If you’ve spent time chasing whitetails across Minnesota, you’ve probably noticed the same thing we have — it’s getting harder to find places to hunt.

What used to be open fields and friendly fence lines are now dotted with “No Trespassing” signs, new developments, or sold parcels that used to welcome hunters. Access is slowly disappearing. And once it’s gone, it’s rarely coming back.

That’s why the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association has made it our mission for more than 40 years to protect, improve, and expand access for hunters across the state. Because without places to hunt, our entire outdoor tradition starts to fade.

The Reality: Access Is Shrinking

Across Minnesota, more and more hunters are feeling the squeeze. A 2020 report by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and onX Maps found that about 248,000 acres of public land in Minnesota are landlocked — surrounded by private property with no permanent legal access via public road or trail.

That means hundreds of thousands of acres that should belong to everyone are effectively off-limits. Add in the steady pace of land sales, new development, and rising posting across the countryside, and the challenge becomes clear: every year, it gets a little harder for everyday Minnesotans to find a place to hunt.

What MDHA Is Doing About It

Since 1980, MDHA and its 60 local chapters have helped protect or open more than 100,000 acres of habitat and hunting ground across Minnesota.

We work closely with the Minnesota DNR, counties, and partner groups like Pheasants Forever, NWTF, and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to turn local chapter projects into permanent access — from new Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and trailheads to restored habitat corridors that benefit both deer and hunters.

A recent success story: MDHA contributed $50,000 toward the new Lessard-Anderson WMA near International Falls, with another $50,000 pledged for future habitat work. That project permanently protected 280 acres and 1.6 miles of Rainy River shoreline — land that’s now open for everyone to hunt, fish, and enjoy.

These aren’t just numbers. They’re proof that when hunters come together, we can keep the land open for everyone.

Access = Conservation

We say it often because it’s true: Access is conservation.

Without hunters in the woods, there’s no conservation funding — and no one left to fight for the land. In Minnesota alone, hunters contribute over $90 million each year to wildlife and habitat through licenses and excise taxes. That money keeps our WMAs healthy, funds research, and supports programs like Forkhorn Camps that help get kids outdoors.

But it all depends on access. Without places to hunt, participation drops — and when participation drops, so does funding and advocacy.

That’s why MDHA chapters invest directly in land acquisitions, easements, parking areas, and habitat restoration projects. Through programs like Hides for Habitat, Chapter Banquets, Sweepstakes, Raffles and Outdoor Heritage Fund grants, our members are putting conservation dollars to work where it matters most — on the ground, in Minnesota.

The Future of Hunting Starts with Access

The push toward privatization won’t stop on its own. It takes people who care enough to stand up for public land and outdoor opportunity.

That’s what MDHA does — every day, across every corner of Minnesota. We’re working so that future generations have a place to hang their deer stand, tell stories at deer camp, and carry on the traditions that define who we are.

Because here in Minnesota, public land isn’t just property — it’s our legacy.

Join the Effort

When you join MDHA, you’re doing more than becoming a member — you’re helping protect the future of hunting in Minnesota.

🦌 Join, donate, or get involved today at mndeerhunters.com/join

Together, we can keep those gates open and make sure there’s always room in the woods for everyone.