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WMA · DPA 101
Hunting on Wapiti Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Beltrami County and 2 neighbors: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: jjsmustang1979 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Wapiti Wildlife Management Area
The record behind Wapiti WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Wapiti WMA is 31,759 acres, in Beltrami, Roseau and Marshall counties. Beltrami County has 22 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 3rd largest. Deer rules come from DPA 101, a 2-deer limit area in 2026.
Thief Lake WMA is the DNR wildlife area office for Wapiti WMA (thieflake.wildlife@state.mn.us).
The WMA page says: Management activities on this unit focus on maintaining brushland complexes and forested habitats of varying ages. There is a wide-ranging elk herd in this area, and you may occasionally be able to spot them on this WMA. In September and October, elk can be spotted in openings, especially at dawn and dusk. Elk are year-round residents of this unit.
Species named: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Wapiti Wildlife Management Area
Wapiti WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Wapiti WMA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| 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.
DPA 101 dates for Wapiti WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 101 2-deer limit; its firearms deer season is the 100-series window. Up to 2 deer can come out of DPA 101 this season, using bonus permits for the extra antlerless deer.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 101; testing is optional. Check the special WMA regulations for DPA 101. DPA 101 takes in 496 square miles. Part of Beltrami, Marshall, Roseau and Lake of the Woods falls in DPA 101.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Wapiti WMA
36 season windows for 20 species reach Wapiti WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 101 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 101 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 101 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 12, 13, 27, 28, 41, 46 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone (north part) | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Wapiti WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Wapiti WMA, with 0 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wapiti WMA | 31,759 | Fourtown | Open | – | DNR |
- Wapiti WMA: From Four Town, go 9 miles N and W on CSAH 44 then 1 mile N on TWP RD.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Wapiti WMA
The closest other public land to Wapiti WMA is Wapiti – SE RGMA, 4.1 mi to the southeast; the table lists 8 neighbors with 29,493 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wapiti – SE RGMA | RGMA | 822 | 101 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Wapiti – North RGMA | RGMA | 240 | 101 | 4.7 mi | north |
| Moose River WMA | WMA | 21,273 | 101 | 5.8 mi | southeast |
| Grygla WMA | WMA | 3,444 | 101 | 6.2 mi | southwest |
| Marbel WMA | WMA | 87 | 101 | 6.5 mi | north |
| Morehouse Road RGMA | RGMA | 1,235 | 101 | 7.4 mi | northeast |
| Skime WMA | WMA | 870 | 101 | 9.5 mi | northwest |
| Gates Corner RGMA | RGMA | 1,521 | 101, 111 | 9.7 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Wapiti WMA
The town nearest Wapiti WMA is Grygla at 11 mi. Roseau (2,699 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Fourtown as the nearest town on its unit page. Thief Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office (Middle River) is the closest DNR office, 19 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grygla | Marshall | 171 | 11 mi | south |
| Goodridge | Pennington | 107 | 25 mi | southwest |
| Middle River | Marshall | 294 | 29 mi | west |
| Roseau | Roseau | 2,699 | 29 mi | north |
| Strathcona | Roseau | 28 | 30 mi | west |
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.
Wapiti WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 101 totals, which include all the land around Wapiti WMA: 759 deer in 2025 against 688 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 554 | 205 | 759 | 1.53 |
| 2024 | 515 | 173 | 688 | 1.39 |
| 2023 | 391 | 203 | 594 | 1.20 |
| 2022 | 356 | 278 | 634 | 1.28 |
| 2021 | 491 | 176 | 667 | 1.35 |
| 2020 | 401 | 190 | 591 | 1.19 |
| 2019 | 447 | 295 | 742 | 1.50 |
| 2018 | 445 | 361 | 806 | 1.63 |
| 2017 | 450 | 275 | 725 | 1.46 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Wapiti WMA
Beltrami County holds 47 public hunting records on this site; Wapiti WMA is one of them. No deer feeding or attractants in Beltrami County (DNR ban). Bear permit area 12, 41 and 27 covers part of Beltrami County (12 (100 permits), 41 (250 permits) and 27 (450 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 509 and 508. Beltrami County includes elk zone 10. Wildlife office for Beltrami County: Red Lake WMA Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Wapiti WMA, Bemidji Lake Aquatic Management Area and Big Turtle Lake Isl. 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.
Wapiti WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Wapiti WMA, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 4:56 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:48 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:14 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:36 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. | 8:40 p.m. | 8:10 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
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.
Wapiti Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Wapiti Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Lock & Load Hunting Club, 29 miles off. Sight in elsewhere: the area rules bar target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Wapiti WMA and country like it, in photos
Wapiti WMA FAQ for 2026-27
What are the CWD rules on Wapiti WMA?
CWD status: DPA 101 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Wapiti WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:46 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Wapiti WMA?
Closest on the map: Wapiti – SE RGMA (4.1 mi), Wapiti – North RGMA (4.7 mi) and Moose River WMA (5.8 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Wapiti WMA?
No overnight gear on Wapiti WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Wapiti WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Wapiti WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Wapiti WMA a big piece of land?
About 31,759 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Wapiti WMA?
Deer permit area 101; the 2026 designation is 2-deer limit. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026.
What game is on Wapiti WMA?
The record for Wapiti WMA lists deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse and waterfowl.
What are the directions to Wapiti WMA?
From Four Town, go 9 miles N and W on CSAH 44 then 1 mile N on TWP RD. 0 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Wapiti WMA?
The Thief Lake WMA office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Wapiti WMA.
Other photos on this page: Birding for Climate (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0).