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Itasca County · DNR Northeast Region
Heading out from Deer River, Minnesota, to hunt
A base sheet for Deer River: lands ranked by distance, DPA season windows and lottery status, CWD rules, shooting light and the DNR area wildlife office.
Photo: Dark open lake ringed by snowy bog and forest seen from above in Itasca County; nearby stand-in from Itasca County. Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0)
Deer River lies in Itasca County, inside DNR Region 2 (Northeast). Bowstring State Forest is the reason Deer River is listed: its nearest line lies 5.0 miles out. With 930 residents counted for 2024, Deer River is the starting point here. Draw a 10-mile circle around Deer River and it holds some 48,739 acres of public land (10 listed units). The first public unit on the map from Deer River is Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, its nearest boundary less than a mile out.
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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Deer River
Hunting land nearest Deer River
Land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Deer River leads the table, nearest line first; units farther out follow by distance to their center.
| Area | Which way | Category | Agency | Permit area | Boundary miles | Center miles | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 0.5 mi NW | Ranger district | USFS | 110, 169 | 0.5 mi | 31 mi | 187,217 | – |
| Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 0.5 mi NW | Ranger district | USFS | 169, 171 | 0.5 mi | 9.6 mi | 297,666 | – |
| Walker Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 0.5 mi SW | Ranger district | USFS | 171, 172 | 0.5 mi | 28 mi | 174,775 | – |
| Bowstring State Forest Anchor | 5.0 mi W | State forest | DNR | 169, 197 | 5.0 mi | 14 mi | 115,891 | – |
| Crawford Island AMA | 5.8 mi E | AMA | DNR | 679 | 5.8 mi | 5.6 mi | 35 | General Use |
| Balsam-Deer Islands WMA | 6.0 mi E | WMA | DNR | 679 | 6.0 mi | 7.1 mi | 36 | CWD notice |
| Mud Goose WMA | 7.8 mi SW | WMA | DNR | 172, 197 | 7.8 mi | 12 mi | 17,011 | – |
| Schoolcraft State Park | 7.9 mi S | State park | DNR | 679 | 7.9 mi | 7.9 mi | 137 | – |
| Wabu Woods SNA | 9.0 mi NE | SNA | DNR | 679 | 9.0 mi | 9.2 mi | 145 | – |
| Bowstring Deer Yard WMA | 10 mi NW | WMA | DNR | 197 | 10 mi | 11 mi | 771 | – |
The ring’s biggest block of public ground is Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest (297,666 acres). Counted by type: 3 WMAs, 1 state forest or grouse area, 3 federal units and 3 AMAs, SNAs and parks. Balsam-Deer Islands Wildlife Management Area leads the WMAs; check its DNR detail page for subunit maps and any visitor notice. CWD visitor alerts are up on 1 of the units in the ring.
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 River 2026-27 hunting dates by species
WMAs, state forests and private land share these dates in Itasca County; refuges, state parks and special hunts add their own rules.
| Animal | Hunt | Area | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | All DPAs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer | All DPAs here | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (100 series) | All DPAs here | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 24, 25, 27, 28, 46, 47, 51 | 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.
Deer permit areas around Deer River
A hunter who fills the limit in one DPA may move to another DPA in 2026, so the neighbouring areas matter.
| DPA | % of county | 2026 rule | Firearms | SE late | Muzzleloader | Early | CWD zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 679 | 35% | Either-sex | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | Mgmt zone |
| DPA 169 | 31% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 197 | 16% | Antlerless permit lottery (300) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 176 | 5% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 109 | 5% | Antlerless permit lottery (50) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 178 | 4% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 110 land nearby | 2% | Antlerless permit lottery (250) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, sits inside DPA 110, one of the 100 series areas. In 2026 it is an antlerless permit lottery area with 250 permits; firearm and muzzleloader hunters entered the draw by declaring the DPA by Sept. 10, 2026. Gun hunters in DPA 110 get Nov 7–22. Do not feed deer or use attractants in Itasca County; the ban includes urine scents.
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.
Deer harvest in the DPA nearest Deer River
These are totals for all of DPA 110, not for Deer River or Itasca County alone; DNR publishes no county deer harvest. The 2025 total was 1,210; in 2017 it was 1,926. The 2025 buck count stood at 983 adult males. At 2.29 deer per square mile, DPA 110 ranked 53rd.
| Season | Total | Males | Females | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,072 | 797 | 218 | 2.03 |
| 2023 | 1,080 | 807 | 227 | 2.04 |
| 2024 | 1,113 | 916 | 155 | 2.11 |
| 2025 | 1,210 | 983 | 182 | 2.29 |
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.
Deer River processors and taxidermists by miles
Shops are gun, archery and outdoor stores; deer processors come from the state venison donation list, the CWD partner list and listings that name deer or game. Nearest venison donation processor: Orty's Custom Meats, 1.5 mi. Barnwood Bucks Taxidermy is the nearest DNR CWD partner, 24 mi away.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 1 | 2 | Orty's Custom Meats | 1.5 mi SE | Deer River |
| Mount makers | 1 | 6 | The Taxidermy Shop | 9.8 mi SE | Grand Rapids |
| Outdoor stores | 7 | 9 | Itasca Archery Supply | 9.5 mi E | Grand Rapids |
| Preserves | 2 | 4 | Bear River Guide Service | at town | Deer River |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Outdoor stores
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.
Other permit areas around Deer River
| Zone | Share | Permits | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quota bear area 27 | 57% of county | 450 permits | 192 bears (2025) |
| Quota bear area 28 | 15% of county | 60 permits | 33 bears (2025) |
| Quota bear area 51 | 12% of county | 1,500 permits | 436 bears (2025) |
| Quota bear area 24 | 10% of county | 100 permits | 65 bears (2025) |
| Quota bear area 25 | 5% of county | 375 permits | 239 bears (2025) |
| Quota bear area 47 | 1% of county | 40 permits | 25 bears (2025) |
| Quota bear area 46 | 0% of county | 950 permits | 350 bears (2025) |
| Turkey permit area 508 | 100% of county | Periods A-F | 3,067 spring birds (2026) |
Bear licenses for area 27 come through the DNR drawing (450 for 2026); the season runs Sept. 1 to Oct. 18. Area 508 hunters registered 3,067 spring turkeys in 2026. DNR draws the North, Central and South duck zones along MN 210/23/39 and US 212/I-494/I-94; check which side of the line your marsh sits on. The I-94/US 10 corridor divides the two furbearer zones. Refuges in Itasca County open only for the seasons the booklet lists.
State game refuges here
| Refuge | Small game | Waterfowl | Gun deer/bear | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Pigeon Lake | Closed | Closed | Open | Open |
| Pigeon River Flowage | Closed | Closed | Open | Open |
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.
Who at DNR answers for land near Deer River
The Grand Rapids area wildlife office manages 100% of Itasca County. DNR Region 2 has its headquarters at Grand Rapids. Licenses sell online, by phone and at license agents through the electronic licensing system; offices handle land, permits and wildlife questions.
Minnesota DNR Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 14 mi southeast
Minnesota DNR Region 2 (Northeast) Headquarters, 14 mi to the southeast
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.
Shooting light at Deer River on opener days
Sunrise in Moorhead comes well after sunrise in Grand Marais, so use the local times worked out for Deer River.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:25 a.m.–7:51 p.m. | 6:25 a.m.–7:21 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–7:37 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–7:07 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:24 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:54 a.m.–7:08 p.m. | 6:54 a.m.–6:38 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:36 a.m.–5:20 p.m. | 6:36 a.m.–4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:37 a.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 7:07 a.m.–4:58 p.m. | 7:07 a.m.–4:28 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:02 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 7:32 a.m.–5:02 p.m. | 7:32 a.m.–4:32 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:30 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–8:00 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.
Calendar dates close to Deer River
A circle of about 30 miles around Deer River takes in 1 upcoming event. Kinds: NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser.
Upcoming here
| When | Listing | Miles | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2027 | North Country Spurs NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 14 | Grand Rapids | Buy tickets | Source |
Three ranges handy to Deer River
From central Deer River, Grand Rapids Gun Club is nearest at 13 miles.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting near Deer River, answered
What are the 2026 firearm deer dates for Deer River?
Gun season in DPA 110: Nov 7–22. Bow season runs Sep 19–Dec 31.
Does the CWD management zone reach Deer River?
No, the management zone does not include DPA 110. Itasca County also has the deer feeding and attractant ban.
Where can Deer River hunters hunt bear?
In quota area 27 with a drawn license.
What are the shooting hours near Deer River?
Big game: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (on Nov. 7, 6:36 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.); small game and waterfowl stop at sunset, pheasant starts at 9 a.m.
Who cuts venison near Deer River?
Call Orty's Custom Meats in Deer River first; it is the closest listing.
Where is the closest DNR wildlife office to Deer River?
Grand Rapids area wildlife, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids.
What happens after I shoot a deer near Deer River?
Validate before moving the deer, then register within 48 hours and before processing, with the head attached until it is registered.
Do small game hunters wear orange near Deer River?
At least one visible blaze orange or pink item above the waist when no firearms deer season is open; during the deer gun seasons the full rule applies.
What other towns are near Deer River?
Ball Club, Grand Rapids, La Prairie and Inger, nearest first.
How far is Deer River from public hunting land?
The shortest straight line runs to Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, its nearest boundary less than a mile out. The next unit out is Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, its nearest boundary less than a mile out.
How many public acres are near Deer River?
Roughly 48,739 public acres and 10 listed units fall within 10 miles.
How many deer can I take near Deer River?
One deer in DPA 110, a antlerless permit lottery area in 2026.
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.
Loose ends for Deer River hunters
Wear orange or pink in the deer gun seasons, validate at the kill site and register within the deadline.
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); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0).