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St. Louis County, MN · town base
Hunting land and deer areas around Nett Lake, MN
Hunting from Nett Lake, Minnesota: public land by distance, deer permit area rules for St. Louis County, legal light and the nearest processors and taxidermists.
Photo: From St. Louis County, not the town itself: Ruffed grouse puffed up against the cold in snow, St. Louis County. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Nett Lake is part of St. Louis County, out in the DNR Northeast Region. Nett Lake works as the gateway to Kabetogama State Forest, the edge 2.4 miles out. Population is blank for Nett Lake, a Census-designated place outside any city. Within 10 miles of the town point, WMA, state forest, SNA, national forest and federal refuge boundaries take in about 53,349 acres, with 8 listed units in the ring. Ranked by miles, Kabetogama State Forest, its nearest boundary 2.4 miles out heads the list.
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 Nett Lake
Lands closest to Nett Lake
Miles are measured as the crow flies from the Census point of Nett Lake, so allow for longer road distances.
| Unit | Bearing | Type | Agency | DPA | Edge | Center | Acres | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kabetogama State Forest Anchor land | 2.4 mi E | State forest | DNR | 107, 109 | 2.4 mi | 8.2 mi | 162,190 | – |
| Koochiching State Forest | 4.7 mi W | State forest | DNR | 104, 107 | 4.7 mi | 27 mi | 318,112 | – |
| Gunflint Ranger District, Superior National Forest | 5.3 mi E | Ranger district | USFS | 117, 126 | 5.3 mi | 122 mi | 391,034 | – |
| Kawishiwi Ranger District, Superior National Forest | 5.3 mi E | Ranger district | USFS | 117, 118 | 5.3 mi | 67 mi | 431,828 | – |
| Lacroix Ranger District, Superior National Forest | 5.3 mi E | Ranger district | USFS | 107, 109 | 5.3 mi | 23 mi | 409,160 | – |
| Laurentian Ranger District, Superior National Forest | 5.3 mi SE | Ranger district | USFS | 130, 131 | 5.3 mi | 77 mi | 349,280 | – |
| Tofte Ranger District, Superior National Forest | 5.3 mi E | Ranger district | USFS | 117, 126 | 5.3 mi | 97 mi | 591,085 | – |
| Big Island SNA | 7.1 mi E | SNA | DNR | 119 | 7.1 mi | 7.7 mi | 226 | – |
| Pelican Lake RGMA | 10.0 mi SE | Grouse area | DNR | 119 | beyond 10 mi | 10.0 mi | 534 | 2.2 trail mi |
| Willow River RGMA | 14 mi SE | Grouse area | DNR | 177 | beyond 10 mi | 14 mi | 1,361 | 5.1 trail mi |
Acre for acre, Tofte Ranger District, Superior National Forest (591,085 acres) is the biggest piece inside the ring. By kind, the ring holds 2 state forests and grouse areas, 5 federal units and 1 AMA, SNA or park.
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 Nett Lake
The share column shows how much of St. Louis County each DPA covers; the tag marks the DPA of the nearest public land to Nett Lake.
| Permit area | Of county | Rule | Gun season | Second SE | Muzzleloader | Oct. antlerless | Disease |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 107 near town | across line | Antlerless permit lottery (500) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 178 | 16% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 118 | 16% | Bucks only | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 119 | 14% | Bucks only | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 176 | 12% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 181 | 9% | Antlerless permit lottery (100) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 132 | 7% | Bucks only | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 130 | 7% | Bucks only | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 177 | 7% | Antlerless permit lottery (25) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 182 | 3% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 109 | 2% | Antlerless permit lottery (50) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
DPA 107 (100 series) covers kabetogama State Forest, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, and sets the deer rules there. Antlerless deer in DPA 107 take a lottery permit in the gun seasons (500 were offered for 2026); youth under 18 are exempt. Expect the firearms opener on Nov. 7 and a close per the table: Nov 7–22 for DPA 107.
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 Nett Lake
| Unit | Coverage | Permits issued | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quota area 24 | 29% of county | 100 permits | 65 bears (2025) |
| Quota area 25 | 28% of county | 375 permits | 239 bears (2025) |
| Quota area 31 | 25% of county | 400 permits | 212 bears (2025) |
| Quota area 51 | 10% of county | 1,500 permits | 436 bears (2025) |
| Quota area 22 | 8% of county | 75 permits | 1 bears (2025) |
| Quota area 53 | 1% of county | 20 permits | 10 bears (2025) |
| Turkey unit 508 | 100% of county | Periods A-F | 3,067 spring birds (2026) |
The bear drawing for area 24 offered 100 permits; the season is Sept. 1 to Oct. 18. Turkey area 508 gave up 3,067 spring birds in 2026 and 1,623 in 2019. For ducks and geese, find Nett Lake on the DNR zone map; the lines follow highways, not counties. North and South furbearer zones split along I-94/US 10. 2 state game refuges in St. Louis County are listed in the booklet with partial openings; any refuge not listed is closed to hunting.
St. Louis County refuges
| Game refuge | Small game | Duck rule | Firearms | Archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterball | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Little Rice | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
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.
Nett Lake calendar of open seasons
24 species and 49 dated windows touch St. Louis County; the last column compares each one with today.
| Quarry | Season | Permit area | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 22, 24, 25, 31, 51, 53 | 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 107 near Nett Lake
The bars are DPA 107 totals as DNR printed them, the closest public harvest figure for the ground near Nett Lake. In 2025 the DPA gave up 795 deer, compared with 701 in 2020. Adult bucks made up 554 of the 2025 total. Per square mile, the 2025 harvest was 1.68, 69th in the state.
| Season | Deer | Adult males | Adult females | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 729 | 515 | 172 | 1.54 |
| 2023 | 761 | 538 | 187 | 1.61 |
| 2024 | 761 | 573 | 151 | 1.61 |
| 2025 | 795 | 554 | 199 | 1.68 |
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 Nett Lake, processors and shops
Businesses in St. Louis County and the counties beside it, sorted by straight-line miles from Nett Lake; license agents and big-box chains are left out. Orty's Custom Meats, 63 mi away, can take a donated deer for the food shelf program. Barnwood Bucks Taxidermy collects CWD samples under the DNR partner program.
| Service | Within 15 mi | Within 35 mi | Nearest | Miles | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processors | 0 | 0 | Carlsons Sausage & Wild Game Processing | 53 mi SE | Biwabik |
| Mounts | 0 | 1 | Nature Art Taxidermy | 34 mi W | Big Falls |
| Gun and bow shops | 0 | 2 | KAB Outdoors | 21 mi N | Kabetogama |
| Shooting preserves | 0 | 0 | God's Country Outfitters | 60 mi S | Grand Rapids |
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.
Nett Lake and its DNR area wildlife office
DNR runs St. Louis County wildlife work from Tower (most of it) and Cloquet and Two Harbors. Grand Rapids hosts the regional office for DNR Region 2. Field staff are often out, so call ahead before driving to an area office.
Minnesota DNR Tower Area Wildlife Office (43 mi southeast)
Minnesota DNR Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 64 mi off to the south
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.
Closest shooting lines to Nett Lake
Distances start from the Census point of Nett Lake.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Nett Lake 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 | 6:51 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:21 a.m.–7:47 p.m. | 6:21 a.m.–7:17 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:00 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–7:32 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–7:02 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–7:04 p.m. | 6:50 a.m.–6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:02 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–5:16 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:33 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 7:03 a.m.–4:54 p.m. | 7:03 a.m.–4:24 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:58 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 7:28 a.m.–4:57 p.m. | 7:28 a.m.–4:27 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:25 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 5:55 a.m.–8:26 p.m. | 5:55 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.
Nett Lake hunting FAQ
Which deer processor is nearest Nett Lake, Minnesota?
Closest is Carlsons Sausage & Wild Game Processing (53 mi).
What are the deer opener hours for St. Louis County?
Opener hours in St. Louis County: 6:32 a.m. to 5:16 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 Nett Lake?
At 650 Highway 169, Tower; call (218) 300-7860.
Which nearby towns have hunting pages?
Cook, Littlefork and International Falls, then Ranier.
What color must I wear deer hunting near Nett Lake?
Blaze orange or pink on the cap and outer clothing above the waist, except sleeves and gloves.
How big is the public land base near Nett Lake?
GIS puts it at 53,349 acres, with 8 units listed here.
Which unit is the closest public hunting ground to Nett Lake?
Look first at Kabetogama State Forest, its nearest boundary 2.4 miles out. After that: Koochiching State Forest, its nearest boundary 4.7 miles out.
What are the gun deer dates around Nett Lake?
Nov 7–22 in DPA 107, then muzzleloader Nov 28–Dec 13.
What DPA applies to deer hunting near Nett Lake?
DPA 107, the area under the closest public unit, is antlerless permit lottery in 2026; check the DNR map near any DPA line.
Do I need a bear lottery permit near Nett Lake?
Yes, quota area 24 takes a license drawn in the DNR bear lottery; 100 were set for 2026.
Which chronic wasting disease rules cover deer near Nett Lake?
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.
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 Nett Lake hunters leave
Distances on this page are straight lines from Nett Lake; 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); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).