Home › Minnesota › Public land › Lake Jeanette State Forest
State forest · 2026-27
Lake Jeanette State Forest hunting guide and rules
1,357 acres of state forest ground in St. Louis County, deer permit area 118.
Photo: Abnormally Weird (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Lake Jeanette State Forest
Lake Jeanette State Forest: acres, owner and deer area
Lake Jeanette State Forest spreads over 1,357 acres of St. Louis County. Of 10 state forests in St. Louis County, Lake Jeanette State Forest is number 10 by acreage. Hunters on Lake Jeanette State Forest follow DPA 118, which DNR made bucks only for 2026.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land. Not all of the 11,522 statutory acres are state land; DNR holds 1,357. Established: 1963.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lake Jeanette State Forest
Map: Lake Jeanette State Forest and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Lake Jeanette State Forest, adding 441,633 acres; Echo Lake RGMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Lake RGMA | RGMA | 2,081 | 118 | 12 mi | west |
| Burntside State Forest | State forest | 24,902 | 118 | 14 mi | south |
| Lacroix Ranger District (Superior NF) | Ranger district | 409,160 | 107, 109 | 17 mi | west |
| Pine Island WMA | WMA | 35 | 177 | 18 mi | south |
| Wolf Lake AMA | AMA | 142 | 118 | 19 mi | southeast |
| Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, 4,550 ac | State park | 4,550 | 119, 130 | 21 mi | south |
| Old Koschak Farm WMA | WMA | 89 | 118 | 23 mi | southeast |
| Hwy 115 RGMA | RGMA | 674 | 177 | 24 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Lake Jeanette State Forest: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Lake Jeanette State Forest; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| 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.
When you can hunt Lake Jeanette State Forest
Every dated hunting window for Lake Jeanette State Forest: 24 species, 47 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 118 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 118 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 118 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 22, 24, 25, 31, 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 | |
| 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 |
Pheasant shooting starts at 9 a.m.; ducks, geese and small game stop at sunset.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Lake Jeanette State Forest deer calendar and limits
DPA 118 (100 series) is bucks only in 2026. A buck is the only legal deer in DPA 118 for most hunters this year.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Testing for CWD is optional in DPA 118. Area of DPA 118: 1,445 sq mi. Counties in DPA 118: St. Louis and Lake.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 118 gives up around Lake Jeanette State Forest
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 118 registered 408 deer in 2025, 1% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 403 | 5 | 408 | 0.33 |
| 2024 | 397 | 6 | 403 | 0.33 |
| 2023 | 364 | 2 | 366 | 0.30 |
| 2022 | 382 | 6 | 388 | 0.32 |
| 2021 | 494 | 7 | 501 | 0.41 |
| 2020 | 520 | 4 | 524 | 0.43 |
| 2019 | 649 | 98 | 747 | 0.61 |
| 2018 | 701 | 162 | 863 | 0.71 |
| 2017 | 605 | 591 | 1,196 | 0.98 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Lake Jeanette State Forest: towns, DNR office and shops
Lake Jeanette State Forest is 22 mi from Tower, the nearest community. Ely is the bigger town nearby at 3,214 people. Tower has the nearest DNR office to Lake Jeanette State Forest, 23 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower | St. Louis | 421 | 22 mi | south |
| Soudan | St. Louis | – | 22 mi | south |
| Ely | St. Louis | 3,214 | 23 mi | southeast |
| Winton | St. Louis | 163 | 24 mi | southeast |
| Orr | St. Louis | 213 | 28 mi | west |
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.
County rules that reach Lake Jeanette State Forest
Our St. Louis County list runs to 59 public areas, including Lake Jeanette State Forest. Bear licenses here come from quota area 24, 25 and 31 (24 (100 permits), 25 (375 permits) and 31 (400 permits)). Turkey permit area here: 508. The county's nearest wildlife office is Tower Area Wildlife Office in Tower. St. Louis County also has 51 closed places, Amity Creek Aquatic Management Area among them.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Shooting lines in reach of Lake Jeanette State Forest
Babbitt Conservation Club sits 32 miles from Lake Jeanette State Forest, closer than any public range on file.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Lake Jeanette State Forest country, seen through a lens
Lake Jeanette State Forest: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Lake Jeanette State Forest hours use the NOAA solar formula for the unit's coordinates.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Opens | Deer, bear end | Birds end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:50 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 7:16 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 7:01 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:32 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:34 a.m. | 4:21 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 4:21 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:59 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 4:24 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:23 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. | 8:26 p.m. | 7:56 p.m. |
Clock times include Daylight Saving Time until Nov. 1.
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.
Lake Jeanette State Forest: what hunters usually ask
What other public tracts sit near Lake Jeanette State Forest?
Lake Jeanette State Forest neighbors on our list: Echo Lake RGMA (12 mi), Burntside State Forest (14 mi) and Lacroix Ranger District (Superior NF) (17 mi).
Lake Jeanette State Forest: what are the stand and blind rules?
Leave one if you like, but on Lake Jeanette State Forest it is open to anyone, and trees cannot be cut for lanes.
Is Lake Jeanette State Forest public ground you can hunt?
It is open to hunting, with the access rules the agency lists for Lake Jeanette State Forest.
What size is the Lake Jeanette State Forest unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,357 acres.
Lake Jeanette State Forest: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 118, bucks only for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Lake Jeanette State Forest?
No species are named for Lake Jeanette State Forest, so the open seasons decide.
Where do you park at Lake Jeanette State Forest?
Tower is 22 mi away; the map shows the point.
Who should I contact about Lake Jeanette State Forest?
Lake Jeanette State Forest belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Is Lake Jeanette State Forest inside a CWD zone?
Lake Jeanette State Forest sits in DPA 118, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Lake Jeanette State Forest on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:32 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:02 a.m..
Lake Jeanette State Forest trip checklist from this page
No paper tags in Minnesota: validate the electronic license where the animal falls, then register it on time.
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); Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).