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Hunting land and deer areas around Bloomington, MN
Hunting from Bloomington, Minnesota: public land by distance, deer permit area rules for Hennepin County, legal light and the nearest processors and taxidermists.
Photo: Taken on Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 2.1 mi from Bloomington; a nearby stand-in, not the town. Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Bloomington is a large Hennepin County city that DNR serves from its Region 3 office. About 88,344 people live here by the 2024 Census estimate. Within 10 miles of the town point, WMA, state forest, SNA, national forest and federal refuge boundaries take in about 4,936 acres, with 3 listed units in the ring. Ranked by miles, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, its nearest boundary 2.1 miles out heads the list.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over DNR, USFS and USFWS boundaries (places.json). DNR region from the DNR county region list. Checked October 28, 2026.
Lands closest to Bloomington
Miles are measured as the crow flies from the Census point of Bloomington, so allow for longer road distances.
| Unit | Bearing | Type | Agency | DPA | Edge | Center | Acres | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Valley NWR | 2.1 mi SW | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | 338, 601 | 2.1 mi | 16 mi | 9,776 | Permit hunts |
| Minnesota Valley SRA | 2.1 mi SW | Recreation area | DNR | 291, 338 | 2.1 mi | 23 mi | 3,995 | – |
| Savage Fen SNA | 4.1 mi SW | SNA | DNR | 605 | 4.1 mi | 4.4 mi | 289 | – |
| Raguet WMA | 11 mi W | WMA | DNR | 601 | beyond 10 mi | 11 mi | 325 | CWD notice |
| Seminary Fen SNA | 12 mi W | SNA | DNR | 601 | beyond 10 mi | 12 mi | 73 | – |
| Soberg WPA | 14 mi S | WPA | USFWS | 605 | beyond 10 mi | 14 mi | 114 | Parts closed |
| St. Catherine Lake AMA | 15 mi S | AMA | DNR | 605 | beyond 10 mi | 15 mi | 41 | General Use |
| Spartina WMA | 15 mi S | WMA | DNR | 605 | beyond 10 mi | 15 mi | 17 | CWD notice |
| Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA | 16 mi SE | WMA | DNR | 605 | beyond 10 mi | 16 mi | 2,838 | Permit hunts |
| Vermillion River AMA | 16 mi SE | AMA | DNR | 605 | beyond 10 mi | 16 mi | 398 | General Use |
Acre for acre, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (9,776 acres) is the biggest piece inside the ring. By kind, the ring holds 1 federal unit and 2 AMAs, SNAs and parks. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is on the special-hunt list; open-season walk-in hunting does not apply.
Lands from DNR WMA, state forest, SNA, AMA and parks records, USFS and USFWS (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, center miles from each mapped point. WPA rules from the USFWS Minnesota WMD hunting regulations; WMA rules from the DNR WMA rules. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer areas and CWD status near Bloomington
The share column shows how much of Hennepin County each DPA covers; the tag marks the DPA of the nearest public land to Bloomington.
| Permit area | Of county | Rule | Gun season | Second SE | Muzzleloader | Oct. antlerless | Disease |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 338 near town | across line | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | Nov 21–29 | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 601 | 99% | 5-deer limit | Nov 7–29 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Mgmt zone |
DPA 338 (300 series) covers minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, and sets the deer rules there. The area is a 3-deer limit DPA for 2026. Expect the firearms opener on Nov. 7 and a close per the table: Nov 7–15 for DPA 338. Hennepin County is one of the 37 counties where deer feeding and attractants, including urine-based scents, are banned.
DPA designations, lottery quotas, season windows and CWD status from the DNR deer permit area service and the 2026-2027 booklet DPA lists; county shares from a GIS overlay (counties.json). CWD rules from the booklet CWD pages; shotgun ordinances from the booklet county list. Checked October 28, 2026.
Non-deer units that reach Bloomington
| Unit | Coverage | Permits issued | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Quota Area | 100% of county | Unlimited | – |
| Turkey unit 510 | 99% of county | Periods A-F | 1,219 spring birds (2026) |
| Turkey unit 505 | 1% of county | Periods A-F | 746 spring birds (2026) |
Bear licenses for Hennepin County need no drawing: it is no-quota ground. Turkey area 510 gave up 1,219 spring birds in 2026 and 1,060 in 2019. For ducks and geese, find Bloomington on the DNR zone map; the lines follow highways, not counties. North and South furbearer zones split along I-94/US 10.
Bear areas and 2026 permits from the 2026 bear regulations; bear harvest from the DNR bear harvest reports; turkey harvest from the DNR spring turkey reports; elk, sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken from DNR pages; refuges from the booklet state game refuge table; zone lines from the booklet waterfowl map. Shares are GIS overlays. Checked October 28, 2026.
Bloomington calendar of open seasons
24 species and 50 dated windows touch Hennepin County; the last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Permit area | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | DPA 601 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless | DPA 601 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer | DPA 601 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Metro firearms | DPA 601 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | 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 and 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 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Rabbits and 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 | |
| Snow, Blue and Ross's Geese | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Early teal season | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Ducks | 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | South Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Take-a-Kid weekend | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| American Badger | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular geese | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| American Badger | 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 | |
| Snow, Blue and Ross's Geese | Spring light goose | Statewide | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) and the DNR deer permit area map, checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer come out of DPA 338 near Bloomington
The bars are DPA 338 totals as DNR printed them, the closest public harvest figure for the ground near Bloomington. In 2025 the DPA gave up 704 deer, compared with 630 in 2017. Adult bucks made up 393 of the 2025 total. Per square mile, the 2025 harvest was 2.23, 55th in the state.
| Season | Deer | Adult males | Adult females | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 601 | 351 | 186 | 1.9 |
| 2023 | 608 | 325 | 211 | 1.92 |
| 2024 | 594 | 373 | 161 | 1.88 |
| 2025 | 704 | 393 | 244 | 2.23 |
From the DNR 2025 deer harvest report and earlier reports (harvest.json); DPA numbers as in each report year, and boundaries changed over time. Checked October 28, 2026.
After the hunt in Bloomington, processors and shops
Businesses in Hennepin County and the counties beside it, sorted by straight-line miles from Bloomington; license agents and big-box chains are left out. Von Hanson's of Plymouth, 15 mi away, can take a donated deer for the food shelf program. Jim's Lakeland Taxidermy collects CWD samples under the DNR partner program.
| Service | Within 15 mi | Within 35 mi | Nearest | Miles | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | 1 | 8 | Concord Fresh Meats Processing | 14 mi E | South Saint Paul |
| Mounts | 10 | 31 | Nature's Realm Taxidermy | 2.1 mi SW | Minneapolis |
| Gun and bow shops | 27 | 62 | Schaffer Performance Archery | 4.0 mi SE | Burnsville |
| Shooting preserves | 0 | 3 | Marsh Lake Hunting Preserve Inc | 18 mi W | Chaska |
Processors
Mounts
Gun and bow shops
Shooting preserves
Processors from the MDA venison donation processor list, the DNR CWD partner list and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from the DNR partner list, DNR license agent feed and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked October 28, 2026; hours were not checked.
Bloomington and its DNR area wildlife office
DNR runs Hennepin County wildlife work from North Metro (most of it) and Vermillion River Complex. St. Paul hosts the regional office for DNR Region 3. Field staff are often out, so call ahead before driving to an area office.
Minnesota DNR Vermillion River Complex Area Wildlife Office (14 mi southeast)
Minnesota DNR Central Office, 14 mi off to the northeast
Offices from the DNR wildlife area offices page and the DNR regions page; work-area shares from the DNR wildlife admin layer (counties.json). Checked October 28, 2026.
Banquets, classes and hunts around Bloomington
Roughly 30 miles out from town: 22 upcoming events (DU dinner, DU gun or purse bingo, MDHA chapter banquet, MDHA gun raffle or bingo, NWTF chapter banquet, NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser, club banquet, sport show and state park youth deer hunt).
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2026 | Japanese Whiskey Night Bingo @ Bourbon Butcher!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 14 | Bourbon Butcher (Farmington) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 7–8, 2026 | Afton State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | 26 | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Purse and Yeti bingo@ Heartbreakers!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 14 | Heartbreaker's Bar & Grill (Chaska) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Delia's Mexican Grill Gun Bingo, a DU gun or purse bingo | 20 | Delia's Mexican Grill (Jordan) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Purse and Yeti Bingo!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 0 | The Eagles Club (Bloomington) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 19, 2026 | Scott LeSueur Waterfowlers Annual Banquet, a club banquet | 23 | New Prague | Event details | Source |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Deer hunter Cleanup bingo for Boomsticks At Rail 19, a DU gun or purse bingo | 25 | Rail 19 (Lonsdale) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Lake Minnetonka Bingo @ Heartbreakers! 11/22/2026, a DU gun or purse bingo | 14 | Heartbreaker's Bar & Grill (Chaska) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Capital City Strutters – Sportsman's Fun Night Out NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 11 | Lakeville | Event details | Source |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Purse bingo with Next Chapter Winery!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 23 | Next Chapter Winery (New Prague) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Japanese Whiskey Night Bingo at Whiskey Inferno! December 1st, a DU gun or purse bingo | 5 | Whiskey Inferno Meat House & Craft Bar (Savage) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Cottage Grove/Woodbury 2026 Dinner, a DU dinner | 16 | Tinucci's (Newport) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Ducks Unlimited and Hugo Legion Bingo!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 29 | American Legion Post 620 (Hugo) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Gun bingo with the Armstrong Trap and Skeet Team!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 11 | Brookview Golf Course (Golden Valley) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Purse and Yeti Bingo with Rail 19!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 25 | Rail 19 (Lonsdale) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Jan 15, 2027 | MDHA – MN River Valley Chapter’s Gun & Purse Blast, an MDHA gun raffle or bingo | 9 | Prior Lake VFW | Event details | Source |
| Mar 4, 2027 | North Metro Longbeards NWTF Banquet, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 20 | Vadnais Heights | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Dakota Strutters Hunting Heritage Event NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 9 | Prior Lake | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Capital City Strutters Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 16 | Newport | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | MDHA – MN River Valley Chapter 43rd Annual Banquet, an MDHA chapter banquet | 23 | New Prague | Event details | Source |
See the events page for 2 more.
Closest shooting lines to Bloomington
Distances start from the Census point of Bloomington.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Bloomington first and last shooting light
Pheasant hunting starts at 9 a.m. and runs to sunset, early teal runs sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the half hour on each end.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Big game window | Bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:26 a.m.–7:50 p.m. | 6:26 a.m.–7:20 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:34 a.m.–7:36 p.m. | 6:34 a.m.–7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:21 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:51 a.m.–7:10 p.m. | 6:51 a.m.–6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:00 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–5:26 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–4:56 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:28 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:58 a.m.–5:06 p.m. | 6:58 a.m.–4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:52 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:22 a.m.–5:11 p.m. | 7:22 a.m.–4:41 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–8:26 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–7:56 p.m. |
Hours rule from the DNR booklet shooting hours page; sun times calculated for the county centre (NOAA method, Central Time), checked against U.S. Naval Observatory tables; checked October 28, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Bloomington hunting FAQ
How big is the public land base near Bloomington?
GIS puts it at 4,936 acres, with 3 units listed here.
Which unit is the closest public hunting ground to Bloomington?
Look first at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, its nearest boundary 2.1 miles out. After that: Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, its nearest boundary 2.1 miles out.
What are the gun deer dates around Bloomington?
Nov 7–15 in DPA 338, then muzzleloader Nov 28–Dec 13.
What DPA applies to deer hunting near Bloomington?
DPA 338, the area under the closest public unit, is 3-deer limit in 2026; check the DNR map near any DPA line.
Do I need a bear lottery permit near Bloomington?
No. Licenses for the no-quota area are sold over the counter.
Which chronic wasting disease rules cover deer near Bloomington?
Only the statewide ones: no imported carcasses from outside Minnesota and no carcass disposal on public land, road rights-of-way or water; testing is voluntary. No feeding or attractants in Hennepin County.
Which deer processor is nearest Bloomington, Minnesota?
Closest is Concord Fresh Meats Processing (14 mi).
What are the deer opener hours for Hennepin County?
Opener hours in Hennepin County: 6:30 a.m. to 5:26 p.m.
Are there still deer tags in Minnesota?
No. Since 2026 the electronic licensing system has no physical tags; you validate the harvest at the kill site and register within 48 hours.
Where is the DNR area wildlife office for Bloomington?
At 5463 West Broadway, Forest Lake; call (651) 539-3324.
Which nearby towns have hunting pages?
Edina, Burnsville and Eden Prairie, then Eagan.
What color must I wear deer hunting near Bloomington?
Blaze orange or pink on the cap and outer clothing above the waist, except sleeves and gloves.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations; registration from booklet p. 28, blaze rules from booklet p. 39. Checked October 28, 2026.
One more look before Bloomington hunters leave
Distances on this page are straight lines from Bloomington; each WMA, WPA, forest and refuge has its own rules, so read the land page and the 2026-27 booklet before you go.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).