Hunting and Fishing at Lake of the Woods is incredible, and the seasons are in full swing right now!! Plan to take your trip to take part in all that the season offers.

First off…Grouse hunting season is on! We offer 3 different type of grouse in the area, the Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, and Sharp-tailed Grouse known as Sharpies. Ruffed Grouse and Spruce grouse roam the same type of area habitat while the Sharpies mainly stay in agricultural lands.

Getting off the trail is key to getting more flushes in this area. Not many hunters will go break brush so many of the birds go unseen and unflushed. Ruffed and Spruce Grouse season runs from September 16^th through January 1, 2024. Sharp tailed grouse season runs from September 16^th to November 30^th.

There is an area just to the west of Baudette, Beltrami Island State Forest has thousands and  thousands of acres of land, dirt roads, ATV trails and walking trails which is very good grouse habitat. There is so much habitat and such a variety of habitat that grouse have everything they want and need to flourish.

Waterfowl season is next week. North ducks coots, mergansers season starts September 23 and runs until November 30^th.  Lake of the Woods is heavily visited and hunted as it is a prime destination. Hunters used the multiple  bays and fields in the area as many residential birds flocked over-head. Goose season runs from September 23- December 22. They are already flying in their formations and landing in our fields to feed for their trek south.

Minnesota regulations require a seasonal license as well as Duck and Goose Stamps to legally hunt. Lake of the Woods is located in the North Zone. Lake of the Woods has the perfect locations to invite this waterfowl to land and get ready for their retreat south. The weather has been perfect for duck and goose hunters with fall colors spurring on the action.

Points of interest: on the Rainy River is 4 Mile Bay, then you head west on the South Shore towards Bostic Bay, Zippel Bay, and Swift Ditch, which all offer great cover, the rest is located north to the NW Angle to hunt points off the main land, as well as many bays and points of islands. Geese hunters sit in blinds located in fields or swamp marshes.

Hunters that were new to the area used our resorts as their personal guided outfitters to find that perfect niche. That’s right, resorts do not just cater to the angler. They are your one stop shop for all your outdoors-man (and women) wants and needs. Many resorts offer cast and blast opportunities. Check out our hot deals page here as deals pop up during the fall.

Hunting and fishing also includes the White-tail Deer Season. Archery hunting started September 16^th and runs through December 31^st. Firearm season runs from November 4^th through 19^th for most of the north country. If you are a muzzle-loader hunter, your season runs from November 25- December 10^th.

Something you might not have thought of is trapping beaver. Yes, there is a season for that also and those dates are October 28^th-May 15, 2024. Hwy 72 which leads you to the northland is very wooded and has deep ditches on each side. The beaver population is already busy falling trees to build their dams for the winter. Hunting these animals is almost a lost art but also serves the area in keeping their population down.

As you can see, hunting and fishing in this area proves to be a sportsman’s paradise. Fall fishing has already started drawing fish from the deeper waters of Lake of the Woods into shallower areas and also into the bays and especially into the Rainy River.

Trophy fish are a usual sight during these fall months. So…the ability to go smack a limit of walleyes and hunt for grouse, geese, or ducks in the same day is enough to get sportsman’s and sportswomen’s blood pumping for fall.

Remember during this hunting and fishing season that color is very important. Be sure to get out your orange and/or red apparel and practice all of the hunting safety that you can. Safety is always the most important element when hunting and fishing.

Also, be sure to check out the Minnesota Department of Resources site for all rules and regulations, limits and licensing necessary for a successful experience.

For more information on the area see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Lodging: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

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