Belle River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Belle River Wildlife Management Area is 253 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Douglas County, near Carlos, inside Deer Permit Area 213. The DNR's WMA data lists deer and pheasants for it. Hunters registered 6,423 deer in DPA 213 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 areasState parksCounty, city and regional landBelle River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 253 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 213 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and pheasants |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Carlos |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Carlos (2 mi), Nelson (3 mi) and Miltona (6 mi) |
What is Belle River WMA like?
This management unit is two deep water basins connected by a narrows. Hunting opportunities are mainly for waterfowl. It does have a narrow band of upland that could be used for nesting and upland hunting.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Belle River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer and pheasants for Belle River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Belle River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Belle River WMA?
Belle River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 213. The DNR registered 6,423 deer in DPA 213 in 2025, against 5,814 in 2024.
| DPA | Belle River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 213 | 253 | 6,423 | 5,814 | 5,058 |
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 Belle River WMA?
From Carlos, go 2 miles S on CSAH 9 then 1 1/2 miles E on CSAH 30.
Nearest towns: Carlos (2 miles), Nelson (3 miles), Miltona (6 miles) and Osakis (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 29 and MN 27.
What other public land is near Belle River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Great Northern WMA: 150 acres, 3 miles away
- Roger M. Holmes WMA: 1,031 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Big Spruce WMA: 48 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Hollister WMA: 82 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Blair Pond WMA: 32 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Osakis WMA: 477 acres, 6.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Belle River WMA
Counting Belle River WMA itself, 393 of the 27,369 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 256 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 132 |
| County, city and regional land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Belle River WMA?
In Douglas County, near Carlos. The DNR's directions: From Carlos, go 2 miles S on CSAH 9 then 1 1/2 miles E on CSAH 30.
Which deer permit area is Belle River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 213. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Belle River WMA?
393 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Belle River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Great Northern WMA (3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Belle River 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.