Deer Permit Area 274, Minnesota
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Pheasant
- Group
- Zone 200 — Central Minnesota
- Area
- 381 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 514
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. Pheasant also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedDPA 274 encompasses most of Big Stone County with a small portion of Traverse County near Brown's Valley in west-central Minnesota. The area is dominated by agricultural row crops (68%) with shallow lakes and grasslands, with the best deer habitat concentrated in hardwood ravines and prairie knobs along the shores of Big Stone Lake. Public hunting access is limited at roughly 16 sq. mi. out of 354 total, and deer numbers are at or slightly above goal — antlerless harvest is controlled through a lottery (350 permits in 2025).
Predominantly flat to gently rolling agricultural land (68% annual row crops) with shallow lakes (9% open water), grasslands and wetlands (17%), and minimal woody cover (1%). Best deer habitat is a band of hardwood ravines and prairie knobs along the shores of Big Stone Lake. Total non-water land area is 354 sq. mi.
low
Deer are the primary big game species; 2024 harvest was 453 total (333 adult bucks, 90 adult does). Pheasant are present in the grassland and wetland fringe habitat. The area is not known for turkey, bear, moose, or grouse given its heavily agricultural, open character in far west-central MN.
Big Stone Lake shoreline hardwood ravines hold the highest deer concentrations in the unit. 2024 total harvest was 453 deer with a 35% hunter success rate. Antlerless permits increased to 350 in 2025 to manage a herd at or slightly above population goal. USFWS WPAs provide the best public land opportunity alongside state WMAs.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Deer Permit Area 274— 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 274.
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.