Deer Permit Area 153, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse
- Group
- Zone 100 — Northern Minnesota
- Area
- 361 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 1,148
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 153 is a northern Minnesota deer permit area in Zone 100, created when former DPA 183 was split to better reflect population differences across the landscape. This big-woods unit sits within the boreal and mixed conifer-hardwood forests of northeastern Minnesota, with access to Superior National Forest lands and numerous state forest tracts. Antlerless deer harvest is managed under a conservative lottery system with a one-deer limit, reflecting ongoing population recovery from severe back-to-back winters in 2021-2023.
Boreal and mixed conifer-hardwood forest typical of northeastern Minnesota Zone 100, characterized by dense stands of aspen, birch, spruce, and fir interspersed with swamps, bogs, beaver ponds, and glacial lakes. Topography is gently rolling to moderately rugged with abundant wetland complexes that concentrate deer movement corridors.
low
Deer season runs under Zone 100 firearms dates (typically mid-November). Antlerless harvest is lottery-only with a one-deer limit; DPA 153 carries a conservative designation due to population recovery needs following severe 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 winters. Black bear hunting available via separate draw permit throughout northeastern MN bear zone. Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are present with a combined daily limit season running September through early January. Wild turkey and elk are not established in this northern forest zone.
Remote big-woods deer hunting in Zone 100 with vast Superior National Forest public land. Low hunting pressure relative to southern agricultural zones. Strong black bear population and excellent ruffed grouse hunting as bonus species. Lottery antlerless permit means buck-only hunting for most without drawn tags, keeping harvest conservative and deer populations rebuilding.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 153— 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 153.
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.