Deer Permit Area 278, Minnesota

Heavily agricultural river-corridor unit along the Minnesota River; 55% annual row crops, 30% grassland and wetlands, 3% woody cover, 7% open water. Flat to gently rolling prairie landscape in far west-central Minnesota covering approximately 402 square miles across Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, and Swift Counties.

Approximately 20% public land. Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge and Lac qui Parle WMA are the flagship public hunting areas. Additional state wildlife management areas, miscellaneous state lands, and a small Walk-In Access program (0.2 sq mi) round out public access. Private agricultural land dominates the remainder.

low

White-tailed deer are the primary big game species. Ring-necked pheasants are present in agricultural and grassland habitats throughout the unit. No bear, moose, turkey, or grouse populations of note in this prairie-agricultural corridor.

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge and Lac qui Parle WMA provide excellent public hunting in a largely private agricultural landscape. The Minnesota River wetland corridor creates quality deer habitat interspersed among cropfields. Antlerless tags (300) are lottery-only; buck tags are OTC. Hunter density is low at approximately 4 hunters per square mile with a 26% success rate in 2024.