Ah-gwah-ching Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Ah-gwah-ching Wildlife Management Area is 228 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Cass County, near Whipholt, inside Deer Permit Area 197. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,098 deer in DPA 197 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's wildlife management area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Harvest Reports, 2021 to 2025.
State wildlife management areasState forest and other DNR landNational forestAh-gwah-ching WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 228 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Cass County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 197 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Whipholt |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Whipholt (2 mi), Longville (6 mi) and Hackensack (11 mi) |
What can you hunt on Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Ah-gwah-ching WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
Ah-gwah-ching WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 197. The DNR registered 1,098 deer in DPA 197 in 2025, against 831 in 2024.
| DPA | Ah-gwah-ching WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 197 | 228 | 1,098 | 831 | 871 |
Harvest for the whole deer permit area, not the WMA alone: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
How do you get to Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
From Whipholt, go 2 miles east on State Highway 200.
Nearest towns: Whipholt (2 miles), Longville (6 miles), Hackensack (11 miles) and Walker (12 miles).
What other public land is near Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- George Cook WMA: 151 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Woman Lake WMA: 108 acres, 7.6 miles away
- Mule Lake WMA: 351 acres, 8.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ah-gwah-ching WMA
Counting Ah-gwah-ching WMA itself, 8,232 of the 23,601 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (34.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 6,812 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,109 |
| State wildlife management areas | 311 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
In Cass County, near Whipholt. The DNR's directions: From Whipholt, go 2 miles east on State Highway 200.
Which deer permit area is Ah-gwah-ching WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 197. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Ah-gwah-ching WMA?
8,232 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ah-gwah-ching WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest George Cook WMA (5.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Ah-gwah-ching WMA; Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, publicly accessible.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.