Avid hunters will find plenty of opportunities to sharpen their skills in our Chippewa National Forest. Whether you seek big game, small game, or waterfowl, there is a wide variety of wildlife available for your hunting pleasure. 

We have a tremendous abundance of whitetail deer in the area.  Hunting groups nearly always fill out their tags.  Whitetail Archery season begins in mid-September and firearms season begins in early November for your Minnesota deer hunting experience.

One of our favorite sports is hunting Ruffed Grouse.   These birds are plentiful and exciting to hunt.   The season for grouse and partridge begins in mid-September, and there is nothing like walking thru the forest on a beautiful fall day and hearing the drumming of grouse echo through the trees in the Northwoods.

For the "big game" hunter, bear hunting in Minnesota offers a thrill like no other. Minnesota Bear hunting season opens at the beginning of September.  According to the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota bear population is about 30,000 and has been estimated to be increasing at a rate of 6 to 7 percent each year.  The license application deadline was May 3. Lakewood Lodge is in a quota area that allows one bear taken per hunter. Bear hunters staying at Lakewood Lodge have had great success over the years and we invite you to try your luck here this fall.  Ask us about guided hunting trips.  For more information about Bear Hunting, click here.

The Sand Lake/Bowstring Chain of Lakes, more specifically the Bowstring River, Birds Eye Lake , Portage Lake and Rice Lake, all of which are attached to Sand Lake, make a perfect stopping point for the many migratory birds that come through each year enroute the warmer winter climates. Canadian Geese and a wide variety of ducks are popular with hunters here. Waterfowl season begins the end of September.  See the calendar below for more information.

The Northwoods offers a tremendous supply of wildlife for sportsmen of all ages.  Take advantage of our special off-peak rates and reserve your next hunting vacation with us. 

The MN Fishing Pros also offer professionally guided hunts for Whitetail Deer, Ruffed Grouse and Waterfowl. For your professionally guided bear hunts we recommend Bear River Guide Service at 218-246-2226 or Claw Ridge Bear Hunting at 218-328-5156.

Completion of a Hunter Education/Firearms Safety course is a must to purchase a hunting license for anyone born on or after Dec. 31, 1979. Click here for the full story.

Hunting Resources

Minnesota DNR Region II, Northeast Regional Wildlife Headquarters -- 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 Phone: 218-327-4413

• Resident Hunting License Information
• Non-Resident Hunting License Information
• 2005 Minnesota Hunting Regulations (new regulations will be posted when they become available)
• 2005 Deer Zone & Permit Area Map