Deer Permit Area 131, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse
- Group
- Zone 100 — Northern Minnesota
- Area
- 928 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 45
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedDPA 131 is a remote, heavily forested permit area in northeastern Minnesota's Superior Uplands–Arrowhead region, spanning portions of Cook and Lake counties within and adjacent to the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The herd has experienced significant pressure from wolf predation and harsh winters, resulting in a bucks-only season since 2023; the 2024 harvest of 45 deer represented a 136% rebound from the prior year's 19. Hunters willing to push into deep boreal forest and wilderness canoe-access terrain will find genuine solitude and excellent secondary opportunities for black bear, ruffed grouse, and spruce grouse.
Dense boreal forest of spruce, fir, birch, and aspen across the Superior Uplands of Cook and Lake counties in northeastern Minnesota. Rolling to rugged terrain with numerous lakes, bogs, rivers, and wetlands. Portions of the unit fall within or immediately adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, making some areas accessible only by canoe or foot travel.
low
Deer: Zone 100, DPA 131. Bucks-only since 2023 due to population decline from wolf predation and severe winters. No antlerless lottery permits issued. Any-legal-weapon archery season followed by a firearm season in November; muzzleloader season follows. OTC license required — no deer draw. 2024 harvest: 45 deer. Bear: Lottery (quota zone) draw required; northeastern MN bear zone holds dense populations of 250–300 lb bears; baiting and hound hunting common. Grouse: Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are open statewide September through early January with a combined daily bag limit of 5; no permit required. Abundant habitat throughout the unit. Turkey and Elk: Not present in this unit.
True wilderness deer hunting in the Boundary Waters and Superior National Forest corridor. Bucks-only designation keeps harvest conservative and maintains quality antlered deer. Secondary hunting for black bear (lottery draw required separately) is strong in this zone, which holds some of the highest bear densities in the state. Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are abundant in the aspen-spruce edge habitat and provide excellent walk-in hunting with no permit required. Virtually zero hunting pressure in the canoe-access interior.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 131— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about Deer Permit Area 131.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: MN DNR official Deer Permit Areas. Community info last updated 23d ago.