| The United States has many forests, but all of | | | | "state forests" are home to animals like bear, |
| them cannot be counted as public hunting lands. | | | | deer, ruffled grouse and moose. The public is |
| Compared to many other states, Minnesota can | | | | given access for hunting in these areas. |
| provide a fair number of public hunting lands for | | | | (3) Some areas are under federal protection, yet |
| the eager hunter. Also, plenty of resources are | | | | open for limited public hunting. These "Wildlife |
| available to provide information regarding these | | | | Protection Areas" consist of a few uplands and |
| lands. As a matter of fact, Minnesota public | | | | wetlands. The Minnesota Public Recreation |
| hunting land maps are readily provided by the | | | | Information (PRIM) maps will lend Minnesota public |
| Minnesota DNR or Minnesota Department of | | | | hunting land maps to search for these locations. |
| Natural Resources. | | | | (4) The US Fish and Wildlife Service gives access |
| All the public hunting properties looked after by | | | | to Minnesota public hunting land maps as well as |
| the state of Minnesota can be pinpointed on the | | | | hunting laws related to its 8 "National Wildlife |
| Minnesota public hunting land maps. Hunting | | | | Refuges". Hunting is restricted to certain parts |
| regulations and rules slightly vary in each type of | | | | only, and the harvest allowed is limited. |
| land. | | | | (5) The 2 "National Forests" of the state are |
| According to the Minnesota public hunting land | | | | Superior and Chippewa. A hunter can get |
| maps, hunting areas in this state have been | | | | Minnesota public hunting land maps for directions |
| categorized as follows-- | | | | to these northern forests from the US National |
| (1) Wildlife Management Areas. | | | | Forest Service, since hunting is allowed on these |
| (2) State Forests. | | | | properties. |
| (3) Wildlife Protection Areas. | | | | (6) Large companies dealing with forest products |
| (4) National Wildlife Refuges. | | | | also own "Industrial Forest Lands". Hunters are |
| (5) National Forests. | | | | geneally allowed access to these properties during |
| (6) Industrial Forest Lands. | | | | the regular hunting season, unless a company |
| (7) County-owned Lands. | | | | wants to use its land for another purpose. |
| Each kind of land is described below-- | | | | (7) Landowners who have not been able to pay |
| (1) The Department of Natural Resources looks | | | | their taxes, lose their properties (generally |
| after uplands, woods and wetlands listed as | | | | forested areas) to the government. They are |
| "Wildlife Management Areas". Public hunting is | | | | then considered as "County-owned Lands". There |
| allowed on these locations during the normal | | | | are Minnesota public hunting land maps to provide |
| hunting season. | | | | directions as well as the list of hunting regulations |
| (2) There are 56 forests belonging to the state. | | | | to be followed. Each county has its own hunting |
| Covering an area of three million acres, these | | | | laws. Also, the acreage varies from place to place. |