Bob Gehlen Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Bob Gehlen Wildlife Management Area is 231 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Sibley and McLeod counties, near New Auburn, inside Deer Permit Area 284. 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 714 deer in DPA 284 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 areasBob Gehlen WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 231 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Sibley County and McLeod County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 284 |
| 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) | New Auburn |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Nearest towns | New Auburn (2 mi), Brownton (5 mi) and Glencoe (6 mi) |
What is Bob Gehlen WMA like?
This WMA is mainly comprised of: A restored prairie wetland complex with a lowland/brush-land forest component. This WMA consists of two separate parcels.
A 1/2-mile walk from the parking lot provides access to the north unit. The south unit is accessible from the township road.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Bob Gehlen 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 Bob Gehlen WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Bob Gehlen WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Bob Gehlen WMA?
Bob Gehlen WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 284. The DNR registered 714 deer in DPA 284 in 2025, against 675 in 2024.
| DPA | Bob Gehlen WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 284 | 231 | 714 | 675 | 605 |
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 Bob Gehlen WMA?
From New Auburn, go 2 1/2 miles N on SH 22 then 1 mile W on township rd.
Wheelchair access is limited to primitive parking lot.
Nearest towns: New Auburn (2 miles), Brownton (5 miles), Glencoe (6 miles) and Biscay (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 22 and US 212.
What other public land is near Bob Gehlen WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Kohl's WMA: 87 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Spiering WMA: 157 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Baker's Lake WMA: 313 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Proehl's Woods WMA: 134 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Penn WMA: 90 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Severance Lake WMA: 294 acres, 5.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bob Gehlen WMA
Counting Bob Gehlen WMA itself, 346 of the 25,905 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 233 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 113 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bob Gehlen WMA?
In Sibley and McLeod counties, near New Auburn. The DNR's directions: From New Auburn, go 2 1/2 miles N on SH 22 then 1 mile W on township rd.
Which deer permit area is Bob Gehlen WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 284. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Bob Gehlen WMA?
346 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bob Gehlen WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Kohl's WMA (3.2 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, Bob Gehlen 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.