Snow_Dog wrote on Mar 1^st, 2010 at 1:32am:

Technically, reservations are never required, but they are a darn good idea.  All you really need is an available permit if you go during the quota period from mid-May until late September.

I wonder what the likelyhood would be of finding a permit available at a particular entry on any given date, without a reservation? I have actually walked in and picked up a permit at Prairie Portage in early September without a reservation.  I was prepared to camp in the BWCAW adjacent for a day or two, if it took that before there was an opening.
It seems that Cache Bay and Prairie Portage and LaCroix are less busy than the Canadian permit stations overall.  Anyone have any statistics?