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State forest in Roseau County
Lost River State Forest hunting, season by season
52,152 acres of public land open to hunters in Roseau County, with DPA 105 deer dates.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Lost River State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Lost River State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 7.0 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 7.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.1 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.
Lost River State Forest in brief, from the agency file
52,152 acres of Roseau County belong to Lost River State Forest. Size rank in Roseau County: 2nd of 2 state forests. For deer it falls in DPA 105 (it also reaches DPA 267), set at 2-deer limit for 2026.
Management: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The legal forest boundary covers 54,755 acres, but only 52,152 are DNR land. The forest was created in 1963.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lost River State Forest
Lost River State Forest pinned among nearby tracts
R.C. #3 WMA lies 4.4 mi southeast of Lost River State Forest, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.C. #3 WMA | WMA | 81 | 105 | 4.4 mi | southeast |
| Enstrom WMA | WMA | 79 | 105 | 5.9 mi | south |
| Rosver WMA | WMA | 37 | 105 | 6.9 mi | southwest |
| Sprague Creek Peatland SNA | SNA | 829 | 267 | 8.2 mi | west |
| Cedar Bend WMA | WMA | 1,473 | 105 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Roseau Lake WMA | WMA | 8,025 | 267 | 11 mi | west |
| Pine Creek Peatland SNA | SNA | 953 | 267 | 12 mi | west |
| Border WMA | WMA | 505 | 105 | 14 mi | east |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Lost River State Forest
Site rules for Lost River State Forest, condensed from the record.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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.
Lost River State Forest season dates
This table covers Lost River State Forest only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from the open seasons for its county.
| Species | Type | Zone or DPA | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 105, 267 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 105, 267 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 105 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 267 | 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 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota area 12 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Sandhill crane | Northwest zone | Northwest crane zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 18, 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 |
Wear blaze orange or pink in the firearms deer season; waterfowl hunters on water are exempt under DNR rules.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Deer seasons on Lost River State Forest
100-series DPA 105 carries the 2-deer limit designation this year. With bonus permits, a hunter can fill the 2-deer limit in DPA 105.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Optional CWD testing only in DPA 105. WMAs in DPA 105 carry extra rules. Size of DPA 105: 1,394 square miles. Lake of the Woods, Roseau and Koochiching share DPA 105.
Other deer permit areas on this land: DPA 267 (3-deer limit)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Lost River State Forest (DPA 105)
The whole of DPA 105 gave up 2,485 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Lost River State Forest itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,387 | 1,098 | 2,485 | 2.07 |
| 2024 | 1,255 | 910 | 2,165 | 1.81 |
| 2023 | 1,230 | 1,315 | 2,545 | 2.12 |
| 2022 | 1,203 | 1,185 | 2,388 | 1.99 |
| 2021 | 1,436 | 1,491 | 2,927 | 2.44 |
| 2020 | 1,405 | 1,488 | 2,893 | 2.41 |
| 2019 | 1,066 | 1,020 | 2,086 | 2.82 |
| 2018 | 1,058 | 1,281 | 2,339 | 3.16 |
| 2017 | 1,066 | 967 | 2,033 | 2.75 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Lost River State Forest nearby towns
Roseau is the closest town to Lost River State Forest, about 11 mi away. For questions, the Roseau DNR office is 18 mi from Lost River State Forest.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roseau | Roseau | 2,699 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Warroad | Roseau | 1,983 | 14 mi | east |
| Badger | Roseau | 417 | 23 mi | southwest |
| Roosevelt | Roseau | 156 | 26 mi | southeast |
| Greenbush | Roseau | 674 | 32 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.
Lost River State Forest: Roseau County facts
Counting Lost River State Forest, Roseau County has 39 listed public areas. For bear, Roseau County lies partly in quota area 12; 2026 permits: 12 (100 permits). Roseau County turkey hunters declare area 509. County questions go to Roseau River WMA Area Wildlife Office, Roseau.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Range time on the drive to Lost River State Forest
Three ranges near Lost River State Forest follow, starting with Lock & Load Hunting Club at 45 miles.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
A look at the landscape around Lost River State Forest
Lost River State Forest shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Lost River State Forest map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Open | Big game close | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:18 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:50 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 4:31 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:16 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:46 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 4:34 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:35 a.m. | 8:11 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. | 8:41 p.m. | 8:11 p.m. |
Times are rounded to the minute.
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.
Straight answers on hunting Lost River State Forest
Which deer permit area holds Lost River State Forest?
Lost River State Forest falls in DPA 105, 2-deer limit. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
Roughly how large is the Lost River State Forest unit?
The mapped size is 52,152 acres.
Where is the access for Lost River State Forest?
No directions are published; Roseau is the closest town at 11 mi.
Which species does Lost River State Forest hold?
Any game in season, since no species list is published for Lost River State Forest.
Is CWD sampling required at Lost River State Forest?
DNR lists DPA 105 as outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Who do I call about Lost River State Forest?
Lost River State Forest falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Which public ground lies closest to Lost River State Forest?
Next-closest public land: R.C. #3 WMA (4.4 mi), Enstrom WMA (5.9 mi) and Rosver WMA (6.9 mi).
How early does shooting start at Lost River State Forest on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:48 a.m., done by 5:25 p.m..
Can you hunt on Lost River State Forest this season?
Lost River State Forest allows hunting under the rules its agency lists.
Can I leave a stand on Lost River State Forest overnight?
Portable stands are preferred on Lost River State Forest; a stand left on state forest land is open to public use, and no shooting lanes may be cut.
Lost River State Forest: three things to confirm first
Carry your license, validate a deer or turkey at the kill site and register it (48 hours for deer and bear, 24 for turkey).
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: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).