Deer Stands, Shooting Lanes and Food Plots St. Louis County Tax Forfeited Lands

St. Louis County tax-forfeited lands are used extensively for hunting. Over the last several years we have noticed an increase in the size of deer stands and the clearing of land for extensive shooting lanes, trails and food plots. We do not want to discourage the use of county managed lands for hunting, but please be advised that some of the larger stands and land clearing activities constitute occupancy and/or timber trespass.

Deer Stands

Structures with walls and a roof are considered an unauthorized building or occupancy trespass. Deer stands with walls and a roof must be removed, or at a minimum be deconstructed to have the walls and roof removed from St. Louis County tax forfeited lands, from January 1 to September 1 of each year to avoid penalty and/or stand disposal.

Equal Access to Public Lands

St. Louis County tax forfeited lands are open to public hunting with equal access to all and cannot be unduly claimed by one individual or group. Deer stands left unattended on St. Louis County tax forfeited lands are available to the public on a first come basis and must not be locked if they are enclosed. This said, hunters are encouraged to recognize the time and effort it takes to scout a hunting location and place a deer stand. Traditional ethics and common courtesy respects the hunting experience and work of others and would yield the stand if the one placing the stand wishes to hunt there.

Shooting Lanes

Cutting of trees for shooting lanes/trails constitute a timber trespass and is subject to penalty. Severing trees of any size is unlawful. Moderate pruning of side branches is the maximum allowed for shooting lanes.

Food Plots

Creating and/or planting food plots is not allowed on St. Louis County tax forfeited lands and may be subject to penalty.

St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department

(218) 726-2606 Land Commissioners Office

(218) 742-9898 Virginia Office

(218) 625-3700 Pike Lake Office

Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center

Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center provides comprehensive educational programs that contribute to increased understanding and appreciation of natural resource management practices through the Boulder Lake Management Area (BLMA) which provides an interpretive window to showcase resource management and hydropower generation in a working forest, and illustrates the many social, biological, and economic benefits of that forest.

The area is cooperatively managed for natural resources by the BLMA "partners": Minnesota Power (a broadly diversified company headquartered in Duluth), the St. Louis County Land & Minerals Department, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).

In the early years of its management of tax forfeited lands, St. Louis County established a program whereby the County issued leases to individuals or groups of individuals for the purpose of placing small cabins (traditionally called “hunting shacks”) on tax forfeited land. Minnesota statutes authorize such leases for temporary use. There are no new leases being issued.

Leaseholder Information:

Recreation Cabin Construction and Remodeling Authorization Request Form

Shoreland Cabin Construction and Remodeling Authorization Request Form

Lease Violations and Penalties

St. Louis County has many motorized and non-motorized trails.

Motorized trails used by off-highway vehicles (OHVs) include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs), such as 4x4 trucks or Jeeps.

The same rules apply for riding on St. Louis County Administered Lands as for State DNR Administered Lands.  Make sure you have read and understand the State Forest Riding Rules. For more information visit the Recreation portion of the MN DNR website.