Deer Permit Area 246, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse
- Group
- Zone 200 — Central Minnesota
- Area
- 802 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 3,143
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 246 spans 784 square miles across southern Cass, Wadena, and Hubbard counties in north-central Minnesota, characterized by large blocks of red and jack pine, mixed deciduous and aspen forest, grasslands, and wetlands with minimal agricultural land. Public hunting access totals roughly 223 square miles, dominated by 119 sq mi of county-managed land and 63 sq mi of state forest, with a significant surrounding private land base. The area carries high hunter density (12 hunters/sq mi) and operates under a one-deer antlerless permit lottery designation, making it a draw-required unit for antlerless deer.
North-central Minnesota forest landscape — 62% woody cover (red pine, jack pine, mixed deciduous, aspen), 30% grassland and wetlands, 3% annual row crops, 3% developed. Rolling glacial terrain with numerous lakes and wetlands across southern Cass, Wadena, and Hubbard counties. Total area 784 sq mi.
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White-tailed deer are the primary target species; herd management goal is population stabilization after deep-snow winters in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Black bear are present throughout Cass and Hubbard counties. Ruffed grouse occupy the abundant aspen and mixed forest. Wild turkey are at the northern fringe of their range and not a reliable target in this DPA. Pheasant are not present — land cover is predominantly forest and wetland, not suitable pheasant habitat.
One-deer antlerless permit lottery (1500 permits, 2025 season). Archery Sept 13-Dec 31, statewide firearms Nov 8-16, muzzleloader Nov 29-Dec 14. 2024 total harvest 2,624 deer with 25% hunter success rate. Deer feeding and attractant ban in effect for Cass and Hubbard counties. CWD optional testing available.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 246— 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 246.
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.