Hunting on Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge in 2026-27

Rice Lake NWR regulations in short

Read these before a first trip to Rice Lake NWR; they come from the agency page.

50 CFR 32.42 text for this unit (excerpt): —(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of woodcock and common snipe on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions: (i) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times. (ii) Hunters must dismantle hunting blinds, platforms, and ladders made from natural vegetation at the end of each day. (iii) You must remove all boats, decoys, blind materials, stands, platforms, and other personal property brought onto the refuge at the end of each day (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, gray and fox squirrel, cottontail rabbit, and snowshoe hare on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: The conditions set forth at paragraphs (n)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply. (3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions: (i) We require a State-issued permit for firearms hunting. (ii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (n)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section apply. (iii) We prohibit shooting on, from, over …

Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.

DPA 155 dates for Rice Lake NWR

For 2026, DNR made DPA 155 antlerless permit lottery and offered 750 antlerless permits by lottery; its firearms deer season is the 100-series window. The Sept. 10 lottery hands out the antlerless permits for DPA 155.

No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 155; testing is optional. DPA 155 takes in 528 square miles. Part of Aitkin, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs falls in DPA 155.

From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Hunt units on Rice Lake NWR

Federal hunt unit list for Rice Lake NWR.

USFWS Public Hunt Units layer; checked October 28, 2026.

Towns and offices around Rice Lake NWR

The town nearest Rice Lake NWR is McGregor at 6.3 mi. Aitkin (2,174 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. Aitkin Area Wildlife Office (Aitkin) is the closest DNR office, 17 mi off.

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.

The county setting of Rice Lake NWR

Aitkin County holds 43 public hunting records on this site; Rice Lake NWR is one of them. No deer feeding or attractants in Aitkin County (DNR ban). Bear permit area 51 covers part of Aitkin County (51 (1500 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 508. Wildlife office for Aitkin County: Aitkin Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Rice Lake NWR, Cedar Lake Aquatic Management Area and Glacier Lake 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.

Rice Lake NWR FAQ for 2026-27