Barnesville Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Barnesville Wildlife Management Area is 1,629 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clay County, near Barnesville, inside Deer Permit Area 269. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 464 deer in DPA 269 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 areasBarnesville WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,629 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 269 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Barnesville |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Barnesville (5 mi), Hawley (11 mi) and Baker (11 mi) |
What can you hunt on Barnesville WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Barnesville WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Barnesville WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Barnesville WMA?
Barnesville WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 269. The DNR registered 464 deer in DPA 269 in 2025, against 418 in 2024.
| DPA | Barnesville WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 269 | 1,629 | 464 | 418 | 395 |
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 Barnesville WMA?
From Barnesville, go 4 miles E on SH 34 then 3 1/2 miles N on CSAH 31 and 6.
Access and parking area off of 250th St. S on east side of the unit.
Nearest towns: Barnesville (5 miles), Hawley (11 miles), Baker (11 miles) and Pelican Rapids (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94, US 52, MN 34, MN 32 and MN 9.
What other public land is near Barnesville WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hay Creek WMA: 40 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Skree WMA: 165 acres, 2 miles away
- Janssen WMA: 319 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Clay County WMA: 924 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Bjornson WMA: 647 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Interstate Highway 94 Borrow Pit WMA: 93 acres, 5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Barnesville WMA
Counting Barnesville WMA itself, 3,180 of the 37,316 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 | 2,165 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,015 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Barnesville WMA?
In Clay County, near Barnesville. The DNR's directions: From Barnesville, go 4 miles E on SH 34 then 3 1/2 miles N on CSAH 31 and 6.
Which deer permit area is Barnesville WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 269. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Barnesville WMA?
3,180 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Barnesville WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hay Creek WMA (1.6 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, Barnesville 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.