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State forest · 2026-27
Red Lake State Forest hunting guide and rules
72,512 acres of state forest ground in Beltrami County, deer permit area 104.
Photo: jjsmustang1979 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Red Lake State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Red Lake State Forest
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 6.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 7.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 7.3 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.
Red Lake State Forest: acres, owner and deer area
Red Lake State Forest spreads over 72,512 acres of Beltrami County. Of 5 state forests in Beltrami County, Red Lake State Forest is number 2 by acreage. Hunters on Red Lake State Forest follow DPA 104 (it also reaches DPA 110), which DNR made antlerless permit lottery for 2026.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land. Not all of the 84,107 statutory acres are state land; DNR holds 72,512. Established: 1963.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Red Lake State Forest
Map: Red Lake State Forest and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Red Lake State Forest, adding 113,643 acres; Shotley RGMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotley RGMA | RGMA | 3,205 | 110 | 3.0 mi | west |
| Woodrow Pediocetes WMA | WMA | 70 | 110 | 8.1 mi | southwest |
| Shooks Slough WMA | WMA | 21 | 110 | 11 mi | south |
| Saum RGMA | RGMA | 1,229 | 110 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Big Bog SRA | Recreation area | 9,124 | 111 | 15 mi | north |
| Lost River Peatland SNA | SNA | 11,989 | 104 | 16 mi | northeast |
| Red Lake Peatland SNA | SNA | 87,955 | 104, 111 | 21 mi | northwest |
| Bender AMA | AMA | 50 | 169 | 22 mi | southeast |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Red Lake State Forest: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Red Lake 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 Red Lake State Forest
Every dated hunting window for Red Lake State Forest: 26 species, 50 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 104, 110 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 104, 110 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPAs 104, 110 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 12, 13, 27, 28, 41, 46 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Season A, either-sex | Elk zone 10 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Elk | Season B, antlerless | Elk zone 10 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 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 |
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.
Red Lake State Forest deer calendar and limits
DPA 104 (100 series) is antlerless permit lottery in 2026; the antlerless lottery quota is 25. Without a lottery permit, firearm hunters in DPA 104 are limited to a buck.
| 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 104. Area of DPA 104: 1,416 sq mi. Counties in DPA 104: Koochiching, Beltrami and Lake of the Woods.
Further DPAs: DPA 110 (antlerless permit lottery)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 104 gives up around Red Lake State Forest
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 104 registered 450 deer in 2025, 1% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 399 | 51 | 450 | 0.32 |
| 2024 | 413 | 32 | 445 | 0.31 |
| 2023 | 323 | 31 | 354 | 0.25 |
| 2022 | 330 | 59 | 389 | 0.28 |
| 2021 | 371 | 68 | 439 | 0.31 |
| 2020 | 318 | 49 | 367 | 0.26 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Red Lake State Forest: towns, DNR office and shops
Red Lake State Forest is 8.4 mi from Kelliher, the nearest community. Bemidji has the nearest DNR office to Red Lake State Forest, 39 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelliher | Beltrami | 249 | 8.4 mi | southeast |
| Mizpah | Koochiching | 53 | 17 mi | southeast |
| Northome | Koochiching | 154 | 17 mi | southeast |
| Ponemah | Beltrami | – | 17 mi | west |
| Funkley | Beltrami | 12 | 19 mi | south |
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 Red Lake State Forest
Our Beltrami County list runs to 47 public areas, including Red Lake State Forest. Deer feeding and attractants are banned in Beltrami County. Bear licenses here come from quota area 12, 41 and 27 (12 (100 permits), 41 (250 permits) and 27 (450 permits)). Turkey permit area here: 509 and 508. Elk zone 10 overlaps Beltrami County. The county's nearest wildlife office is Red Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office in Roosevelt. Beltrami County also has 6 closed places, Bemidji Lake 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 Red Lake State Forest
Bemidji Area Shooter's Association sits 42 miles from Red Lake State Forest, closer than any public range on file.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
Red Lake State Forest country, seen through a lens
Red Lake State Forest: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Red Lake 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 | 6:59 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 7:25 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:08 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:28 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:42 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:11 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:43 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:13 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:08 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:33 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:32 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. | 8:35 p.m. | 8:05 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.
Red Lake State Forest: what hunters usually ask
Is Red Lake State Forest public ground you can hunt?
It is open to hunting, with the access rules the agency lists for Red Lake State Forest.
What size is the Red Lake State Forest unit?
Agency maps put it at 72,512 acres.
Red Lake State Forest: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 104, antlerless permit lottery for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Red Lake State Forest?
No species are named for Red Lake State Forest, so the open seasons decide.
Where do you park at Red Lake State Forest?
Kelliher is 8.4 mi away; the map shows the point.
Who should I contact about Red Lake State Forest?
Red Lake State Forest belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Is Red Lake State Forest inside a CWD zone?
Red Lake State Forest sits in DPA 104, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Red Lake State Forest on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:41 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:11 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Red Lake State Forest?
Red Lake State Forest neighbors on our list: Shotley RGMA (3.0 mi), Woodrow Pediocetes WMA (8.1 mi) and Shooks Slough WMA (11 mi).
Red Lake State Forest: what are the stand and blind rules?
Leave one if you like, but on Red Lake State Forest it is open to anyone, and trees cannot be cut for lanes.
Red Lake 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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).