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Town page · Polk County
Fertile hunters’ map of public ground, MN
Hunting ground near Fertile, the Polk County DPAs and their 2026-27 windows, deer harvest by permit area, bear quota areas and local businesses.
Photo: Nearby stand-in for Fertile: Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (7.9 mi from Fertile). Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fertile lies in Polk County, inside DNR Region 1 (Northwest). Among the towns ringing Liberty Wildlife Management Area, Fertile qualified as the base, with the boundary 5.1 miles out. Prairie Dunes Wildlife Management Area anchors this page; its boundary comes within 5 miles of Fertile. Its population stood near 780 in the Census 2024 series. Mapped public acreage within 10 miles comes to about 20,439, spread over 26 listed units. Nearest of every listed unit is Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, its nearest boundary 4.1 miles 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.
Fertile DPAs, limits and dates
Each DPA link opens its own page with harvest by year, counties and every 2026 season window.
| DPA | Share of county | 2026 designation | Firearms | Late southeast | Muzzleloader | Early antlerless | CWD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 661 | 38% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Mgmt zone |
| DPA 210 | 18% | 2-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 256 | 18% | 2-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 257 | 11% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 265 first unit | 8% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 209 | 5% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
Deer rules at Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, come from DPA 265, a 200 series permit area. DPA 265 carries a 3-deer limit in 2026; bonus permits fill the count past the first deer. DPA 265 firearms: Nov 7–15. Polk County falls under the deer feeding and attractant ban (37 counties).
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.
Fertile public land by miles
The boundary column runs straight from Fertile to the closest edge; the center column runs to the mapped point, so a big state forest can start much nearer than its center figure.
| Property | Off town | Type | Run by | DPA | Line | Point | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Smoke Dunes SNA | 4.1 mi S | SNA | DNR | 265 | 4.1 mi | 4.7 mi | 1,248 | – |
| Onstad WMA | 4.6 mi NW | WMA | DNR | 256, 265 | 4.6 mi | 4.9 mi | 280 | – |
| Sundal WPA | 4.9 mi SE | WPA | USFWS | 265 | 4.9 mi | 4.9 mi | 119 | Detroit Lakes WMD |
| Liberty WMA Why listed | 5.1 mi W | WMA | DNR | 265 | 5.1 mi | 5.6 mi | 1,369 | – |
| Ranum WMA | 5.1 mi SE | WMA | DNR | 265 | 5.1 mi | 5.3 mi | 183 | – |
| Prairie Dunes WMA Why listed | 5.2 mi S | WMA | DNR | 265 | 5.2 mi | 6.7 mi | 1,082 | – |
| Maple Meadows WMA Why listed | 5.9 mi N | WMA | DNR | 257 | 5.9 mi | 7.0 mi | 1,394 | – |
| Godfrey WMA | 6.0 mi N | WMA | DNR | 256 | 6.0 mi | 6.4 mi | 145 | – |
| Agassiz-Olson WMA Why listed | 6.1 mi SW | WMA | DNR | 265 | 6.1 mi | 7.2 mi | 1,776 | – |
| Woodside WPA | 6.1 mi NE | WPA | USFWS | 257 | 6.1 mi | 9.8 mi | 315 | Detroit Lakes WMD |
| Woodside WMA | 6.1 mi NE | WMA | DNR | 257 | 6.1 mi | 6.3 mi | 78 | – |
| Chicog WMA Why listed | 6.3 mi NW | WMA | DNR | 265 | 6.3 mi | 7.8 mi | 2,434 | – |
| Burnham WMA | 6.4 mi NW | WMA | DNR | 256 | 6.4 mi | 7.5 mi | 990 | 2 units |
| Trail WMA | 7.1 mi N | WMA | DNR | 256 | 7.1 mi | 7.8 mi | 609 | – |
| Agassiz-Nelson WMA | 7.6 mi S | WMA | DNR | 265 | 7.6 mi | 8.0 mi | 120 | – |
| Jacobson WPA | 7.6 mi NE | WPA | USFWS | 239, 257 | 7.6 mi | 7.6 mi | 362 | Detroit Lakes WMD |
No unit near Fertile beats Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge for size: 23,763 acres. That ring mixes 17 WMAs, 7 waterfowl production areas, 1 federal unit and 1 AMA, SNA or park. Hunt Sundal Waterfowl Production Area or any other WPA nearby with nontoxic shot only; the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District also prohibits motorized boats and off-road vehicles. Nearest of the WMAs is Onstad Wildlife Management Area (1 mapped parking spot), managed by the Thief River Falls area wildlife office.
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.
Fertile area deer harvest by DPA
DNR reports deer harvest by permit area, so the chart shows the whole of DPA 265, which spills beyond Polk County. From 1,249 in 2017 the count moved to 1,177 in 2025. Adult males: 599 in 2025. That works out to 2.38 deer per square mile of land, ranking 47th among DPAs.
| Year | Harvest | Adult bucks | Adult does | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,178 | 520 | 499 | 2.38 |
| 2023 | 930 | 479 | 328 | 1.88 |
| 2024 | 1,067 | 631 | 324 | 2.16 |
| 2025 | 1,177 | 599 | 435 | 2.38 |
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.
Season windows for Fertile hunters, 2026-27
Deer dates in Polk County follow its deer permit areas (661, 210, 256, 257, 265 and 209), not the county line. The 53 rows below come from the 2026-2027 DNR booklet.
| Species | Season type | Where it counts | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | All DPAs here | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless | DPA 661 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Prairie chicken | By lottery permit | Permit areas 803A, 804A, 805A, 806A, 813A | 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 | |
| Sandhill crane | Northwest zone | Northwest crane zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 18, 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.
Bear and turkey units for Fertile
| Area | Of county | Licenses | Latest take |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-quota bear area | 100% of county | Unlimited | – |
| Turkey area 509 | 100% of county | Periods A-F | 781 spring birds (2026) |
| Chicken permit area 803A | Map-read | 6 licenses | – |
| Chicken permit area 804A | Map-read | 8 licenses | – |
| Chicken permit area 805A | Map-read | 8 licenses | – |
The no-quota bear area takes in Polk County, so any bear license buyer can hunt there Sept. 1 to Oct. 18. For spring 2026, DNR counted 781 turkeys in permit area 509. Prairie chicken hunting near Fertile runs by lottery in areas 803A, 804A, 805A, 806A and 813A (map-read). Northwest zone sharp-tailed grouse hunting reaches Polk County. Sandhill cranes may be hunted in Polk County, inside the northwest crane zone. The waterfowl zones split along state and federal highways rather than county lines, so use the DNR map near Fertile. Check which side of I-94/US 10 you hunt for furbearer dates. Before hunting a refuge near Fertile, check the openings in the table.
Refuges in the county
| Name | Upland | Ducks | Firearms | Archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Lake | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Polk-Clearwater | Closed | Closed | Closed | 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.
Fertile clock times for legal hunting
Legal light for deer at Fertile brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; ducks and geese open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Ducks and geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m.–8:02 p.m. | 6:37 a.m.–7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m.–7:48 p.m. | 6:46 a.m.–7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:35 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:05 a.m.–7:19 p.m. | 7:05 a.m.–6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:18 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:31 p.m. | 6:48 a.m.–5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:49 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:19 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 7:19 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:14 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 7:44 a.m.–5:12 p.m. | 7:44 a.m.–4:42 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:40 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 6:10 a.m.–8:42 p.m. | 6:10 a.m.–8:12 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.
Hunting businesses a short drive from Fertile
Phone, map and website buttons show only where a source listed them; nobody here checked opening hours. Headwaters Meat Processing (40 mi) is approved for the 2026 venison donation program, per the Minnesota Department of Agriculture list. Deer heads can be sampled at Outdoor Addictions, a DNR CWD partner.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer processors | 0 | 0 | Headwaters Meat Processing | 40 mi E | Bagley |
| Taxidermy shops | 0 | 3 | Outdoor Addictions | 23 mi NW | Crookston |
| Sporting goods | 1 | 4 | Glenns Guns | 1.8 mi NW | Fertile |
| Outfitters and preserves | 0 | 1 | McCollum's Hunting Preserve | 19 mi E | Bejou |
Deer processors
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
Outfitters and 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.
Upcoming hunting events around Fertile
2 upcoming events within about 30 straight-line miles, soonest first: NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser and firearms safety hybrid class. Checked October 28, 2026.
Next on the calendar
| Dates | What | Distance | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30–31, 2026 | Firearms Safety Hybrid Class, a firearms safety hybrid class | 29 | Waubun | Register | Source |
| Mar 18, 2027 | Prairie Toms Hunting Heritage Event NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 21 | Mahnomen | Buy tickets | Source |
Fertile shooters: three nearest ranges
Three closest ranges to Fertile, measured as the crow flies.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Area wildlife office for Fertile hunters
Polk County belongs to the Thief River Falls wildlife work area. Regional headquarters for the Northwest Region is in Bemidji. No office visit is needed for a license: buy it online, by phone or from an agent.
Minnesota DNR Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office, 41 mi to the north
Minnesota DNR Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office, south 55 mi
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.
Fertile hunting questions
Which town pages are close to Fertile?
Closest four: Erskine, Twin Valley, Ada and Mahnomen (Mahnomen County).
Does a ground blind near Fertile need orange?
A fabric ground blind on public land needs orange on top or 144 square inches on each side during deer season; turkey hunters no longer need it.
Is there much public hunting land around Fertile?
26 units with about 20,439 mapped acres lie within 10 miles.
Which WMA, WPA or state forest is closest to Fertile?
Among DNR and federal units, the nearest is Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, its nearest boundary 4.1 miles out. The second unit is Onstad Wildlife Management Area, its nearest boundary 4.6 miles out.
What dates can I carry a deer rifle near Fertile?
Nov 7–15 for firearms in DPA 265; rifles are legal for deer since the 2025 repeal of the shotgun zone.
Which DPA covers the public land by Fertile?
Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area lies in DPA 265, 3-deer limit for 2026.
Is bear hunting open around Fertile?
Yes, Sept. 1 to Oct. 18; Polk County is in the no-quota area.
Do deer near Fertile need a CWD test?
No, testing is voluntary in DPA 265; DNR offers mail-in kits and partner sampling. Feeding deer is banned in Polk County.
How far is the nearest deer processor from Fertile?
Headwaters Meat Processing sits 40 mi from Fertile, the shortest trip on our list.
How early can I shoot deer near Fertile?
Deer may be shot from 6:48 a.m. on Nov. 7 near Fertile.
Can I register a deer by phone?
No. Phone registration ended in 2026; register online, in the app or at a walk-in station within 48 hours.
Which DNR wildlife office covers Fertile?
The Thief River Falls area wildlife office, 246 125th Avenue Northeast, Thief River Falls, (218) 219-8587.
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 Fertile hunters
Starting at dawn from Fertile? Check the Polk County legal light table and know which DPA you will be standing in.
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); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).