Benville Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Benville Wildlife Management Area is 1,194 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Beltrami County, near Grygla, inside Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 759 deer in DPA 101 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 landBenville WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,194 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Beltrami County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 101 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Grygla |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (3 mi), Goodridge (16 mi) and Middle River (29 mi) |
What can you hunt on Benville WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Benville WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Benville WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Benville WMA?
Benville WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR registered 759 deer in DPA 101 in 2025, against 688 in 2024.
| DPA | Benville WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 101 | 1,194 | 759 | 688 | 594 |
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 Benville WMA?
From Grygla, go 3 miles E on SH 89 then 1/2 mile N on CO RD 703.
Nearest towns: Grygla (3 miles), Goodridge (16 miles), Middle River (29 miles) and Holt (29 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89.
What other public land is near Benville WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wolf Trail WMA: 7,792 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Moose River WMA: 21,275 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Willow-Run WMA: 3,564 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Saw-whet WMA: 1,286 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Wapiti WMA: 31,755 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Grygla WMA: 3,444 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Benville WMA
Counting Benville WMA itself, 7,105 of the 37,993 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 7,071 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 34 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Benville WMA?
In Beltrami County, near Grygla. The DNR's directions: From Grygla, go 3 miles E on SH 89 then 1/2 mile N on CO RD 703.
Which deer permit area is Benville WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 101. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Benville WMA?
7,105 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Benville WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wolf Trail 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, Benville 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.