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Minnesota WMA
South Shore Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
1,571 acres of wildlife management area ground in Lake of the Woods County and 1 neighbor, deer permit area 105.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to South Shore Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near South Shore Wildlife Management Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 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.
South Shore WMA on paper: the record in brief
South Shore WMA covers 1,571 acres in Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties. Among Lake of the Woods County’s 14 wildlife management areas, it sits 5th for acres. The 2026 deer designation for DPA 105 is 2-deer limit.
Management sits with the Baudette area wildlife staff, reachable at baudette.wildlife@state.mn.us.
Hunted here: deer, small game, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around South Shore Wildlife Management Area
Getting into South Shore WMA
Directions and parking for South Shore WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (0 parking points mapped).
| Piece | Acres | Town | Status | Lots | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Shore WMA | 1,571 | Warroad | Open | – | DNR |
- South Shore WMA: From Warroad, go 3 miles E on Hwy 11 then 2.5 miles E on Co 12 then 1/4 mile N on Township Road There is one boat launch located on this WMA for small boats. Parking is limited.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Use rules to read before hunting South Shore WMA
South Shore WMA follows the rules below on top of the statewide booklet.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| 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.
South Shore WMA deer rules: DPA 105
DPA 105 is a 100-series area set to 2-deer limit for 2026. The 2-deer limit in DPA 105 is reached with bonus permits on top of the regular license.
| Deer season | Opening | Closing | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
DPA 105 has optional CWD testing. DPA 105 has WMA-specific regulations. At 1,394 square miles, DPA 105 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 105 overlaps Lake of the Woods, Roseau and Koochiching.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
South Shore WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to South Shore WMA by its game species list; trapping-only seasons are on the species pages.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 105 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 105 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 105 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| 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 |
Zone rows for ducks and furbearers depend on map lines, not on this unit; DNR draws them along highways.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Harvest trend near South Shore WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 2,485 deer across DPA 105 (2.07 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,387 | 1,098 | 2,485 | 2.07 |
| 2024 | 1,255 | 910 | 2,165 | 1.81 |
| 2023 | 1,230 | 1,315 | 2,545 | 2.12 |
| 2022 | 1,203 | 1,185 | 2,388 | 1.99 |
| 2021 | 1,436 | 1,491 | 2,927 | 2.44 |
| 2020 | 1,405 | 1,488 | 2,893 | 2.41 |
| 2019 | 1,066 | 1,020 | 2,086 | 2.82 |
| 2018 | 1,058 | 1,281 | 2,339 | 3.16 |
| 2017 | 1,066 | 967 | 2,033 | 2.75 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
South Shore WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the South Shore WMA map point; Rocky Point WMA (6.6 mi, northeast) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Point WMA | WMA | 465 | 105 | 6.6 mi | northeast |
| Larry Bernhoft WMA | WMA | 75 | 105 | 8.6 mi | northeast |
| East Branch WMA | WMA | 39 | 105 | 8.8 mi | southwest |
| Border WMA | WMA | 505 | 105 | 8.8 mi | northwest |
| Clear River WMA | WMA | 80 | 105 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Prosper WMA | WMA | 1,941 | 105 | 11 mi | east |
| Cedar Bend WMA | WMA | 1,473 | 105 | 14 mi | west |
| Zippel Bay State Park | State park | 2,719 | 105 | 14 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Lake of the Woods County around South Shore WMA
In Lake of the Woods County there are 28 records like South Shore WMA to choose from. Bear: quota area 12, 14 and 13 reaches the county, 12 (100 permits), 14 (10 permits) and 13 (300 permits) for 2026. Turkey permit area 509 and 508 covers the county. Baudette Area Wildlife Office (Baudette) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Gas, food and processors near South Shore WMA
Closest town: Roosevelt, 7.8 mi in a straight line from South Shore WMA. Most services: Roseau, population 2,699. The unit page lists Warroad as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is Red Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office in Roosevelt, 21 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt | Roseau | 156 | 7.8 mi | south |
| Warroad | Roseau | 1,983 | 7.9 mi | west |
| Williams | Lake of the Woods | 156 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Roseau | Roseau | 2,699 | 28 mi | west |
| Baudette | Lake of the Woods | 935 | 29 mi | southeast |
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.
Before South Shore Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on South Shore Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Lake of the Woods Rod & Gun Club (29 miles), the nearest listing. Target shooting is not allowed on the property itself.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Legal hunting hours worked out for South Shore WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at South Shore WMA; the two closing columns split big game from birds.
| Date | Season | Sunrise | Sunset | First shot | Last, big game | Last, birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 7:28 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:11 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 7:13 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:32 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:48 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 4:29 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:14 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 4:32 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 8:09 p.m. |
Early teal runs sunrise to sunset.
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.
Pictures that suit a day on South Shore WMA
Quick answers before you hunt South Shore WMA
When is legal light on South Shore WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:46 a.m. to 5:23 p.m.; birds stop at 4:53 p.m..
Do deer from South Shore WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (105) is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Can decoys or gear stay on South Shore WMA overnight?
Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Where can I hunt public land close to South Shore WMA?
The nearest public units are Rocky Point WMA (6.6 mi), Larry Bernhoft WMA (8.6 mi) and East Branch WMA (8.8 mi).
May the public hunt South Shore WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on South Shore WMA.
Is camping at South Shore WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
What are the 2026 deer rules on South Shore WMA?
It is in deer permit area 105 (2-deer limit). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
South Shore WMA size: how much huntable ground?
South Shore WMA covers 1,571 acres.
What route leads to South Shore WMA?
From Warroad, go 3 miles E on Hwy 11 then 2.5 miles E on Co 12 then 1/4 mile N on Township Road Parking points on file: 0.
What can you hunt on South Shore WMA?
Expect deer, small game, sharp-tailed grouse and waterfowl on South Shore WMA, per the record.
Which office should I call about South Shore WMA?
South Shore WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Baudette office.
South Shore WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on South Shore WMA can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
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: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).