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SNA · DPA 109
Hunting on Myrtle Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area in 2026-27
Scientific and natural area hunting in Koochiching County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Myrtle Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
The record behind Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA, summed up
The mapped area of Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA is 22,981 acres, in Koochiching County. Koochiching County has 9 scientific and natural areas on our list; this one is the 2nd largest. Deer rules come from DPA 109, an antlerless permit lottery area in 2026.
The land manager is Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Its SNA hunting list entries: all hunting allowed (peatland sna list) and trapping allowed.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Myrtle Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Hunting | As listed only |
| Firearm ammunition | Non-toxic (most SNAs) |
| Portable stands | Remove daily |
| Trees | No damage |
| Camping, fires | Not allowed |
| Collecting | Not allowed |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed |
| Dogs | Only where listed |
| Trapping | Allowed here |
- All hunting allowed, see regulations for details.
- Snowmobiling (on established trail).
Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
DPA 109 dates for Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 109 antlerless permit lottery and offered 50 antlerless permits by lottery; its firearms deer season is the 100-series window. The Sept. 10 lottery hands out the antlerless permits for DPA 109.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | 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 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 109; testing is optional. DPA 109 takes in 1,203 square miles. Part of Koochiching, St. Louis and Itasca falls in DPA 109.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA
48 season windows for 25 species reach Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA, filtered by the open seasons for its county.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 109 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 109 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 109 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 13, 25, 27 | 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 (north part) | 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 | |
| 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.
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA access and parking
- From Effie 6.3 miles N/NE on Co Hwy 5, then 2.25 miles E/N on Co Rd 62, then 7.8 miles E on Holmstrom Forest Rd. Park at intersection with Loftgren Forest Rd. Trek 0.6 mile N on Loftgren Trail and 0.5 mile NE into site.
- From Effie 6.3 miles N/NE on Co Hwy 5, then 4 miles E/N on Co Rd 62, then 0.4 mile W on Loftgren Forest Rd. Park at intersection with Deer River Line. Trek past closed gate (or ATV if open) 4.5 mile N on Deer River Line to site on E. GPS recommended.
- From Effie 6.3 miles N/NE on Co Hwy 5, then 2.25 miles E/N on Co Rd 62, then 10.7 miles E on Holmstrom Forest Rd. Park at intersection with Kendall Forest Rd. Trek 3.5 miles N on Kendell Forest Rd, then 0.6 mile W into site. GPS recommended.
DNR SNA page; checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA
The closest other public land to Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA is Koochiching State Forest, 12 mi to the northwest; the table lists 8 neighbors with 459,793 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koochiching State Forest | State forest | 318,112 | 104, 107 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Potato Lake SNA | SNA | 84 | 109 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Caldwell Brook Cedar Swamp SNA | SNA | 81 | 104 | 19 mi | west |
| Big Fork State Forest | State forest | 45,186 | 109, 169 | 19 mi | southwest |
| George Washington State Forest | State forest | 95,433 | 109, 169 | 19 mi | south |
| Littlefork River WMA | WMA | 639 | 107 | 20 mi | north |
| Celina RGMA | RGMA | 218 | 177 | 21 mi | southeast |
| Ladies Tresses Swamp SNA | SNA | 40 | 169 | 22 mi | south |
Points: DNR Scientific and Natural Area boundary layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA
The town nearest Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA is Effie at 15 mi. Littlefork (527 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office (Grand Rapids) is the closest DNR office, 56 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effie | Itasca | 107 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Big Falls | Koochiching | 171 | 18 mi | northwest |
| Nett Lake | St. Louis | – | 19 mi | east |
| Bigfork | Itasca | 403 | 22 mi | south |
| Littlefork | Koochiching | 527 | 25 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.
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA area deer harvest by year
DPA 109 totals, which include all the land around Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA: 415 deer in 2025 against 375 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 370 | 45 | 415 | 0.35 |
| 2024 | 339 | 36 | 375 | 0.32 |
| 2023 | 295 | 53 | 348 | 0.29 |
| 2022 | 265 | 53 | 318 | 0.27 |
| 2021 | 323 | 75 | 398 | 0.34 |
| 2020 | 257 | 57 | 314 | 0.27 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA
Koochiching County holds 24 public hunting records on this site; Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA is one of them. Bear permit area 13, 25 and 27 covers part of Koochiching County (13 (300 permits), 25 (375 permits) and 27 (450 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 508. Wildlife office for Koochiching County: Baudette Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA, Billy Creek Aquatic Management Area and Nett Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA, 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 | 6:55 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 7:21 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 | 7:24 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:37 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:07 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:38 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 4:26 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:04 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 4:29 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:28 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. | 8:31 p.m. | 8:01 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.
Myrtle Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Myrtle Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area, the closest range on file is Udovich Guide Service, 22 miles off.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA and country like it, in photos
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA FAQ for 2026-27
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA: is hunting allowed there?
Yes. Check the rules table on this page for Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA first.
Is Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA a big piece of land?
About 22,981 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
Deer permit area 109; the 2026 designation is antlerless permit lottery. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What game is on Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
No per-site species list exists for Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA; legal game in season can be hunted.
What are the directions to Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
From Effie 6.3 miles N/NE on Co Hwy 5, then 2.25 miles E/N on Co Rd 62, then 7.8 miles E on Holmstrom Forest Rd. Park at intersection with Loftgren Forest Rd. Trek 0.6 mile N on Loftgren Trail and 0.5 mile NE into site. 3 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA.
What are the CWD rules on Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
CWD status: DPA 109 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:37 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
Closest on the map: Koochiching State Forest (12 mi), Potato Lake SNA (13 mi) and Caldwell Brook Cedar Swamp SNA (19 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA?
Portable stands only, removed daily, with no damage to trees.
Before a trip to Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA
Plan with this page, then check the agency page for Myrtle Lake Peatland SNA the week you go.
Sources: 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); Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).