Atlanta Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Atlanta Wildlife Management Area is 182 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Becker County, near Hitterdal, inside Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 686 deer in DPA 666 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 areasAtlanta WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 182 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Becker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Hitterdal |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Hitterdal (4 mi), Ulen (7 mi) and Lake Park (7 mi) |
What is Atlanta WMA like?
This unit contains a complex of scattered marshes with interconnecting flowages and permanent open water maintained by a water control structure.
The management strategy for this WMA is to manipulate water levels to enhance waterfowl habitat and conduct prescribed burns to maintain the prairie. This WMA is open to hunting, trapping, and compatible wildlife uses.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Atlanta WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese and small game for Atlanta WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Atlanta WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Atlanta WMA?
Atlanta WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Atlanta WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 182 | 686 |
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 Atlanta WMA?
From Hitterdal, go 5 m. E on CSAH 26/14, or, from Lake Park, go 8 m. N on CSAH 7, then 2.5 m. W on 290th St.
Nearest towns: Hitterdal (4 miles), Ulen (7 miles), Lake Park (7 miles) and Hawley (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32.
What other public land is near Atlanta WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Melbye WMA: 80 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Goose Prairie WMA: 641 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Hitterdahl WMA: 267 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Cuba WMA: 122 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Highland Grove WMA: 80 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Aspen WMA: 40 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Atlanta WMA
Counting Atlanta WMA itself, 1,202 of the 25,028 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 869 |
| State wildlife management areas | 333 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Atlanta WMA?
In Becker County, near Hitterdal. The DNR's directions: From Hitterdal, go 5 m. E on CSAH 26/14, or, from Lake Park, go 8 m. N on CSAH 7, then 2.5 m. W on 290th St.
Which deer permit area is Atlanta WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Atlanta WMA?
1,202 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Atlanta WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Melbye WMA (0.8 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Atlanta 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.