BenLacs Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
BenLacs Wildlife Management Area is 620 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Benton and Mille Lacs counties, near Foley, inside Deer Permit Area 222. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,420 deer in DPA 222 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 areasBenLacs WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 620 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Benton County and Mille Lacs County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 222 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Foley |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Ronneby (6 mi), Foley (7 mi) and Pease (7 mi) |
What is BenLacs WMA like?
This WMA is dominated by forested and closed wetland habitats. This WMA is dominated by forested and emergent wetland habitats.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on BenLacs WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for BenLacs WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on BenLacs WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for BenLacs WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
How many deer are taken around BenLacs WMA?
BenLacs WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 222. The DNR registered 3,420 deer in DPA 222 in 2025, against 3,270 in 2024.
| DPA | BenLacs WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 222 | 620 | 3,420 | 3,270 | 2,734 |
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 BenLacs WMA?
From Foley, go 6.5 miles east on County Road 4, then 3 miles south on County Road 9, then 1 mile east township road (35th Street NE).
This subunit is only accessible through the larger main WMA tract, or via private land.
Nearest towns: Ronneby (6 miles), Foley (7 miles), Pease (7 miles) and Foreston (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 95.
What other public land is near BenLacs WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Glendorado WMA: 216 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Bibles Slough WMA: 68 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Kunkel WMA: 2,759 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Santiago WMA: 81 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Bolger WMA: 41 acres, 8.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of BenLacs WMA
Counting BenLacs WMA itself, 923 of the 28,171 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 923 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is BenLacs WMA?
In Benton and Mille Lacs counties, near Foley. The DNR's directions: From Foley, go 6.5 miles east on County Road 4, then 3 miles south on County Road 9, then 1 mile east township road (35th Street NE).
Which deer permit area is BenLacs WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 222. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around BenLacs WMA?
923 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, BenLacs WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Glendorado WMA (1.3 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, BenLacs 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.