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Minnesota WMA
Tamarac Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
615 acres of wildlife management area ground in Stearns County, deer permit area 277.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Tamarac Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tamarac Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 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.
Tamarac WMA on paper: the record in brief
Tamarac WMA covers 615 acres in Stearns County. Among Stearns County’s 42 wildlife management areas, it sits 4th for acres. The 2026 deer designation for DPA 277 is 3-deer limit.
Management sits with the Sauk Rapids area wildlife staff, reachable at saukrapids.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid on file for Tamarac WMA: Pittman-Robertson.
DNR describes the unit this way: Unique floral species occur within the tamarack bog area as identified in the Stearns County Biological Survey. This WMA is a significant wintering area for deer, pheasants and turkeys. 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.
Hunted here: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Tamarac Wildlife Management Area
Getting into Tamarac WMA
Directions and parking for Tamarac WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (1 parking point mapped).
| Piece | Acres | Town | Status | Lots | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamarac WMA | 615 | Brooten | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Tamarac WMA: 3 miles south of Brooten within Sections 17,18, 19, and 20, T123N, R35W. 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.
Use rules to read before hunting Tamarac WMA
Tamarac 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.
Tamarac WMA deer rules: DPA 277
DPA 277 is a 200-series area set to 3-deer limit for 2026. The 3-deer limit in DPA 277 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 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Surveillance block: bring adult deer taken Nov. 7-8 for sampling. At 1,147 square miles, DPA 277 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 277 overlaps Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Swift and Stearns.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Tamarac WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Tamarac 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 277 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 277 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 277 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 277 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 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 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 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 | |
| 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 Tamarac WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 4,575 deer across DPA 277 (4.32 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,281 | 2,294 | 4,575 | 4.32 |
| 2024 | 2,360 | 1,941 | 4,301 | 4.07 |
| 2023 | 1,905 | 2,108 | 4,013 | 3.79 |
| 2022 | 2,085 | 2,690 | 4,775 | 4.51 |
| 2021 | 2,325 | 2,759 | 5,084 | 4.81 |
| 2020 | 2,051 | 2,129 | 4,180 | 5.15 |
| 2019 | 1,873 | 1,220 | 3,093 | 3.81 |
| 2018 | 1,668 | 1,317 | 2,985 | 3.68 |
| 2017 | 1,630 | 1,356 | 2,986 | 3.68 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Tamarac WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Tamarac WMA map point; Edward Raymond Mohs WMA (1.1 mi, northeast) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Raymond Mohs WMA | WMA | 336 | 277 | 1.1 mi | northeast |
| Crow Lake WPA | WPA | 378 | 277 | 1.7 mi | southeast |
| Norman T. Dahlman WMA | WMA | 303 | 277 | 3.2 mi | southeast |
| Fish Lake WMA | WMA | 1.0 | 277 | 3.5 mi | south |
| Miller Hills WPA | WPA | 389 | 277 | 4.4 mi | southwest |
| Milton Kjeldahl WMA | WMA | 196 | 218 | 4.7 mi | northeast |
| Lake Johanna WPA | WPA | 354 | 277 | 5.2 mi | west |
| Gravel Pit 1062 WMA | WMA | 15 | 218 | 5.3 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Stearns County around Tamarac WMA
In Stearns County there are 88 records like Tamarac WMA to choose from. For bear, Stearns County is no-quota. Turkey permit area 507 covers the county. Sauk Rapids Area Wildlife Office (Sauk Rapids) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre. Watch for closed ground in Stearns County such as Cedar Lake Aquatic Management Area.
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 Tamarac WMA
Closest town: Brooten, 2.9 mi in a straight line from Tamarac WMA. Most services: Belgrade, population 742. The unit page lists Brooten as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is New London Area Wildlife Office in New London, 10 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooten | Stearns | 646 | 2.9 mi | north |
| Belgrade | Stearns | 742 | 4.7 mi | east |
| Elrosa | Stearns | 219 | 10 mi | northeast |
| Sunburg | Kandiyohi | 95 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Sedan | Pope | 46 | 11 mi | northwest |
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 Tamarac Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on Tamarac Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Beste's Sporting Clays and Pheasant Hunting Preserve (18 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 Tamarac WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Tamarac 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 | 7:02 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 7:26 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 | 7:28 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:07 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:36 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:00 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 4:46 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 8:03 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 Tamarac WMA
Quick answers before you hunt Tamarac WMA
Where can I hunt public land close to Tamarac WMA?
The nearest public units are Edward Raymond Mohs WMA (1.1 mi), Crow Lake WPA (1.7 mi) and Norman T. Dahlman WMA (3.2 mi).
When is legal light on Tamarac WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:37 a.m. to 5:31 p.m.; birds stop at 5:01 p.m..
Is camping at Tamarac WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
Can decoys or gear stay on Tamarac WMA overnight?
Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Tamarac WMA size: how much huntable ground?
Tamarac WMA covers 615 acres.
May the public hunt Tamarac WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Tamarac WMA.
What can you hunt on Tamarac WMA?
Expect deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl and wild turkey on Tamarac WMA, per the record.
What are the 2026 deer rules on Tamarac WMA?
It is in deer permit area 277 (3-deer limit). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Who manages Tamarac WMA?
Tamarac WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Sauk Rapids office.
What route leads to Tamarac WMA?
3 miles south of Brooten within Sections 17,18, 19, and 20, T123N, R35W. Parking points on file: 1.
Do deer from Tamarac WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (277) is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Tamarac WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Tamarac 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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).