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WMA · 2026-27
Sauk River Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Stearns County.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Sauk River Wildlife Management Area
Sauk River WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Sauk River WMA spreads over 939 acres of Stearns County. Of 42 wildlife management areas in Stearns County, Sauk River WMA is number 1 by acreage. Hunters on Sauk River WMA follow DPA 218, which DNR made 3-deer limit for 2026.
The DNR Sauk Rapids area wildlife office manages it (saukrapids.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Sauk River WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
From the DNR unit description: It is noteworthy to mention that over 3 miles of the Sauk River, where this WMA is located, is in permanent cover improving not only wildlife habitat, but significantly improving water quality. Other WMAs are serving similar functions. Please respect property boundaries and ask for permission before going on private lands. Consider picking up any litter you come across. Help us be good neighbors. The future of our WMA program depends on everyone being responsible users of our WMAs.
Game species: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sauk River Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Sauk River WMA
Sauk River WMA has 5 DNR parking points; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk River WMA | 939 | Sauk Centre | Open | 5 | DNR |
- Sauk River WMA: 1 mile south of Sauk Centre within Sections22, 26, and 27, T126N, R34W. (Note: north and south units have merged with new acquisitions connecting the two) Wheelchair access is limited to public roads and mowed parking lots on this unit.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Sauk River WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Sauk River WMA, adding 1,345 acres; Schurman WPA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schurman WPA | WPA | 18 | 218 | 1.1 mi | northeast |
| McCormick Lake WPA | WPA | 245 | 215 | 1.6 mi | northeast |
| Crosier WPA | WPA | 99 | 215 | 2.1 mi | northeast |
| Spirit Marsh WMA | WMA | 39 | 218 | 3.5 mi | south |
| Kenna WPA | WPA | 250 | 218 | 3.6 mi | southwest |
| Costello WPA | WPA | 106 | 215 | 3.8 mi | north |
| Trisko WPA | WPA | 442 | 218 | 4.0 mi | southwest |
| Zehrer WPA | WPA | 145 | 213 | 5.3 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Sauk River WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Sauk River WMA; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| 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.
When you can hunt Sauk River WMA
Every dated hunting window for Sauk River WMA: 18 species, 34 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 218 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 218 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 218 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 218 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Sauk River WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 218 (200 series) is 3-deer limit in 2026. Hunters may take up to 3 deer in DPA 218 across licenses and bonus permits; only one may be a buck in most DPAs.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Opening-weekend sampling is required in this surveillance block DPA. Area of DPA 218: 912 sq mi. Counties in DPA 218: Stearns, Pope, Meeker and Kandiyohi.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 218 gives up around Sauk River WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 218 registered 3,769 deer in 2025, 6% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,743 | 2,026 | 3,769 | 4.26 |
| 2024 | 1,715 | 1,838 | 3,553 | 4.02 |
| 2023 | 1,376 | 1,716 | 3,092 | 3.50 |
| 2022 | 1,426 | 1,846 | 3,272 | 3.70 |
| 2021 | 1,552 | 1,613 | 3,165 | 3.58 |
| 2020 | 1,462 | 1,692 | 3,154 | 3.57 |
| 2019 | 1,362 | 971 | 2,333 | 2.64 |
| 2018 | 1,267 | 1,002 | 2,269 | 2.57 |
| 2017 | 1,303 | 1,579 | 2,882 | 3.26 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Sauk River WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Sauk River WMA is 3.4 mi from Sauk Centre, the nearest community. Directions on the DNR page begin at Sauk Centre. New London has the nearest DNR office to Sauk River WMA, 26 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk Centre | Stearns | 4,682 | 3.4 mi | northwest |
| Meire Grove | Stearns | 186 | 5.2 mi | southeast |
| Melrose | Stearns | 3,911 | 5.4 mi | east |
| Greenwald | Stearns | 205 | 6.9 mi | southeast |
| Elrosa | Stearns | 219 | 8.9 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 Sauk River WMA
Our Stearns County list runs to 88 public areas, including Sauk River WMA. No bear lottery in Stearns County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 507. The county's nearest wildlife office is Sauk Rapids Area Wildlife Office in Sauk Rapids. Stearns County also has 8 closed places, Cedar 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 Sauk River Wildlife Management Area
Beste's Sporting Clays and Pheasant Hunting Preserve sits 4 miles from Sauk River Wildlife Management Area, closer than any public range on file. Target shooting is off limits here.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Sauk River WMA country, seen through a lens
Sauk River WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Sauk River WMA 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 | 7:01 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 7:26 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:10 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. | 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:28 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:07 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:36 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:00 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:37 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 8:03 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.
Sauk River WMA: what hunters usually ask
Where do you park at Sauk River WMA?
1 mile south of Sauk Centre within Sections22, 26, and 27, T126N, R34W. (Note: north and south units have merged with new acquisitions connecting the two) DNR maps 5 parking points.
Who should I contact about Sauk River WMA?
Sauk River WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Sauk Rapids office looks after it.
Is Sauk River WMA inside a CWD zone?
Sauk River WMA sits in DPA 218, which is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
What time can you shoot deer at Sauk River WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:37 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:07 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Sauk River WMA?
Sauk River WMA neighbors on our list: Schurman WPA (1.1 mi), McCormick Lake WPA (1.6 mi) and Crosier WPA (2.1 mi).
Sauk River WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Sauk River WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Sauk River WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Sauk River WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Sauk River WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Sauk River WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 939 acres.
Sauk River WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 218, 3-deer limit for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Sauk River WMA?
On the Sauk River WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
Sauk River WMA 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; 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); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).