Anchor Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Anchor Lake Wildlife Management Area is 216 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Eveleth, inside Deer Permit Area 178. 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 1,521 deer in DPA 178 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 landAnchor Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 216 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 178 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Eveleth |
| DNR area office | Tower |
| Nearest towns | Iron Junction (9 mi), Leonidas (11 mi) and Eveleth (11 mi) |
What is Anchor Lake WMA like?
This WMA is mixed northern forest with a waterfowl lake.
Waterfowl management is emphasized on this unit. Waterfowl opportunities exist on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Anchor Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Anchor Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Anchor Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Anchor Lake WMA?
Anchor Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 in 2025, against 1,392 in 2024.
| DPA | Anchor Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 178 | 216 | 1,521 | 1,392 | 1,272 |
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 Anchor Lake WMA?
From Eveleth, go 9.5 miles south of Eveleth on Hwy 53.
Nearest towns: Iron Junction (9 miles), Leonidas (11 miles), Eveleth (11 miles) and Gilbert (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 53.
What other public land is near Anchor Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Zim WMA: 910 acres, 7.3 miles away
- Fermoy WMA: 503 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Sax WMA: 944 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Anchor Lake WMA
Counting Anchor Lake WMA itself, 5,962 of the 23,505 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (25.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 5,745 |
| State wildlife management areas | 217 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Anchor Lake WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Eveleth. The DNR's directions: From Eveleth, go 9.5 miles south of Eveleth on Hwy 53.
Which deer permit area is Anchor Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 178. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Anchor Lake WMA?
5,962 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Anchor Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Zim WMA (7.3 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Anchor Lake 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.