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WMA · DPA 246
Hunting on Nuthatch Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Cass County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Ron Cogswell (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Nuthatch Wildlife Management Area
The record behind Nuthatch WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Nuthatch WMA is 2,166 acres, in Cass County. Cass County has 14 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 3rd largest. Nuthatch WMA comes in 3 parts, Main Unit (1,454 ac), Southwest Unit (314 ac) and Southeast Unit (398 ac).
Deer rules come from DPA 246, an either-sex area in 2026. Brainerd is the DNR wildlife area office for Nuthatch WMA (brainerd.wildlife@state.mn.us).
Species named: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, wild turkey.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Wild Turkey
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Nuthatch Wildlife Management Area
Nuthatch WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Nuthatch 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 246 dates for Nuthatch WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 246 either-sex; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Either-sex in DPA 246 means the regular license covers a buck or a doe.
| 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 246; testing is optional. DPA 246 takes in 802 square miles. Part of Cass, Wadena, Hubbard and Todd falls in DPA 246.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Nuthatch WMA
30 season windows for 14 species reach Nuthatch WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 246 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 246 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 246 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 28, 45, 46, 47, 51 | 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 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Nuthatch WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Nuthatch WMA, with 0 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Unit | 1,454 | Akeley, MN | Open | – | DNR |
| Southwest Unit | 314 | Akeley, MN | Open | – | DNR |
| Southeast Unit | 398 | Akeley, MN | Open | – | DNR |
- Main Unit: From Akeley head south 19.8 miles on State Highway 64. Then turn east or west onto 20th Street SW to arrive at access points to this WMA.
- Southwest Unit: From Akeley, travel 20.9 miles south on State Highway 64. Turn west onto 24th Street SW and the WMA will be on the south side of the road at this location.
- Southeast Unit: From Akeley, travel 20.9 miles south on State Highway 64. Turn east onto 24th Street SW. After 1/2 mile you will arrive at the beginning of the WMA on the south side of the road.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Nuthatch WMA
The closest other public land to Nuthatch WMA is Foot Hills State Forest, 5.6 mi to the south; the table lists 8 neighbors with 42,413 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foot Hills State Forest | State forest | 18,729 | 246, 259 | 5.6 mi | south |
| Huntersville WMA | WMA | 521 | 246 | 7.0 mi | west |
| Huntersville State Forest | State forest | 14,994 | 241, 246 | 7.2 mi | west |
| Pine Mountain AMA | AMA | 92 | 246, 259 | 8.1 mi | northeast |
| Badoura State Forest | State forest | 4,566 | 246, 259 | 8.5 mi | north |
| Burgen Lake Prairie WMA | WMA | 2,322 | 246 | 8.8 mi | west |
| Badoura Jack Pine Woodland SNA | SNA | 915 | 259 | 8.8 mi | north |
| First Crow Wing AMA | AMA | 275 | 246 | 9.0 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Nuthatch WMA
The town nearest Nuthatch WMA is Backus at 9.9 mi. Pine River (925 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Akeley, MN as the nearest town on its unit page. Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office (Park Rapids) is the closest DNR office, 22 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backus | Cass | 266 | 9.9 mi | northeast |
| Nimrod | Wadena | 82 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Pine River | Cass | 925 | 14 mi | east |
| Chickamaw Beach | Cass | 128 | 15 mi | east |
| Hackensack | Cass | 300 | 15 mi | northeast |
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.
Nuthatch WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 246 totals, which include all the land around Nuthatch WMA: 3,143 deer in 2025 against 2,624 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,330 | 813 | 3,143 | 4.01 |
| 2024 | 2,044 | 580 | 2,624 | 3.35 |
| 2023 | 1,621 | 773 | 2,394 | 3.05 |
| 2022 | 1,523 | 1,399 | 2,922 | 3.73 |
| 2021 | 2,013 | 1,597 | 3,610 | 4.60 |
| 2020 | 1,825 | 1,706 | 3,531 | 4.50 |
| 2019 | 1,824 | 1,763 | 3,587 | 4.58 |
| 2018 | 1,936 | 1,996 | 3,932 | 4.68 |
| 2017 | 2,293 | 2,593 | 4,886 | 5.82 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Nuthatch WMA
Cass County holds 69 public hunting records on this site; Nuthatch WMA is one of them. No deer feeding or attractants in Cass County (DNR ban). Bear permit area 46, 45 and 47 covers part of Cass County (46 (950 permits), 45 (700 permits) and 47 (40 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 508 and 507. Wildlife office for Cass County: Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Nuthatch WMA, Long Lake Aquatic Management Area and Poplar Creek Aquatic Management 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.
Nuthatch WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Nuthatch 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 | 7:00 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 7:25 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:09 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 7:11 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:28 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:09 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:39 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:35 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. | 8:04 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.
Nuthatch Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Nuthatch Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Pine River Fish & Game, 15 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.
Nuthatch WMA and country like it, in photos
Nuthatch WMA FAQ for 2026-27
Is Nuthatch WMA a big piece of land?
About 2,166 acres in 3 subunits, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Nuthatch WMA?
Deer permit area 246; the 2026 designation is either-sex. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Nuthatch WMA?
The record for Nuthatch WMA lists deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and wild turkey.
What are the directions to Nuthatch WMA?
From Akeley head south 19.8 miles on State Highway 64. Then turn east or west onto 20th Street SW to arrive at access points to this WMA. 0 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Nuthatch WMA?
The Brainerd office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Nuthatch WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Nuthatch WMA?
CWD status: DPA 246 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Nuthatch WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:39 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Nuthatch WMA?
Closest on the map: Foot Hills State Forest (5.6 mi), Huntersville WMA (7.0 mi) and Huntersville State Forest (7.2 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Nuthatch WMA?
No overnight gear on Nuthatch WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Nuthatch WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Nuthatch WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).