Altona Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Altona Wildlife Management Area is 636 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Pipestone and Lincoln counties, near Lake Benton, inside Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and small game for it. Hunters registered 472 deer in DPA 294 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 areasWalk-In AccessAltona WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 636 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Pipestone County and Lincoln County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 294 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lake Benton |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Lake Benton (4 mi), Holland (9 mi) and Tyler (10 mi) |
What is Altona WMA like?
This WMA is composed of good quality till-hill and wet prairie, with food plots and woody cover plantings.
The management goals for this unit are to maintain and improve the quality of the prairie areas and maintain food and winter cover plots for wintering deer and pheasants. Good viewing of the grassland areas is available from the hills on the east side of the unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Altona WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and small game for Altona WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Altona WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Altona WMA?
Altona WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR registered 472 deer in DPA 294 in 2025, against 462 in 2024.
| DPA | Altona WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 294 | 636 | 472 | 462 | 461 |
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 Altona WMA?
From Lake Benton, go 4 miles south on Hwy 75 and 1/2 mile west on county gravel road.
Nearest towns: Lake Benton (4 miles), Holland (9 miles), Tyler (10 miles) and Ruthton (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75 and US 14. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Altona WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hole-In-Mountain WMA: 638 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Winter WMA: 975 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Schindel WMA: 156 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Coteau Pit WMA: 81 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Troy WMA: 55 acres, 5 miles away
- Sioux Lookout WMA: 83 acres, 5.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Altona WMA
Counting Altona WMA itself, 1,595 of the 28,186 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,595 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Altona WMA?
In Pipestone and Lincoln counties, near Lake Benton. The DNR's directions: From Lake Benton, go 4 miles south on Hwy 75 and 1/2 mile west on county gravel road.
Which deer permit area is Altona WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 294. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Altona WMA?
1,595 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Altona WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hole-In-Mountain WMA (0.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Altona 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.