Minnesota guide · last checked Oct 29, 2026
Public hunting land near Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota
Named public land units around the Twin Cities from our PAD-US directory—state WMAs, national wildlife refuges and state forests—with links to the Minnesota DNR.
Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Units below come from our PAD-US directory for Minnesota. PAD-US does not prove hunting is open. Confirm seasons, permits and access with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the land manager before you hunt near Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota.
What “near Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota” means here
The metro has limited hunting inside city limits. Hunters commonly use Carlos Avery WMA, Minnesota Valley NWR (where hunting is offered), Sherburne NWR and state forests farther out. Cards below are already in our Minnesota directory.
Forests & grasslands
Forest Service and state forest units in our shortlist. Hunting rules come from the land manager plus a Minnesota hunting license—not from PAD-US alone.
- State forest
Sand Dunes State Forest
5,804 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sherburne County
Open access - State forest
Rum River State Forest
21,133 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mille Lacs County, Kanabec County + 1 more
Open access - State forest
Chengwatana State Forest
17,056 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pine County, Chisago County
Open access
Overview: U.S. Forest Service: hunting.
Wildlife management areas & game lands
State-managed units. Many need check-in, drawings or special permits—confirm on the agency page for each area.
- State wildlife / game area
Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management Area
24,105 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Anoka County, Chisago County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and State Wildlife Management Area
2,841 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Dakota County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Vermillion River State Wildlife Management Area
1,080 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Dakota County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Lamprey Pass State Wildlife Management Area
1,290 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Anoka County, Washington County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Carver Highlands Wildlife Management Area
4,438 acres
State: department of natural resources · Carver County, Hennepin County
Open access
National wildlife refuges
Refuge hunting, when offered, is often limited by season, unit or permit. Read the refuge page before you go.
- National Wildlife Refuge
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
10,371 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Scott County, Carver County + 2 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
30,677 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Sherburne County
Restricted access
How to use this guide with our directory
- Pick a named area below and open its page for acreage, counties, the PAD-US access tag, and nearby units.
- Follow the managing-agency link on that page (state wildlife agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM, or Corps of Engineers).
- Buy the required state hunting license and any stamps/permits that agency lists for the species and land type.
- Confirm deer season dates for Minnesota if you are hunting deer in a verified state we cover.
- Recheck closures the week you go—fire restrictions, refuge hunt lotteries and WMA check-in rules change.
Agency hunting hub: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Federal overviews: USFS hunting · FWS refuge hunting · Corps Lakes.
Common questions
Does Carlos Avery allow hunting right now?
Carlos Avery is a major WMA in our directory, but units, seasons and vehicle rules are set by the Minnesota DNR. Read the current DNR page for the area before you go.
Do refuges near the Twin Cities allow hunting?
Some do, often with limited seasons or permits. Check each FWS refuge page; our directory only shows location and size.
Deer seasons?
See Minnesota deer season on this site (sourced from the DNR) and confirm on the DNR page.
Related guides
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.