Deer River is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 930 at the 2010 census.U.S. Highway 2 and Minnesota State Highways 6 and 46 are three of the main routes in the community.Deer River is home to the world's largest Wild Rice Festival. Possibly its greatest attribute is its proximity to several beautiful lakes, including Deer Lake, Bowstring Lake, Leech Lake, and Lake Winnibigoshish.