Banks Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Banks Wildlife Management Area is 312 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Cottonwood County, near Bingham Lake, inside Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 505 deer in DPA 250 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 areasCounty, city and regional landBanks WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 312 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Cottonwood County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 250 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Bingham Lake |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Fish Lake (2 mi), Bingham Lake (2 mi) and Windom (4 mi) |
What is Banks WMA like?
This WMA is a wetland/prairie complex surrounding an unnamed lake.
Thers is a boat access to the 60+ acre unnamed lake on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Banks WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Banks WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Banks WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Banks WMA?
Banks WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR registered 505 deer in DPA 250 in 2025, against 479 in 2024.
| DPA | Banks WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 250 | 312 | 505 | 479 | 497 |
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 Banks WMA?
From Bingham Lake, go 2 1/2 miles S on CSAH 2.
Nearest towns: Fish Lake (2 miles), Bingham Lake (2 miles), Windom (4 miles) and Mountain Lake (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60, US 71 and MN 62.
What other public land is near Banks WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Bennett WMA: 344 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Wolf Lake WMA: 105 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Carpenter WMA: 61 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Laurs Lake WMA: 266 acres, 4 miles away
- Farhagen WMA: 183 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Lillegaard WMA: 88 acres, 4.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Banks WMA
Counting Banks WMA itself, 1,974 of the 25,388 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,183 |
| State wildlife management areas | 770 |
| County, city and regional land | 21 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Banks WMA?
In Cottonwood County, near Bingham Lake. The DNR's directions: From Bingham Lake, go 2 1/2 miles S on CSAH 2.
Which deer permit area is Banks WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 250. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Banks WMA?
1,974 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Banks WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Bennett WMA (1.1 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, Banks 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.