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State forest in Cook County
Hunting on Pat Bayle State Forest in 2026-27
State forest hunting in Cook County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: AustinMatherne (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Pat Bayle State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Pat Bayle State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Devil Track Lake Boat RampBoat ramp · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Ball Club Lake Public Water Access SiteBoat ramp · 4.2 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.
The record behind Pat Bayle State Forest, summed up
The mapped area of Pat Bayle State Forest is 38,338 acres, in Cook County. Cook County has 3 state forests on our list; this one is the 3rd largest. Deer rules come from DPA 117 (it also reaches DPA 126 and DPA 131), an either-sex area in 2026.
The land manager is Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Inside the statutory line (180,407 acres) DNR manages 38,338 acres; the rest is county, federal or private. It has been a state forest since 1963.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Pat Bayle State Forest
Pat Bayle State Forest regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Pat Bayle State Forest; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| 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.
DPA 117 dates for Pat Bayle State Forest
For 2026, DNR made DPA 117 either-sex; its firearms deer season is the 100-series window. Either-sex in DPA 117 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, 100 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 117; testing is optional. DPA 117 takes in 1,134 square miles. Part of Cook and Lake falls in DPA 117.
Other DPAs: DPA 126 (bucks only), DPA 131 (bucks only)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Pat Bayle State Forest
47 season windows for 24 species reach Pat Bayle State Forest, filtered by the open seasons for its county.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 117, 126, 131 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 117, 126, 131 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPAs 117, 126, 131 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 22, 31 | 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 |
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.
Other places to hunt near Pat Bayle State Forest
The closest other public land to Pat Bayle State Forest is Dale Honer RGMA, 1.7 mi to the southwest; the table lists 8 neighbors with 398,169 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Honer RGMA | RGMA | 1,535 | 126 | 1.7 mi | southwest |
| Devil Track GMA | RGMA | 917 | 126 | 4.2 mi | south |
| Pendant Lake RGMA | RGMA | 479 | 126 | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Devil Track River AMA | AMA | 403 | 126 | 5.8 mi | southeast |
| Gunflint Ranger District (Superior NF) | Ranger district | 391,034 | 117, 126 | 6.6 mi | north |
| Kadunce River RGMA | RGMA | 1,932 | 126 | 12 mi | east |
| Wills Lake RGMA | RGMA | 914 | 126 | 13 mi | southwest |
| Jonvik WMA | WMA | 956 | 126 | 13 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Pat Bayle State Forest
The town nearest Pat Bayle State Forest is Grand Marais at 8.9 mi. Silver Bay (1,776 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. Two Harbors Area Wildlife Office (Two Harbors) is the closest DNR office, 81 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Marais | Cook | 1,306 | 8.9 mi | southeast |
| Lutsen | Cook | – | 18 mi | southwest |
| Finland | Lake | – | 49 mi | southwest |
| Silver Bay | Lake | 1,776 | 56 mi | southwest |
| Beaver Bay | Lake | 122 | 59 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.
Pat Bayle State Forest area deer harvest by year
DPA 117 totals, which include all the land around Pat Bayle State Forest: 14 deer in 2025 against 7 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 0.02 |
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0.01 |
| 2023 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0.01 |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 0.01 |
| 2021 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 0.01 |
| 2020 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 0.03 |
| 2019 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 0.03 |
| 2018 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 0.03 |
| 2017 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 0.06 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Pat Bayle State Forest
Cook County holds 27 public hunting records on this site; Pat Bayle State Forest is one of them. Bear permit area 31 and 22 covers part of Cook County (31 (400 permits) and 22 (75 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 508. Wildlife office for Cook County: Two Harbors Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Pat Bayle State Forest, Butterwort Cliffs Scientific and Natural Area and Cascade River 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.
Pat Bayle State Forest: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Pat Bayle State Forest, 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 | 6:43 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 7:09 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 6:52 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:54 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:12 a.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:54 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:26 a.m. | 4:14 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 4:14 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:51 a.m. | 4:18 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 4:18 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:16 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 5:46 a.m. | 8:18 p.m. | 7:48 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.
Pat Bayle State Forest hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Pat Bayle State Forest, the closest range on file is Silver Beaver Rilfe & Pistol Club, 57 miles off.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Pat Bayle State Forest and country like it, in photos
Straight answers on hunting Pat Bayle State Forest
What are the CWD rules on Pat Bayle State Forest?
CWD status: DPA 117 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Pat Bayle State Forest: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:24 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Pat Bayle State Forest?
Closest on the map: Dale Honer RGMA (1.7 mi), Devil Track GMA (4.2 mi) and Pendant Lake RGMA (4.9 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Pat Bayle State Forest?
On Pat Bayle State Forest, a stand left overnight can be used by any hunter, and shooting lanes cannot be cleared.
Pat Bayle State Forest: is hunting allowed there?
Yes. Check the rules table on this page for Pat Bayle State Forest first.
Is Pat Bayle State Forest a big piece of land?
About 38,338 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Pat Bayle State Forest?
Deer permit area 117; the 2026 designation is either-sex. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What game is on Pat Bayle State Forest?
No per-site species list exists for Pat Bayle State Forest; legal game in season can be hunted.
What are the directions to Pat Bayle State Forest?
Drive from Grand Marais (8.9 mi); the agency publishes no directions.
Which office should I call about Pat Bayle State Forest?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Pat Bayle State Forest.
Other photos on this page: Chad Davis. (CC BY-SA 2.0); Chad Davis. (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).