Big Stone Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Big Stone Wildlife Management Area is 390 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Big Stone County, near Ortonville, inside Deer Permit Area 274. 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 495 deer in DPA 274 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 parksBig Stone WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 390 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Big Stone County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 274 |
| 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) | Ortonville |
| DNR area office | Appleton |
| Nearest towns | Ortonville (5 mi), Clinton (5 mi) and Odessa (10 mi) |
What can you hunt on Big Stone 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 Big Stone WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Big Stone WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Big Stone WMA?
Big Stone WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR registered 495 deer in DPA 274 in 2025, against 453 in 2024.
| DPA | Big Stone WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 274 | 390 | 495 | 453 | 402 |
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 Big Stone WMA?
From Ortonville, go 5 miles N on SH 7. From Hwy 75 and Hwy 12 intersection on east side of Ortonville, go 7 miles north on Hwy 75 then 3 miles west on 350th St.
Multiple parking options with direct access off 760th Ave on the west and 350th St on the north.
Nearest towns: Ortonville (5 miles), Clinton (5 miles), Odessa (10 miles) and Barry (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 7 and US 75.
What other public land is near Big Stone WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- David H. Steen WMA: 184 acres, 1 mile away
- Thielke Lake WMA: 1,256 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Reisdorph WMA: 214 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Prairie WMA: 186 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Victory WMA: 811 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Thomson WMA: 119 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Stone WMA
Counting Big Stone WMA itself, 2,050 of the 29,433 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 834 |
| State wildlife management areas | 793 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 423 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Stone WMA?
In Big Stone County, near Ortonville. The DNR's directions: From Ortonville, go 5 miles N on SH 7. From Hwy 75 and Hwy 12 intersection on east side of Ortonville, go 7 miles north on Hwy 75 then 3 miles west on 350th St.
Which deer permit area is Big Stone WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 274. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Big Stone WMA?
2,050 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Stone WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest David H. Steen WMA (1 mile).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Big Stone 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.