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Town page · Stearns County
St. Cloud hunters’ map of public ground, MN
Hunting ground near St. Cloud, the Stearns County DPAs and their 2026-27 windows, deer harvest by permit area, bear quota areas and local businesses.
Photo: Nearby stand-in for St. Cloud: Lake Maria State Park (18 mi from St. Cloud). Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
One of the biggest cities in its region, St. Cloud is also where Stearns County keeps its seat. Its population stood near 72,145 in the Census 2024 series. Mapped public acreage within 10 miles comes to about 1,172, spread over 2 listed units. Nearest of every listed unit is Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area, its nearest boundary 3.0 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.
St. Cloud 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 223 first unit | outside county | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | – |
| DPA 218 | 58% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Surveillance |
| DPA 215 | 26% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Surveillance |
| DPA 219 | 9% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Surveillance |
| DPA 277 | 4% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Surveillance |
| DPA 213 | 3% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | Yes | Surveillance |
Deer rules at Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, come from DPA 223, a 200 series permit area. DPA 223 carries a 3-deer limit in 2026; bonus permits fill the count past the first deer. DPA 223 firearms: Nov 7–15.
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.
St. Cloud public land by miles
The boundary column runs straight from St. Cloud 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Prairie WMA | 3.0 mi E | WMA | DNR | 223 | 3.0 mi | 3.8 mi | 650 | – |
| Gravel Pit 1672 WMA | 9.9 mi SW | WMA | DNR | 218 | 9.9 mi | 10.0 mi | 4 | CWD notice |
| St. Wendel Tamarack Bog SNA | 11 mi NW | SNA | DNR | 215 | past 10 mi | 11 mi | 663 | – |
| Minnesota Veterans WMA | 12 mi S | WMA | DNR | 219 | past 10 mi | 12 mi | 650 | CWD notice |
| Collegeville WPA | 13 mi W | WPA | USFWS | 218 | past 10 mi | 13 mi | 122 | Litchfield WMD |
| Murray Lake WPA | 13 mi SW | WPA | USFWS | 219 | past 10 mi | 13 mi | 89 | Litchfield WMD |
| Big Fish Lake WPA | 14 mi W | WPA | USFWS | 218 | past 10 mi | 14 mi | 81 | Litchfield WMD |
| Michaelson Farm WMA | 15 mi N | WMA | DNR | 221 | past 10 mi | 15 mi | 258 | CWD notice |
| Suconnix WMA | 15 mi S | WMA | DNR | 219 | past 10 mi | 15 mi | 1,006 | CWD notice |
| Hoglund WMA | 15 mi SE | WMA | DNR | 219 | past 10 mi | 15 mi | 361 | CWD notice |
No unit near St. Cloud beats Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area for size: 650 acres. Nearest of the WMAs is Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area (2 mapped parking spots), managed by the Sauk Rapids area wildlife office. 1 of these units show a 2026 CWD notice on their DNR page.
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.
St. Cloud area deer harvest by DPA
DNR reports deer harvest by permit area, so the chart shows the whole of DPA 223, which spills beyond Stearns County. From 1,501 in 2017 the count moved to 2,839 in 2025. Adult males: 1,387 in 2025. That works out to 7.56 deer per square mile of land, ranking 9th among DPAs.
| Year | Harvest | Adult bucks | Adult does | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,389 | 1,096 | 920 | 6.36 |
| 2023 | 2,249 | 1,087 | 801 | 5.99 |
| 2024 | 2,808 | 1,361 | 1,032 | 7.48 |
| 2025 | 2,839 | 1,387 | 1,026 | 7.56 |
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.
Stearns County seasons that reach St. Cloud
Deer dates in Stearns County follow its deer permit areas (218, 215, 219, 277 and 213), not the county line. The 50 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 | All DPAs here | 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 | |
| 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.
Bear and turkey units for St. Cloud
| Area | Of county | Licenses | Latest take |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-quota bear area | 100% of county | Unlimited | – |
| Turkey area 507 | 100% of county | Periods A-F | 4,287 spring birds (2026) |
The no-quota bear area takes in Stearns County, so any bear license buyer can hunt there Sept. 1 to Oct. 18. For spring 2026, DNR counted 4,287 turkeys in permit area 507. The waterfowl zones split along state and federal highways rather than county lines, so use the DNR map near St. Cloud. Check which side of I-94/US 10 you hunt for furbearer dates. Before hunting a refuge near St. Cloud, check the openings in the table.
Refuges in the county
| Name | Upland | Ducks | Firearms | Archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | Closed | Closed | Closed | St. Cloud city permit may be required |
| Cedar Lake | Closed | Closed | Deer only | Deer only |
| Collegeville (St. Johns) | Closed | Closed | Written permission required | Deer only, written permission required |
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.
St. Cloud clock times for legal hunting
Legal light for deer at St. Cloud 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 | 7:00 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–7:54 p.m. | 6:30 a.m.–7:24 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:09 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:39 a.m.–7:41 p.m. | 6:39 a.m.–7:11 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:56 a.m.–7:14 p.m. | 6:56 a.m.–6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:05 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–5:29 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:34 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:04 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 7:04 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:58 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:28 a.m.–5:13 p.m. | 7:28 a.m.–4:43 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:36 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–8:32 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–8:02 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 St. Cloud
Phone, map and website buttons show only where a source listed them; nobody here checked opening hours. McDonalds Meats, Inc (10 mi) is approved for the 2026 venison donation program, per the Minnesota Department of Agriculture list. Deer heads can be sampled at Antlers, Wings & Things Taxidermy LLC, a DNR CWD partner.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer processors | 2 | 5 | T & R Meat Processing | 9.6 mi SE | Clearwater |
| Taxidermy shops | 7 | 21 | Hills Taxidermy | 2.6 mi NE | Saint Cloud |
| Sporting goods | 8 | 35 | H & D Gunsmithing | 2.2 mi N | Saint Cloud |
| Outfitters and preserves | 2 | 7 | Big Buck Adventures | 2.4 mi W | Waite Park |
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 St. Cloud
7 upcoming events within about 30 straight-line miles, soonest first: DU chapter party, DU sportsman's night out, NWTF chapter banquet and NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser. Checked October 28, 2026.
Next on the calendar
| Dates | What | Distance | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | Benton Co. Tom Bombers Gun Bash NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 18 | Gilman | Event details | Source |
| Nov 23, 2026 | St. John's / St. Ben's DU 2026 Sportsman's Night Out, a DU sportsman's night out | 7 | Sal's (St. Joseph) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Jan 16, 2027 | Lakes Country Holiday Bash 2027, a DU chapter party | 29 | Paynesville American Legion | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Sand Dunes Gobblers Hunting Heritage Bqt NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 25 | Monticello | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Rum River Longbeards Hunting Heritage Event NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 30 | Milaca | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Benton Co. Tom Bombers Hunting Heritage NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 16 | Foley | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 22, 2027 | Stearns Co. Thunderin' Toms Hunting Heritage Event NWTF Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 13 | Cold Spring | Buy tickets | Source |
St. Cloud shooters: three nearest ranges
Three closest ranges to St. Cloud, measured as the crow flies.
Elm Creek Park Reserve is the nearest public range, roughly 45 miles out. More
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Area wildlife office for St. Cloud hunters
Stearns County belongs to the Sauk Rapids wildlife work area. Regional headquarters for the Central Region is in St. Paul. No office visit is needed for a license: buy it online, by phone or from an agent.
Minnesota DNR Sauk Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 3.8 mi to the north
Minnesota DNR Little Falls Area Wildlife Office, north 34 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.
St. Cloud hunting questions
Is bear hunting open around St. Cloud?
Yes, Sept. 1 to Oct. 18; Stearns County is in the no-quota area.
Do deer near St. Cloud need a CWD test?
No, testing is voluntary in DPA 223; DNR offers mail-in kits and partner sampling.
How far is the nearest deer processor from St. Cloud?
T & R Meat Processing sits 9.6 mi from St. Cloud, the shortest trip on our list.
How early can I shoot deer near St. Cloud?
Deer may be shot from 6:35 a.m. on Nov. 7 near St. Cloud.
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 St. Cloud?
The Sauk Rapids area wildlife office, 1035 South Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids, (320) 223-7878.
Which town pages are close to St. Cloud?
Closest four: Foley, Silver Creek, Buckman and Buffalo.
Does a ground blind near St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud?
2 units with about 1,172 mapped acres lie within 10 miles.
Which WMA, WPA or state forest is closest to St. Cloud?
Among DNR and federal units, the nearest is Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area, its nearest boundary 3.0 miles out. The second unit is Gravel Pit 1672 Wildlife Management Area, its nearest boundary 9.9 miles out.
What dates can I carry a deer rifle near St. Cloud?
Nov 7–15 for firearms in DPA 223; rifles are legal for deer since the 2025 repeal of the shotgun zone.
Which DPA covers the public land by St. Cloud?
Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area lies in DPA 223, 3-deer limit for 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 St. Cloud hunters
Starting at dawn from St. Cloud? Check the Stearns 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); btrentler (CC BY 2.0).