Deer Permit Area 265, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer
- Group
- Zone 200 — Central Minnesota
- Area
- 495 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 1,177
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedDPA 265 covers portions of southern Polk and central Norman counties in northwestern Minnesota, a heavily agricultural landscape of row crops, prairie, riparian hardwoods, and wetland corridors. Deer populations took hits from back-to-back hard winters in 2022-2023 but are rebounding strongly under a three-deer limit with no antlerless draw required. Public land access is limited to roughly 18 square miles (about 4% of the area), so most hunting occurs on private agricultural land.
Predominantly flat to gently rolling agricultural land with 71% annual row crops, 14% grassland and wetlands, and 10% woody cover. Best deer habitat concentrated along riparian corridors, creek bottoms, and wetland edges. Mix of hardwood woodlots, prairie potholes, and swamps interspersed through a largely farmed landscape in southern Polk and central Norman counties.
moderate
White-tailed deer are the primary managed species. The agricultural row-crop landscape also supports pheasant, though pheasant populations in northwestern Minnesota are generally lower than in the southwest part of the state. Waterfowl opportunities exist around wetland complexes. No bear or moose management in this area.
Three-deer limit with no antlerless draw required (OTC antlerless tags). Deer population is rebounding after hard winters of 2022 and 2023 knocked it below goal; easy winters in 2024 and 2025 have it tracking back to 2019 goal levels. Buck harvest jumped 32% in 2024. Hunter success rate of 44% with approximately 4 hunters per square mile. CWD deer feeding and attractant ban is in effect for all of Norman and Polk Counties. Optional CWD testing available.
Questions, tips & discussion
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Boundaries: MN DNR official Deer Permit Areas. Community info last updated 23d ago.