:49 p.m..
Do deer from Kettle Lake WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (156) is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Can decoys or gear stay on Kettle 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 Kettle Lake WMA?
The nearest public units are Mervin WMA (2.5 mi), Fond du Lac State Forest (4.8 mi) and Carl Sandell WMA (6.0 mi).
May the public hunt Kettle Lake WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Kettle Lake WMA.
Is camping at Kettle Lake WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
What are the 2026 deer rules on Kettle Lake WMA?
It is in deer permit area 156 (antlerless permit lottery). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Kettle Lake WMA size: how much huntable ground?
Kettle Lake WMA covers 1,312 acres.
What route leads to Kettle Lake WMA?
From Cromwell, go 4 1/2 miles E on SH 210, then 3 miles S on Kettle Lake Road. Parking points on file: 2.
What can you hunt on Kettle Lake WMA?
Expect deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl and wild turkey on Kettle Lake WMA, per the record.
Which office should I call about Kettle Lake WMA?
Kettle Lake WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Cloquet office.
Kettle Lake WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Kettle 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: Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).