Beaches Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Beaches Lake Wildlife Management Area is 30,601 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kittson and Roseau counties, near Lancaster, inside Deer Permit Area 263. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,024 deer in DPA 263 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 areasState parksBeaches Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 30,601 acres in 10 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Kittson County and Roseau County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 263 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lancaster |
| DNR area office | Karlstad |
| Nearest towns | Lake Bronson (7 mi), Lancaster (7 mi) and Halma (8 mi) |
What is Beaches Lake WMA like?
This WMA is the largest WMA in Kittson County and one of the largest in the state. It was established in 1968 and now includes 30,760 acres in parts of four townships. Several isolated tracts are separated from the main unit by private land. This WMA is one of the largest in the state. Several isolated tracts are separated from the main unit by private land. This unit is in the Aspen Parkland Landscape and is a mixture of wetlands, aspen timber, brush prairie, brush lands and old fields.
This unit is managed as aspen parkland. The prairie vegetation will be maintained with fire, mowing, and controlled grazing. The aspen woodlands and brush land will be burned or cut to keep them in a young stage. Elk occasionally are found on this unit. This unit is managed as aspen parkland. The prairie vegetation will be maintained with fire, mowing, and controlled grazing. The aspen woodlands and brush land will be burned or cut to keep them in a young stage. This WMA was established in 1968. Elk occasionally are found on this unit. This area is open to public hunting, trapping and other compatible recreational uses. Beaches Lake is a very large unit with many unique features. A rich fen is located in the northwest. Rare birds found in the sedge meadows include marbled godwit, sharp-tailed sparrow, and yellow rail. Moose and occasionally, elk are seen on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Beaches Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Beaches Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Beaches Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Beaches Lake WMA?
Beaches Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 263. The DNR registered 1,024 deer in DPA 263 in 2025, against 920 in 2024.
| DPA | Beaches Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 263 | 30,601 | 1,024 | 920 | 1,029 |
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 Beaches Lake WMA?
From the intersection of St Hwy 59 and Kittson Co Rd 15 at Lake Bronson: travel 0.5 miles N on Kittson Cty 15, take gravel Twp Rd 4.25 miles E, 0.5 miles N and 1.75 miles E, turn N on Twp Rd and travel 2.5 miles N to the southwest entrance of the WMA.
Access is available to several areas of the unit via township roads, some of which are minimum or no maintenance. A groomed snowmobile trail goes through the unit on unplowed roads or old trails.
Nearest towns: Lake Bronson (7 miles), Lancaster (7 miles), Halma (8 miles) and Greenbush (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 11.
What other public land is near Beaches Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Bonasa WMA: 847 acres, next to it
- Roseau River WMA: 75,170 acres, next to it
- Cannon WMA: 78 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Caribou WMA: 14,128 acres, 1 mile away
- Percy WMA: 1,874 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Skull Lake WMA: 7,444 acres, 1.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Beaches Lake WMA
Counting Beaches Lake WMA itself, 39,700 of the 146,235 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (27.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 39,178 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 194 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 190 |
| State parks | 138 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Beaches Lake WMA?
In Kittson and Roseau counties, near Lancaster. The DNR's directions: From the intersection of St Hwy 59 and Kittson Co Rd 15 at Lake Bronson: travel 0.5 miles N on Kittson Cty 15, take gravel Twp Rd 4.25 miles E, 0.5 miles N and 1.75 miles E, turn N on Twp Rd and travel 2.5 miles N to the southwest entrance of the WMA.
Which deer permit area is Beaches Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 263. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Beaches Lake WMA?
39,700 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Beaches Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Bonasa WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Beaches 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).
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