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Town page · Cass County
Walker hunters’ map of public ground, MN
Hunting ground near Walker, the Cass County DPAs and their 2026-27 windows, deer harvest by permit area, bear quota areas and local businesses.
Photo: Nearby stand-in, Cass County: Red sunset reflected across Ten Mile Lake in Cass County. Ron Cogswell (CC BY 2.0)
Walker holds the county seat of Cass County; DNR manages the county from its Bemidji regional headquarters. Its population stood near 982 in the Census 2024 series. Mapped public acreage within 10 miles comes to about 63,806, spread over 18 listed units. Nearest of every listed unit 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.
Walker 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 110 first unit | outside county | Antlerless permit lottery (250) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 197 | 32% | Antlerless permit lottery (300) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 172 | 28% | Antlerless permit lottery (500) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 246 | 22% | Either-sex | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 259 | 6% | Antlerless permit lottery (2,000) | Nov 7–15 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 171 | 5% | Antlerless permit lottery (500) | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | – |
| DPA 604 | 4% | 3-deer limit | Nov 7–22 | – | Nov 28–Dec 13 | No | Mgmt zone |
Deer rules at Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, the nearest unit with a mapped deer area, come from DPA 110, a 100 series permit area. DPA 110 runs an antlerless lottery this year (250 permits); without a drawn permit, firearm and muzzleloader hunters there take a buck only. DPA 110 firearms: Nov 7–22. Cass 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.
Walker public land by miles
The boundary column runs straight from Walker 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 0.8 mi N | Ranger district | USFS | 110, 169 | 0.8 mi | 37 mi | 187,217 | – |
| Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 0.8 mi NE | Ranger district | USFS | 169, 171 | 0.8 mi | 42 mi | 297,666 | – |
| Walker Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest | 0.8 mi E | Ranger district | USFS | 171, 172 | 0.8 mi | 14 mi | 174,775 | – |
| Allen's Point AMA | 2.5 mi SE | AMA | DNR | 197 | 2.5 mi | 2.5 mi | 1 | General Use |
| Gould Lake AMA | 3.4 mi NE | AMA | DNR | 197 | 3.4 mi | 3.4 mi | 11 | General Use |
| Paul Bunyan State Forest | 3.6 mi W | State forest | DNR | 259, 684 | 3.6 mi | 9.8 mi | 60,840 | – |
| Paul Bunyan State Forest RGMA | 3.6 mi W | Grouse area | DNR | 259 | 3.6 mi | 11 mi | 2,526 | 2 trail mi |
| Bowstring State Forest | 5.6 mi NE | State forest | DNR | 169, 197 | 5.6 mi | 29 mi | 115,891 | – |
| Leech Lake AMA | 5.7 mi E | AMA | DNR | 197 | 5.7 mi | 5.6 mi | 54 | General Use |
| Tanglewood Lake AMA | 5.9 mi SE | AMA | DNR | 197 | 5.9 mi | 5.9 mi | 22 | General Use |
| Marshall Point AMA | 6.3 mi E | AMA | DNR | 197 | 6.3 mi | 6.2 mi | 21 | General Use |
| Howard Lake AMA | 6.8 mi SW | AMA | DNR | 259 | 6.8 mi | 6.7 mi | 20 | General Use |
| Foot Hills State Forest | 8.0 mi S | State forest | DNR | 246, 259 | 8.0 mi | 30 mi | 18,729 | – |
| Welsh Lake State Forest | 8.4 mi N | State forest | DNR | 197 | 8.4 mi | 11 mi | 6,289 | – |
| Ten Mile Lake AMA | 8.5 mi S | AMA | DNR | 259 | 8.5 mi | 8.5 mi | 73 | General Use |
| Miller's Bay AMA | 8.9 mi E | AMA | DNR | 197 | 8.9 mi | 8.8 mi | 9 | General Use |
No unit near Walker beats Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest for size: 297,666 acres. That ring mixes 5 state forests and grouse areas, 3 federal units and 10 AMAs, SNAs and parks.
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.
Walker area deer harvest by DPA
DNR reports deer harvest by permit area, so the chart shows the whole of DPA 110, which spills beyond Cass County. From 1,926 in 2017 the count moved to 1,210 in 2025. Adult males: 983 in 2025. That works out to 2.29 deer per square mile of land, ranking 53rd among DPAs.
| Year | Harvest | Adult bucks | Adult does | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Cass County seasons that reach Walker
Deer dates in Cass County follow its deer permit areas (197, 172, 246, 259, 171 and 604), 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 | Youth deer | All DPAs here | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (100 series) | DPAs 171, 172, 197, 604 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms (200 series) | DPAs 246, 259 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 28, 45, 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.
Bear and turkey units for Walker
| Area | Of county | Licenses | Latest take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear permit area 46 | 34% of county | 950 permits | 350 bears (2025) |
| Bear permit area 45 | 27% of county | 700 permits | 187 bears (2025) |
| Bear permit area 47 | 25% of county | 40 permits | 25 bears (2025) |
| Bear permit area 51 | 7% of county | 1,500 permits | 436 bears (2025) |
| Bear permit area 28 | 6% of county | 60 permits | 33 bears (2025) |
| Turkey area 508 | 68% of county | Periods A-F | 3,067 spring birds (2026) |
| Turkey area 507 | 32% of county | Periods A-F | 4,287 spring birds (2026) |
Area 46 is the main bear quota unit here, at 950 permits, and baiting may begin Aug. 14. For spring 2026, DNR counted 3,067 turkeys in permit area 508. The waterfowl zones split along state and federal highways rather than county lines, so use the DNR map near Walker. Check which side of I-94/US 10 you hunt for furbearer dates.
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.
Walker clock times for legal hunting
Legal light for deer at Walker 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 | 6:59 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–7:54 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–7:24 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:08 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:38 a.m.–7:40 p.m. | 6:38 a.m.–7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:56 a.m.–7:12 p.m. | 6:56 a.m.–6:42 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:08 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:38 a.m.–5:25 p.m. | 6:38 a.m.–4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:38 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 7:08 a.m.–5:03 p.m. | 7:08 a.m.–4:33 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:33 a.m.–5:07 p.m. | 7:33 a.m.–4:37 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:03 a.m.–8:32 p.m. | 6:03 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 Walker
Phone, map and website buttons show only where a source listed them; nobody here checked opening hours. Bemidji Downtown Meats (30 mi) is approved for the 2026 venison donation program, per the Minnesota Department of Agriculture list. Deer heads can be sampled at Walker Taxidermy, a DNR CWD partner.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer processors | 0 | 3 | Backus Locker | 19 mi S | Backus |
| Taxidermy shops | 2 | 9 | Walker Taxidermy | at town | Walker |
| Sporting goods | 5 | 18 | Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters | 0.8 mi N | Walker |
| Outfitters and preserves | 0 | 1 | Bader's Pheasant Run | 22 mi E | Federal Dam |
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.
Walker shooters: three nearest ranges
Three closest ranges to Walker, measured as the crow flies.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 28, 2026.
Area wildlife office for Walker hunters
Cass County belongs to the Brainerd wildlife work area (39%), with Park Rapids and Grand Rapids taking the remainder. 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 Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 25 mi to the southwest
Minnesota DNR Region 1 (Northwest) Headquarters, north 33 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.
Walker hunting questions
Which town pages are close to Walker?
Closest four: Akeley, Whipholt, Nevis and Backus.
Does a ground blind near Walker 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 Walker?
18 units with about 63,806 mapped acres lie within 10 miles.
Which WMA, WPA or state forest is closest to Walker?
Among DNR and federal units, the nearest is Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, its nearest boundary less than a mile out. The second unit is Deer River Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest, its nearest boundary less than a mile out.
What dates can I carry a deer rifle near Walker?
Nov 7–22 for firearms in DPA 110; rifles are legal for deer since the 2025 repeal of the shotgun zone.
Which DPA covers the public land by Walker?
Blackduck Ranger District, Chippewa National Forest lies in DPA 110, antlerless permit lottery for 2026.
Is bear hunting open around Walker?
Yes, Sept. 1 to Oct. 18 in quota area 46, which covers 34% of Cass County (950 permits for 2026).
Do deer near Walker need a CWD test?
No, testing is voluntary in DPA 110; DNR offers mail-in kits and partner sampling. Feeding deer is banned in Cass County.
How far is the nearest deer processor from Walker?
Backus Locker sits 19 mi from Walker, the shortest trip on our list.
How early can I shoot deer near Walker?
Deer may be shot from 6:38 a.m. on Nov. 7 near Walker.
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 Walker?
The Park Rapids area wildlife office, 603 – 1st Street West, Park Rapids, (218) 732-8452 ext. 235.
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 Walker hunters
Starting at dawn from Walker? Check the Cass 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); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0).