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Hunting Base Camp: Bird Dogs Welcome!

Writer: Teddy the Bear
Teddy the Bear
Oct 13
2 min read

There's a reason deer camp is a Minnesota tradition. It's the early mornings, the stories that get better every year, and a warm place to land when the day's done. If you're planning a hunt in Otter Tail County this fall, Weslake Resort makes a comfortable home base for you and your crew.

Why Hunters Stay Here

Room for the whole group. Our larger cabins are built for crowds. Cabin 9 has five bedrooms and eight beds, and Cabins 10 and 11 have four bedrooms and twelve beds, so a hunting party can stay under one roof instead of scattering across motel rooms.

A real kitchen. Every cabin has a full kitchen, so you can start the coffee before dawn, pack a lunch, and cook a proper dinner at night. Every cabin also has a BBQ grill for when the day's success calls for a celebration.

A warm place to come back to. Cabins 10 and 11 have a gas fireplace, which is hard to beat when the temperature drops and the boots come off.

Bring the dog. Dogs are welcome at Weslake for a per-stay pet fee, so your hunting partner can come along. Details are on our resort policy page.

Quiet. We sit on a private lake in the hills near Underwood, away from highway noise and in-town lights. After a long day in the field, the sleep is good.

The Fall Hunting Calendar

Here are the main dates to plan around. Seasons and zones vary, so confirm your specifics with the Minnesota DNR before you go.

  • Archery deer: September 19 through December 31

  • Youth and early antlerless deer: October 15–18

  • Fall turkey: October 3 through November 1

  • Pheasant: open since October 10

  • Firearms deer opener: Saturday, November 7. Otter Tail County is generally in the 200 series, which runs November 7–15 (confirm your deer permit area on the DNR site).

  • Muzzleloader deer: November 28 through December 13

One change worth knowing about: the old shotgun-only zone was repealed for 2026, which means rifles are legal in more places than before. Counties can still pass their own restrictions, so check Otter Tail County's current rules before opening morning.

Planning Your Trip

  • Book early for opening weekend. The firearms deer opener is the busiest hunting weekend of the year, and groups tend to return to the same cabin every season. We also run at reduced capacity later in the season, with fewer cabins available, so reach out early to confirm your dates.

  • Buy your licenses ahead of time. Deer licenses are on sale now through the DNR.

  • Scout public land. The area has plenty of public hunting ground, including Wildlife Management Areas. The DNR's online maps show boundaries and access points.

  • Pack for variable weather. Minnesota in November can swing from mild to snowy in the same week, so bring layers.

Book Your Camp

Whether it's a long-standing deer camp tradition or your first hunt in Otter Tail County, we'd love to host you. Check availability and rates, or give us a call and we'll help you find the right cabin for your group.

Season dates are accurate as of publication. Always confirm current regulations on the Minnesota DNR deer hunting page before your trip.

 
 
 

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