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Becker County, MN · town base
Public ground, DPAs and seasons near Elbow Lake (Becker County), Minnesota
Elbow Lake (Becker County) in the DNR Northwest Region: lands within 10 miles, the deer permit areas over Becker County, CWD status, refuges and shops nearby.
Photo: Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (4.2 mi from Elbow Lake (Becker County)), shown as a nearby stand-in. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The Census-designated place of Elbow Lake (Becker County) belongs to Becker County; Detroit Lakes is the county seat. White Earth State Forest adjoins Elbow Lake (Becker County), which is why the town is on this list. Elbow Lake (Becker County) made the list as the base town for Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, whose closest boundary lies 4.2 miles out. Elbow Lake (Becker County) is unincorporated; the Census lists it as a designated place with no 2024 count. Measured as a GIS union, about 33,491 public acres fall within 10 miles of Elbow Lake (Becker County). Measured from the town point, the first unit is White Earth Aquatic Management Area, which reaches the town itself.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; 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 Elbow Lake (Becker County)
Where public ground starts around Elbow Lake (Becker County)
The map and table share 19 units; bold pins mark a boundary within 10 miles of Elbow Lake (Becker County).
| Public land | Way | Kind | Run by | DPA | To boundary | To center | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Earth AMA | at town | AMA | DNR | 298 | at town | 11 mi | 401 | General Use |
| White Earth State Forest Key unit | at town | State forest | DNR | 298, 684 | at town | 16 mi | 41,856 | – |
| White Earth WPA | at town | WPA | USFWS | 297 | at town | 15 mi | 40 | Detroit Lakes WMD |
| Elbow Lake AMA | 1.6 mi E | AMA | DNR | 298 | 1.6 mi | 1.6 mi | 52 | General Use |
| Upper Camp Lake WMA | 2.2 mi N | WMA | DNR | 298 | 2.2 mi | 2.3 mi | 22 | – |
| Little Bass Lake WMA | 3.2 mi N | WMA | DNR | 298 | 3.2 mi | 3.3 mi | 36 | – |
| Pickerel Lake WMA | 4.2 mi E | WMA | DNR | 298 | 4.2 mi | 4.3 mi | 34 | – |
| Tamarac NWR Key unit | 4.2 mi S | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | 251, 258 | 4.2 mi | 12 mi | 42,649 | – |
| Little Rock Lake WMA | 4.6 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 298 | 4.6 mi | 4.7 mi | 40 | – |
| Long Lost Lake South WMA | 6.5 mi E | WMA | DNR | 684 | 6.5 mi | 6.6 mi | 20 | CWD notice |
| Long Lost Lake WMA | 7.1 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 684 | 7.1 mi | 7.2 mi | 54 | CWD notice |
| Bad Medicine Lake AMA | 7.3 mi E | AMA | DNR | 298 | 7.3 mi | 7.2 mi | 21 | General Use |
| Mckenzie Lake WMA | 7.5 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 298 | 7.5 mi | 7.7 mi | 35 | – |
| Glanders Lake WMA | 7.7 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 684 | 7.7 mi | 7.8 mi | 35 | CWD notice |
| Frellsen Lake WMA | 7.9 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 684 | 7.9 mi | 8.1 mi | 56 | CWD notice |
| Stassen Lake WMA | 7.9 mi E | WMA | DNR | 684 | 7.9 mi | 7.9 mi | 35 | CWD notice |
The largest unit touching the ring is Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge at 42,649 acres. Sorted by program, the nearby land is 13 WMAs, 1 waterfowl production area, 1 state forest or grouse area, 1 federal unit and 3 AMAs, SNAs and parks. Waterfowl production areas such as White Earth Waterfowl Production Area belong to the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District and follow federal rules: nontoxic shot for all migratory and upland game, including turkey, and no motor vehicles off designated parking. The WMA closest to Elbow Lake (Becker County) is Upper Camp Lake Wildlife Management Area; WMA rules apply on every subunit. Read the visitor alert before you go: 6 units near Elbow Lake (Becker County) have a CWD notice.
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.
Elbow Lake (Becker County) deer permit areas, 2026 rules
Minnesota sets deer dates and limits by deer permit area, and DPA lines do not follow county lines; 7 DPAs cover 2% or more of Becker County.
| Area | County share | Designation | Firearm | Late SE | Muzzle | Early doe | CWD status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 258 | 24% | Either-sex | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 298 nearest unit | 19% | Antlerless permit lottery (250) | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 241 | 18% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 239 | 12% | 2-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 666 | 12% | Either-sex | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | Mgmt zone |
| DPA 297 | 9% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 251 | 5% | Either-sex | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
White Earth Aquatic Management Area, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, lies in DPA 298, a 200 series area. It is one of 32 lottery DPAs in 2026, with 250 antlerless permits; the permit covers the firearm and muzzleloader seasons. Its firearms season: Nov 7–15; muzzleloader follows Nov 28–Dec 13. In Becker County, feeding deer and using attractants is illegal under the CWD rules.
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.
Elbow Lake (Becker County) zones for bear, birds and elk
| Permit area | County share | Quota | Last count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear unit 46 | 62% of county | 950 permits | 350 bears (2025) |
| Bear unit 45 | 4% of county | 700 permits | 187 bears (2025) |
| Bear, no quota | 33% of county | Unlimited | – |
| Spring turkey area 507 | 79% of county | Periods A-F | 4,287 spring birds (2026) |
| Spring turkey area 509 | 21% of county | Periods A-F | 781 spring birds (2026) |
| Prairie chicken zone 812A | Map-read | 5 licenses | – |
For bear, most of Becker County is quota area 46 (950 permits in 2026). The 2026 spring harvest in turkey area 507 was 4,287 birds; spring 2027 runs periods A to F, Apr. 14 to May 31. The resident prairie chicken lottery covers area 812A here (map-read). Duck dates depend on the zone, and the zone lines run along MN 210/23/39 and US 212/I-494/I-94. The furbearer zone line runs along I-94 and US 10 from Moorhead through St. Paul to Hastings.
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.
Season windows for Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunters, 2026-27
Deer dates in Becker County follow its deer permit areas (258, 298, 241, 239, 666 and 297), not the county line. The 51 rows below come from the 2026-2027 DNR booklet.
| Game | Season | Unit | Begins | Through | Right 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 (200 series) | All DPAs here | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 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 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 45, 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 and spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Prairie chicken | By lottery permit | Permit areas 812A | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| 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.
DPA 298 harvest for Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunters
Figures cover the entire DPA 298; Minnesota prints no harvest for a single county or town. 2025: 779 deer. 2017: 1,287. In 2025, 675 registered deer were adult bucks. DNR figured 1.26 deer per square mile (rank 84).
| Year | Total | Adult bucks | Adult does | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 540 | 393 | 108 | 0.87 |
| 2023 | 491 | 413 | 58 | 0.79 |
| 2024 | 671 | 581 | 69 | 1.09 |
| 2025 | 779 | 675 | 76 | 1.26 |
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.
Cutting, mounting and outfitting near Elbow Lake (Becker County)
Businesses Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunters lean on in the fall, grouped by trade and sorted by miles. To donate a deer to a food shelf, Hoffman's Town & Country Meat Market (26 mi) is on the state venison donation list. Closest CWD sampling partner on the DNR list: Wolf's Taxidermy (40 mi).
| Kind | Listings 15 mi | Listings 35 mi | Nearest business | Away | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venison processing | 0 | 4 | Lakes Processing | 26 mi SW | Detroit Lakes |
| Taxidermy studios | 1 | 11 | Deep Woods Taxidermy | 8.8 mi W | Ogema |
| Gear shops | 0 | 14 | Off Grid Armory | 19 mi NE | Shevlin |
| Preserves and guide services | 0 | 1 | McCollum's Hunting Preserve | 26 mi NW | Bejou |
Venison processing
Taxidermy studios
Gear shops
Preserves and guide services
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.
Elbow Lake (Becker County) DNR phone numbers and addresses
WMAs and wildlife questions in Becker County go to the Detroit Lakes office for 51% of the county; Park Rapids handle the rest. The DNR Northwest Region is run from Bemidji. Since 2026 there are no paper tags; offices are for wildlife questions, not license sales.
Minnesota DNR Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office, southeast 27 mi
Minnesota DNR Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office (30 mi southwest)
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.
Hunting events near Elbow Lake (Becker)
2 upcoming events within about 30 straight-line miles, soonest first: NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser and firearms safety hybrid class. Checked October 28, 2026.
Still to come
| Held on | Event | How far | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30–31, 2026 | Firearms Safety Hybrid Class, a firearms safety hybrid class | 19 | Waubun | Register | Source |
| Mar 18, 2027 | Prairie Toms Hunting Heritage Event NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 23 | Mahnomen | Buy tickets | Source |
Where Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunters check a zero
Andersons Royal Flush Pheasant heads the Elbow Lake (Becker County) list (18 miles), and two more follow.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Opening and closing minutes for Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunts
Deer, bear and elk may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; waterfowl, turkey and small game stop at sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:34 a.m.–7:59 p.m. | 6:34 a.m.–7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:43 a.m.–7:45 p.m. | 6:43 a.m.–7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:32 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 7:02 a.m.–7:17 p.m. | 7:02 a.m.–6:47 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:13 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:43 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | 6:43 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:43 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:13 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 7:13 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:08 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:38 a.m.–5:13 p.m. | 7:38 a.m.–4:43 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–8:38 p.m. | 6:09 a.m.–8:08 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.
Questions Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunters ask before the season
Where else can I base a hunt near Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
Pages exist for Roy Lake, Pine Point, Beaulieu and Waubun.
How near does public land come to Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
Straight-line, it is White Earth Aquatic Management Area, which reaches the town itself. Behind it comes White Earth State Forest, which reaches the town itself.
What is the public acreage in a 10-mile ring around Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
The 10-mile circle holds some 33,491 acres (19 units).
Which deer permit area is Elbow Lake (Becker County) in?
DPA lines, not town limits, decide it: the nearest public land lies in DPA 298, and Becker County spans 258, 298, 241, 239, 666, 297 and 251.
When is the firearms deer season near Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
In DPA 298 the firearms season runs Nov 7–15, 2026; muzzleloader is Nov 28–Dec 13 and archery Sep 19–Dec 31.
Is Elbow Lake (Becker County) in a CWD zone?
No; DPA 298 is outside both the management zone and the 2026 surveillance block. The feeding and attractant ban covers Becker County.
Which bear permit area covers Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
Quota area 46 covers 62% of Becker County.
When does legal hunting time end near Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
Deer hours end half an hour after sunset, 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 7; waterfowl and small game stop at sunset.
Where does a Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunter get a deer cut and wrapped?
Lakes Processing (Detroit Lakes) is the first on the list.
Who answers WMA questions for Elbow Lake (Becker County) hunters?
Staff at Minnesota DNR Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office in Detroit Lakes ((218) 846-8470).
How is a deer registered after a hunt near Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
Validate at the kill site in the app or on the paper license, then register online, in the app or at a walk-in station within 48 hours.
Do I need blaze orange near Elbow Lake (Becker County)?
During the firearms and muzzleloader deer seasons everyone afield wears blaze orange or pink on the cap and above the waist.
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.
Elbow Lake (Becker County) pre-trip checks
The DNR booklet and each land page are the final word for hunts from Elbow Lake (Becker County).
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. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0).