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Home › Minnesota › Public land › Rum River State Forest

State forest · MN

Rum River State Forest hunting, 2026-27

Seasons, access rules and the nearest towns for this state forest in Mille Lacs County and 2 neighbors.

Get driving directionsAll Mille Lacs County spots

We have no photo of Rum River State Forest; this nearby stand-in is from Mille Lacs County (Sunset clouds over Mille Lacs Lake from Father Hennepin State Park, Mille Lacs County).

Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to Rum River State Forest

Get driving directionsParking on Google MapsTrailheads on Google Maps

Parking, trailheads and gates near Rum River State Forest

  • Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 4.1 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.

What the file says about Rum River State Forest

Rum River State Forest adds 21,100 acres of public ground to Mille Lacs, Kanabec and Morrison counties. It is the only one of the state forests on our list in Mille Lacs County. Its deer permit area is 152 (it also reaches DPA 157, DPA 222 and DPA 249); the 2026 designation there is 2-deer limit.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages it. Statutory acres: 40,598; DNR-administered acres: 21,100. The legislature set it up in 1935.

DNR pages name no species list per forest; all open seasons apply (DNR: state forests "hold game such as deer, bear, and ruffed grouse").

From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Rum River State Forest

Ann Lake Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 9 mi from Rum River State Forest

Directions
Kanabec County

County · 14 mi from Rum River State Forest

Directions
Snake River State Forest

Public land · 22 mi from Rum River State Forest

Directions
BenLacs Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 23 mi from Rum River State Forest

Directions
Pomroy Pastures Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 25 mi from Rum River State Forest

Directions
Benton County

County · 25 mi from Rum River State Forest

Directions

Rum River State Forest access rules

The rows below restate the access rules on the agency record for Rum River State Forest.

ActivityStatus
Hunting, trappingOpen in season
Game refuges insideClosed unless listed
Near campgrounds, lotsCased within 200 ft
StandsPortable preferred
Shooting lanesNo cutting
Private inholdingsPermission needed
Target shootingUnless posted closed
Forest roadsOHVs unless posted

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

Rum River State Forest and deer permit area 152

The 2026 designation for DPA 152 is 2-deer limit; firearms dates follow the 100-series window. DPA 152 allows 2 deer, so bonus permits come into play after the first deer.

HuntFirst dayLast dayNow
ArcherySep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Youth deerOct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Firearms, 100 seriesNov 7, 2026Nov 22, 2026
MuzzleloaderNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026

CWD sampling in DPA 152 is voluntary. The DPA covers 61 square miles. DPA 152 counties: Mille Lacs and Kanabec.

It also touches: DPA 157 (2-deer limit), DPA 222 (3-deer limit), DPA 249 (2-deer limit)

DPA 152 pageDPA indexChronic wasting disease

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

Seasons open on Rum River State Forest

Dated seasons that apply on Rum River State Forest (50 rows), with today's status in the last column.

QuarrySeasonWhereOpeningClosingStatus
DeerArcheryDPAs 152, 157, 222, 249Sep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
DeerEarly antlerlessDPA 222Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerYouth deerDPAs 152, 157, 222, 249Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerFirearms, 100 seriesDPAs 152, 157Nov 7, 2026Nov 22, 2026
DeerFirearms, 200 seriesDPAs 222, 249Nov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
DeerMuzzleloaderStatewideNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026
Black bearNo-quota areaNo Quota AreaSep 1, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Black bearQuota areasQuota areas 45, 51Sep 1, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Wild turkeyFallStatewideOct 3, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Wild turkeySpring archery-onlyStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period AStatewideApr 14, 2027Apr 20, 2027
Wild turkeySpring youthStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period BStatewideApr 21, 2027Apr 27, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period CStatewideApr 28, 2027May 4, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period DStatewideMay 5, 2027May 11, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period EStatewideMay 12, 2027May 18, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period FStatewideMay 19, 2027May 31, 2027
PheasantRegularStatewideOct 10, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Ruffed, spruce grouseRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Hungarian partridgeRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
WoodcockRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Nov 2, 2026
Mourning doveRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026
Rabbits, haresRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
JackrabbitRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
SquirrelsRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
RailsRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
SnipeRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026
Canada gooseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Light geeseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
TealEarly teal seasonStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 9, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth daysStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026
DucksRegular ducksNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Nov 24, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 25, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
Take-a-KidTake-a-KidStatewideSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 29, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Dec 30, 2026
Raccoon, foxesHunting (north)North furbearer zoneOct 17, 2026Mar 15, 2027
Badger, opossum, weaselsHunting (north)North furbearer zoneOct 17, 2026Mar 15, 2027
DucksRegular ducksSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Jan 6, 2027
Raccoon, foxesHunting (south)South furbearer zoneOct 24, 2026Mar 15, 2027
Badger, opossum, weaselsHunting (south)South furbearer zoneOct 24, 2026Mar 15, 2027
BobcatHunt and trap (north)North furbearer zoneDec 12, 2026Jan 17, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideDec 15, 2026Jan 15, 2027
BobcatHunt and trap (south)South furbearer zoneJan 2, 2027Jan 17, 2027
Light geeseSpring light gooseStatewideFeb 18, 2027Apr 30, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideMar 1, 2027Mar 31, 2027

Waterfowl rows show the North, Central and South zones because DNR draws those lines on highways (MN 210/23/39, US 212/I-494/I-94), not by unit; check the DNR map.

From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.

DPA 152 harvest, the area around Rum River State Forest

Harvest numbers below are DPA 152 totals (153 in 2025), the closest DNR figure for Rum River State Forest.

SeasonBucks (adult)OthersRegisteredPer sq mi
2025105481532.50
202475441191.95
202381461272.08
202270761462.39
202175361111.82
202080701502.45
201969471161.90
201872581302.13
201780541342.19

2019-2025 from Table 3 (total harvest per permit area; 2024-2025 exclude special hunts); 2017-2018 from Table 9 (all seasons, special hunts reallocated to the surrounding DPA). DPA boundaries changed over time (e.g. 103/108 in 2018), so older DPAs may not match 2026 polygons.

DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.

Rum River State Forest on the map with nearby land

Big pins mark Rum River State Forest; Groundhouse WMA is the nearest neighbor at 4.1 mi.

NeighborCategoryAcreageDPADistanceDirection
Groundhouse WMAWMA1611574.1 misoutheast
Mille Lacs WMAWMA38,6781526.6 minorth
Four Brooks WMAWMA4,1982226.7 miwest
Four Brooks RGMARGMA3,5202226.8 miwest
Ann Lake WMAWMA1,8741578.7 mieast
Ivan Jindra Memorial WMAWMA2432229.8 minorthwest
Little Knife AMAAMA16815711 minortheast
Onamia Lake WMAWMA7724913 minorth

Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.

What Mille Lacs County adds to a Rum River State Forest trip

69,286Public land (GIS)
39,436WMA acres
16,807State forest acres
10,103State park acres
412AMA acres

Rum River State Forest is one of 12 public places we list in Mille Lacs County. Quota bear area 51 and 45 overlaps the county (51 (1500 permits) and 45 (700 permits)). Turkey: permit area 508 and 512. Area wildlife office: Mille Lacs WMA Area Wildlife Office ((320) 532-3537). Do not mistake Rum River State Forest for closed Mille Lacs County ground such as Chuck Davis Aquatic Management Area and Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge.

About Mille Lacs CountyTurkey zonesBear areas

County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Supplies and help close to Rum River State Forest

From Rum River State Forest the nearest town is Bock (9.4 mi). Milaca, with 3,060 residents, is the biggest town on the list. DNR staff closest to Rum River State Forest work out of Onamia (4.2 mi).

PlaceCountyPopulationDistanceDirection
BockMille Lacs809.4 misouth
OgilvieKanabec4009.7 misoutheast
OnamiaMille Lacs83011 minorth
MilacaMille Lacs3,06012 misouth
WahkonMille Lacs24914 minorth
Mille Lacs WMA wildlife office

DNR office · Onamia, Mille Lacs County · about 4 mi away

(320) 532-3537RouteSite
Cambridge wildlife office

DNR office · Cambridge, Isanti County · about 30 mi away

(763) 284-7231RouteSite
Prince Gun Shop

sporting goods · Milaca, Mille Lacs County · about 7 mi away

(320) 983-3006RouteSite
Whispering Pines Taxidermy LLC

taxidermy · Milaca, Mille Lacs County · about 8 mi away

(320) 980-2623Route
Reeds Mille Lacs Outpost

sporting goods · Onamia, Mille Lacs County · about 13 mi away

Route
Pheasant Ridge Shooting Preserve

guide or preserve · Ogilvie, Kanabec County · about 14 mi away

(320) 980-0193RouteSite

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.

Range options on the drive to Rum River State Forest

Hennepin County has the public range nearest Rum River State Forest: Elm Creek Park Reserve (55 miles). Two club ranges follow.

Elm Creek Park Reserve
public range

Maple Grove, Hennepin County · 55 mi

Set up for archery, 3D archery

Public, run by Three Rivers Park District · source: findarcheryranges.com

Russells' Event & Recreational
Center
trap and skeet club

Ogilvie, Kanabec County · 7 mi

Set up for 5-stand, shotgun

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

Kanabec Conservation Club
sportsmen’s club

Mora, Kanabec County · 15 mi

Set up for trap, skeet, sporting clays, shotgun, rifle

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.

Rum River State Forest legal light on key dates

Legal light at Rum River State Forest: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer and bear, and to sunset for turkey, waterfowl and small game.

DaySeason pointSun upSun downShooting opensDeer closeBird close
Sep 19, 2026Archery and grouse opener6:56 a.m.7:20 p.m.6:26 a.m.7:50 p.m.7:20 p.m.
Sep 26, 2026Duck opener7:05 a.m.7:07 p.m.6:35 a.m.7:37 p.m.7:07 p.m.
Oct 10, 2026Pheasant opener7:23 a.m.6:40 p.m.6:53 a.m.7:10 p.m.6:40 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Firearms deer opener7:02 a.m.4:54 p.m.6:32 a.m.5:24 p.m.4:54 p.m.
Nov 28, 2026Muzzleloader opener7:31 a.m.4:34 p.m.7:01 a.m.5:04 p.m.4:34 p.m.
Dec 31, 2026Archery close7:56 a.m.4:38 p.m.7:26 a.m.5:08 p.m.4:38 p.m.
Apr 14, 2027Spring turkey opener6:32 a.m.7:58 p.m.6:02 a.m.8:28 p.m.7:58 p.m.

Raccoon and fox may be hunted at night under DNR rules.

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.

Photos to set the scene for Rum River State Forest

Autumn trees around a lily-pad pond in Minnesota
Autumn trees around a lily-pad pond in Minnesota
Blazing red fall sunrise over prairie grass in western Minnesota
Blazing red fall sunrise over prairie grass in western Minnesota
Sunset reflected in the Minnesota River under scattered clouds
Sunset reflected in the Minnesota River under scattered clouds

Similar public land near Rum River State Forest

State forest

Snake River State Forest

9,502 ac, 22 mi

State forest

Wealthwood State Forest

5,098 ac, 32 mi

State forest

Solana State Forest

57,479 ac, 35 mi

State forest

Sand Dunes State Forest

5,806 ac, 35 mi

State forestsScientific and natural areasFederal land

Rum River State Forest questions answered from its record

How do hunters reach Rum River State Forest?

Head for Bock, 9.4 mi off, and use the map.

Who holds title to Rum River State Forest?

Land manager for Rum River State Forest: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Does chronic wasting disease testing apply on Rum River State Forest?

DPA 152 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.

What are the legal shooting hours at Rum River State Forest?

On the Nov. 7 firearms opener, legal deer hours at Rum River State Forest run 6:32 a.m. to 5:24 p.m..

If Rum River State Forest is full, where is the next public land?

Public ground nearest by straight line: Groundhouse WMA (4.1 mi), Mille Lacs WMA (6.6 mi) and Four Brooks WMA (6.7 mi).

Are tree stands allowed on Rum River State Forest, and for how long?

You may, but any stand left on Rum River State Forest becomes available to other hunters, and cutting lanes is not allowed.

Is hunting legal on Rum River State Forest in 2026-27?

Yes, under the rules in the table above and the state seasons.

How many acres of hunting does Rum River State Forest offer?

21,100 acres.

What DPA is Rum River State Forest, and what is its designation?

DPA 152 (100 series, 2-deer limit). Firearms deer runs Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026 there.

What animals can be hunted at Rum River State Forest?

All open seasons, as the agency lists no species for Rum River State Forest.

Last checks before driving to Rum River State Forest

Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted refuge areas on Rum River State Forest.

All pinsFull listMille Lacs CountyDPA 152State forestsAgency page

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).