Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area is 617 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Murray County, near Slayton, inside Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 904 deer in DPA 295 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 wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasBadger Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 617 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 295 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Slayton |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Iona (2 mi), Slayton (4 mi) and Avoca (4 mi) |
What is Badger Lake WMA like?
This WMA includes portions of North and South Badger lakes (designated wildlife lakes totaling 550 acres) and a fringe of surrounding upland. The water levels of the two lakes are intensively managed to provide optimum benefit to wetland wildlife.
Water levels on this unit are managed for waterfowl production and hunting. The water control structure on North Badger lake was constructed partially with funds from Ducks Unlimited. This unit provides public access to both lakes.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Badger Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Badger Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Badger Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Badger Lake WMA?
Badger Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR registered 904 deer in DPA 295 in 2025, against 835 in 2024.
| DPA | Badger Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 295 | 617 | 904 | 835 | 827 |
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 Badger Lake WMA?
From Slayton, go 4 miles south on County Road 33.
Nearest towns: Iona (2 miles), Slayton (4 miles), Avoca (4 miles) and Fulda (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59, MN 267 and MN 30.
What other public land is near Badger Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wajer WMA: 81 acres, next to it
- Wirock WMA: 122 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Christensen WMA: 131 acres, 0.7 miles away
- H.C. Southwick WMA: 569 acres, 1 mile away
- Shirley's Slough WMA: 51 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Schoeberl WMA: 150 acres, 3.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Badger Lake WMA
Counting Badger Lake WMA itself, 2,472 of the 29,126 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,582 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 811 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 79 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Badger Lake WMA?
In Murray County, near Slayton. The DNR's directions: From Slayton, go 4 miles south on County Road 33.
Which deer permit area is Badger Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 295. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Badger Lake WMA?
2,472 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Badger Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wajer WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Badger 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.