Deer Permit Area 176, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse
- Group
- Zone 100 — Northern Minnesota
- Area
- 957 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 605
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 176 spans approximately 957 square miles across central Itasca and central St. Louis counties in northern Minnesota, with about 39% public land including state forest, county forest, and WMA acreage. The area supports a recovering whitetail deer herd in classic boreal forest and lake country, and has been managed as bucks-only in recent seasons to allow population rebound after a series of harsh winters and predation pressure from wolves and black bears.
Classic northern Minnesota boreal forest and lake country covering central Itasca and central St. Louis counties. Terrain is relatively flat to gently rolling with dense mixed forest of aspen, birch, spruce, and pine interspersed with wetlands, bogs, and numerous lakes. Dense understory and extensive lowland areas create challenging but productive deer habitat typical of Zone 100 northern forest.
low
Whitetail deer is the primary big game species; the area has been designated bucks-only for firearms season in 2024 and likely 2025 as the DNR works to rebuild the northern herd diminished by deep-snow winters and wolf/bear predation. Archery season runs approximately Sept 16 - Dec 31; firearms season approximately Nov 4 - Nov 19; muzzleloader approximately Nov 25 - Dec 10. Black bear are present and huntable via the state bear permit lottery in the northern Minnesota zone. Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are abundant throughout the boreal forest and offer excellent upland hunting Sept through early January. Wild turkey are not established in this far-northern zone.
Large contiguous blocks of publicly accessible boreal forest with low hunting pressure due to remote terrain and sparse road network. The recovering deer herd means hunters who put in boot miles can find undisturbed bucks. Black bear and ruffed grouse provide quality multi-species hunting opportunities in the same landscape. Bucks-only firearm season (when in effect) keeps overall pressure light compared to antlerless-permit zones to the south.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 176— 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 176.
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.