Anderson Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Anderson Lake Wildlife Management Area is 591 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lincoln County, near Ivanhoe, inside Deer Permit Area 286. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 588 deer in DPA 286 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasWalk-In AccessAnderson Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 591 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 286 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Ivanhoe |
| DNR area office | Marshall |
| Nearest towns | Ivanhoe (3 mi), Hendricks (6 mi) and Arco (7 mi) |
What is Anderson Lake WMA like?
This WMA is a wetland/prairie complex with some woody cover plantings. The Yellow Medicine River runs through the unit.
Duck Boat Access.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Anderson Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Anderson Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Anderson Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Anderson Lake WMA?
Anderson Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 286. The DNR registered 588 deer in DPA 286 in 2025, against 497 in 2024.
| DPA | Anderson Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 286 | 591 | 588 | 497 | 436 |
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 Anderson Lake WMA?
From Ivanhoe, go 3 miles W on SH 19 then 1 mile S on Co Rd 104.
Nearest towns: Ivanhoe (3 miles), Hendricks (6 miles), Arco (7 miles) and Lake Benton (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75 and MN 19. 3 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Anderson Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Ash Lake WMA: 300 acres, next to it
- Ivanhoe WMA: 382 acres, next to it
- Blue Wing WMA: 108 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Iron Horse WMA: 32 acres, 1 mile away
- Chain-O-Sloughs WMA: 281 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Legacy WMA: 165 acres, 1.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Anderson Lake WMA
Counting Anderson Lake WMA itself, 1,984 of the 26,288 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,978 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Anderson Lake WMA?
In Lincoln County, near Ivanhoe. The DNR's directions: From Ivanhoe, go 3 miles W on SH 19 then 1 mile S on Co Rd 104.
Which deer permit area is Anderson Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 286. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Anderson Lake WMA?
1,984 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Anderson Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Ash Lake WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Anderson 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.