Border Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Border Wildlife Management Area is 506 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties, near Warroad, inside Deer Permit Area 105. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 2,485 deer in DPA 105 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 landBorder WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 506 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Roseau County and Lake of the Woods County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 105 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Warroad |
| DNR area office | Baudette |
| Nearest towns | Warroad (4 mi), Roosevelt (15 mi) and Roseau (21 mi) |
What is Border WMA like?
This WMA has very diverse habitat types and recreation opportunities. Waterfowl hunting, deer hunting, and grouse hunting can all be had on this WMA. Due to it's location along Lake of the Woods, it also makes for a good place to pursue other recreational opportunities such as bird watching and nature hiking.
There is a small upland grassland located on this WMA that is periodically burned to maintain species diversity and to provide forage for deer and other species. Forested parts of the WMA is predominately made up of aspen habitat types. Migrating and nesting waterfowl use the marsh and shoreline habitat types within this unit. Numerous songbirds, shorebirds, terns and gulls, as well as sandhill cranes and bitterns nest here. Most furbearers common to northwestern Minnesota can be found here. Small game hunters may find Sharptails, Woodcock, Snipe, Sora and Virginia Rails.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Border WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Border WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Border WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Border WMA?
Border WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 105. The DNR registered 2,485 deer in DPA 105 in 2025, against 2,165 in 2024.
| DPA | Border WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 105 | 506 | 2,485 | 2,165 | 2,545 |
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 Border WMA?
From Warroad, go 5 1/2 miles N on SH 313 then 1 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
Some parts of this WMA are only accessible by boat.
Nearest towns: Warroad (4 miles), Roosevelt (15 miles), Roseau (21 miles) and Williams (22 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 313 and MN 11.
What other public land is near Border WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- South Shore WMA: 1,572 acres, 7.6 miles away
- Cedar Bend WMA: 1,473 acres, 7.6 miles away
- R.C. #3 WMA: 81 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Border WMA
Counting Border WMA itself, 3,051 of the 33,838 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,545 |
| State wildlife management areas | 506 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Border WMA?
In Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties, near Warroad. The DNR's directions: From Warroad, go 5 1/2 miles N on SH 313 then 1 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Border WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 105. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Border WMA?
3,051 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Border WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest South Shore WMA (7.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Border 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.
Minnesota hunting Roseau County Lake of the Woods County DPA 105