Minnesota · Public Land · 2026 Edition
Minnesota Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 25,000 to 75,193 acres. A hunting license covers you on Minnesota WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area | Anoka, Chisago | 25,000 | Deer, Waterfowl, Small game |
| Roseau River Wildlife Management Area | Roseau | 75,193 | Waterfowl, Deer |
Carlos Avery, just 30 miles north of the Twin Cities, packs 23 actively managed waterfowl pools across more than 11,700 acres into a wetland-two-thirds property that's become a bowhunter favorite for its deer numbers — accessible enough that pressure is real, remote enough that it still delivers. Roseau River, up near the Canadian border, is a different scale entirely: 75,193 acres built around a 27-mile dike system, remote enough to see minimal outside pressure, with aspen and willow thickets along the river holding deer that feed the surrounding farmland. This list is a starting point, not Minnesota DNR's full inventory of more than 1,400 wildlife management areas statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
A standard Minnesota hunting license covers WMA access statewide — no separate WMA permit. Some activities beyond ordinary hunting (coon hunting, trapping, predator calling, research) need their own special use permit from the area office, on top of the license.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from Minnesota DNR, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.