Birchdale Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Birchdale Wildlife Management Area is 1,426 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Crow Wing County, near Emily, inside Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 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 landBirchdale WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,426 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Crow Wing County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 171 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Emily |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Emily (6 mi), Crosslake (12 mi) and Fifty Lakes (12 mi) |
What is Birchdale WMA like?
This WMA was created in 1957 to improve habitat for waterfowl and furbearers in the Birchdale Lake basin, which includes 300 acres of sedge meadow and 80 acres of wild rice. The forested areas are aspen and northern hardwoods mixed with black spruce and tamarack.
An old water control structure at the Birchdale Lake outlet was removed in 2003 through a coop project with Ducks Unlimited. The goal was to restore natural water level regimes at this outlet to improve wild rice production and waterfowl use of the lake. Water access to Birchdale Lake is a carry-in/canoe type only and is very difficult (1/4 mile along narrow stream and over bog). Birchdale Lake is an excellent wild rice lake that provides migration and production habitat for waterfowl as well as hunting opportunities. There is also a 1.09 mile long hunter walking trail accessible on the north side of the unit which is mowed annually to provide hunter access.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Birchdale WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Birchdale WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Birchdale WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Birchdale WMA?
Birchdale WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 in 2025, against 1,068 in 2024.
| DPA | Birchdale WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 171 | 1,426 | 1,165 | 1,068 | 819 |
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 Birchdale WMA?
From the junction of St. Hwy. 6 and Co. Rd. 1 in Emily, east on County Road. 1 5.8 miles, south on County Road 106 1.7 miles to the Birchdale wildlife management area access trail entrance in the southwest corner of the County Road.
Nearest towns: Emily (6 miles), Crosslake (12 miles), Fifty Lakes (12 miles) and Manhattan Beach (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 6.
What other public land is near Birchdale WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Duck Lake WMA: 1,042 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Upper Dean WMA: 40 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Little Willow River WMA: 1,861 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Lower Dean WMA: 243 acres, 7 miles away
- Deer Run WMA: 699 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Birchdale WMA
Counting Birchdale WMA itself, 5,029 of the 32,810 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,560 |
| State wildlife management areas | 2,469 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Birchdale WMA?
In Crow Wing County, near Emily. The DNR's directions: From the junction of St. Hwy. 6 and Co. Rd. 1 in Emily, east on County Road. 1 5.8 miles, south on County Road 106 1.7 miles to the Birchdale wildlife management area access trail entrance in the southwest corner of the County Road.
Which deer permit area is Birchdale WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 171. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Birchdale WMA?
5,029 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Birchdale WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Duck Lake WMA (0.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Birchdale 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.