Deer Permit Area 172, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse
- Group
- Zone 100 — Northern Minnesota
- Area
- 772 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 1,687
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, Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedDPA 172 spans approximately 777 square miles of north-central Minnesota across far northern Crow Wing and central-northeastern Cass counties, featuring rolling forested terrain interspersed with lakes and wetlands. About 30% of the unit is public land, offering solid access for deer hunters, and the area falls under mandatory CWD testing during firearm season. Hunters here pursue a one-deer limit with a modest antlerless permit lottery, and the mixed aspen-hardwood forests also support excellent ruffed grouse, black bear, and wild turkey opportunities.
Rolling hills with abundant lakes, wetlands, and mixed boreal-transitional forest dominated by aspen, birch, jack pine, and lowland hardwoods. Typical north-central Minnesota lake country with numerous creek drainages and boggy lowlands interspersed among upland ridges.
moderate
Deer: one-deer base limit, antlerless by lottery only (~250 permits issued), Hunter Choice designation, mandatory CWD check during firearm season. Bear: black bear present; permits available by draw through the MN DNR bear lottery for this north-central zone. Turkey: wild turkey present in the area; spring and fall seasons available by license/permit. Grouse: ruffed grouse and woodcock are abundant in the aspen-dominated forests; no permit required, season runs Sept through November.
One-deer limit unit with a small antlerless permit lottery (approximately 250 permits). Mandatory CWD testing applies during firearm season. The unit sits in classic Minnesota lake-country deer habitat with a mix of public and private land. Archery runs Sept 16 - Dec 31, firearms Nov 4 - Nov 19, and muzzleloader Nov 25 - Dec 10. Strong ruffed grouse and black bear hunting on the same public ground makes this a versatile multi-species destination.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 172— 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 172.
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.