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State forest in Clearwater County
Hunting White Earth State Forest, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state forest in Clearwater County and 2 neighbors, 41,856 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to White Earth State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near White Earth State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.0 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.
White Earth State Forest at a glance for hunters
You get 41,856 acres at White Earth State Forest, which lies in Clearwater, Mahnomen and Becker counties. By size it ranks 1st of the 2 state forests we list in Clearwater County. DPA 298 (it also reaches DPA 684) sets the deer limit here: antlerless permit lottery this year.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land. DNR land fills 41,856 of the 155,394 acres within the forest boundary. It dates from 1943.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around White Earth State Forest
What is allowed on White Earth State Forest
Short version of the rules that apply on White Earth State Forest, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Open in season |
| Game refuges inside | Closed unless listed |
| Near campgrounds, lots | Cased within 200 ft |
| Stands | Portable preferred |
| Shooting lanes | No cutting |
| Private inholdings | Permission needed |
| Target shooting | Unless posted closed |
| Forest roads | OHVs unless posted |
Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on White Earth State Forest in 2026-27
Deer on White Earth State Forest fall under DPA 298: antlerless permit lottery, 200 series, 250 lottery permits. Firearm hunters who want a doe in DPA 298 must win the antlerless lottery (apply by Sept. 10).
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
CWD testing in DPA 298: optional. DPA 298 spans 677 square miles. DPA 298 reaches Becker, Mahnomen and Clearwater counties.
More DPAs here: DPA 684 (either-sex)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
White Earth State Forest hunting calendar 2026-27
White Earth State Forest season dates for 2026-27, picked by the open seasons for its county and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 298, 684 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 298, 684 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 100 series | DPA 684 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 298 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 41, 46 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 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 | |
| Rails | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 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 | |
| Prairie chicken | By lottery permit | Permit areas 812A, 813A | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Public land within a drive of White Earth State Forest
When White Earth State Forest is crowded, Perch Lake WMA sits 2.3 mi away to the southeast.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perch Lake WMA | WMA | 252 | 298 | 2.3 mi | southeast |
| Roy Lake WMA | WMA | 35 | 298 | 5.2 mi | south |
| Budde Meadows WMA | WMA | 282 | 298 | 5.9 mi | west |
| Lower Rice WMA | WMA | 440 | 298 | 7.4 mi | southeast |
| Mosquito Creek WMA | WMA | 747 | 298, 684 | 8.2 mi | northeast |
| Island Lake Fmha WMA | WMA | 213 | 210, 298 | 8.5 mi | north |
| Island Lake WMA | WMA | 33 | 298 | 8.6 mi | southeast |
| Edwin Lake WPA | WPA | 394 | 298 | 9.5 mi | west |
Points: DNR State Forest Management Units layer (DNR-administered land) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
White Earth State Forest nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Rice Lake lies 2.4 mi from White Earth State Forest. Nearest DNR desk: Region 1 (Northwest) Headquarters, 36 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Lake | Clearwater | – | 2.4 mi | east |
| Pine Bend | Mahnomen | – | 2.7 mi | north |
| Roy Lake | Clearwater | – | 4.8 mi | south |
| West Roy Lake | Mahnomen | – | 4.9 mi | south |
| South End | Clearwater | – | 6.1 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.
White Earth State Forest: deer taken in DPA 298
779 deer were registered in DPA 298 during 2025, 1.26 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 675 | 104 | 779 | 1.26 |
| 2024 | 581 | 90 | 671 | 1.09 |
| 2023 | 413 | 78 | 491 | 0.79 |
| 2022 | 393 | 147 | 540 | 0.87 |
| 2021 | 585 | 295 | 880 | 1.42 |
| 2020 | 526 | 343 | 869 | 1.41 |
| 2019 | 604 | 557 | 1,161 | 1.88 |
| 2018 | 645 | 653 | 1,298 | 2.10 |
| 2017 | 750 | 537 | 1,287 | 2.08 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
White Earth State Forest and the rest of Clearwater County
Clearwater County has 42 public hunting areas on file, White Earth State Forest among them. Clearwater County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Clearwater County bear hunting runs through quota area 46 and 41, 46 (950 permits) and 41 (250 permits). The county sits in turkey permit area 509 and 507. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office, (218) 732-8452 ext. 235. Not every public place in Clearwater County is open: Auganaush Creek Aquatic Management Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at White Earth State Forest
Sun times computed for White Earth State Forest itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7:32 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:14 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:44 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:09 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:39 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:38 p.m. | 8:08 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
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.
Ranges a White Earth State Forest hunter can reach
From White Earth State Forest, the nearest listed range is Off Grid Armory at 18 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.
White Earth State Forest region in a few frames
Hunter questions about White Earth State Forest, short answers
White Earth State Forest neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Perch Lake WMA (2.3 mi), Roy Lake WMA (5.2 mi) and Budde Meadows WMA (5.9 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at White Earth State Forest?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:44 a.m. and ends at 5:29 p.m. at the White Earth State Forest point.
Does White Earth State Forest allow public hunting?
Yes. White Earth State Forest is on the list of Minnesota places open to some hunting; the rules band says how.
Can blinds stay up overnight at White Earth State Forest?
State forest rules favor portable stands; a stand left up on White Earth State Forest is public, not yours alone.
What deer permit area is White Earth State Forest in?
The record puts it in DPA 298: antlerless permit lottery. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
White Earth State Forest acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 41,856 acres.
How do you get to White Earth State Forest?
Start from Rice Lake (2.4 mi) and follow the pin on the map.
What game species does White Earth State Forest list?
The White Earth State Forest record gives no species list; follow the state seasons.
White Earth State Forest and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 298 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
White Earth State Forest: who is the land manager?
White Earth State Forest belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); christinejwarner (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).