Deer Permit Area 177, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse
- Group
- Zone 100 — Northern Minnesota
- Area
- 553 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 518
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 177 is a remote northeastern Minnesota deer permit area of approximately 354,000 acres situated in the boreal forest near the Ely region, with roughly half the land base in public ownership including Superior National Forest and state forests. The unit is dominated by woody wetlands, spruce-fir and birch-aspen forest interspersed with lakes and streams, producing good habitat for deer, black bear, and ruffed grouse. Hunters should note that antlerless deer tags are lottery-only, and the wilderness character of this unit means lower hunting pressure than most Minnesota DPAs.
Boreal forest landscape of northeastern Minnesota featuring spruce-fir, birch-aspen, and tamarack-dominated woody wetlands interspersed with numerous lakes, streams, and bogs. Elevation is relatively flat to gently rolling. Proximity to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) gives the unit a remote wilderness character with limited road access in many areas.
low
Deer: antlerless tags are lottery (draw required); buck tags are hunter-choice OTC. Recent deer harvest has trended down — 647 in 2022, 562 in 2023, approximately 440 in 2025 — reflecting population adjustments typical of northern forest zones. Black bear are present and huntable via MN DNR quota permit area draw. Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are OTC and provide excellent upland hunting in the boreal forest understory. No elk or wild turkey present in this northeastern boreal zone.
Remote wilderness hunting experience near the Boundary Waters and Superior National Forest. Roughly half of the 354,000-acre unit is public land. Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse are excellent bonus species in the boreal habitat. Black bear hunting available via lottery quota permit. Low hunting pressure in roadless and canoe-access portions makes this unit appealing for hunters seeking solitude.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 177— 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 177.
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.