Boyd Sartell Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Boyd Sartell Wildlife Management Area is 1,367 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Rice County, near Shieldsville, inside Deer Permit Area 292. 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 1,197 deer in DPA 292 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasWalk-In AccessBoyd Sartell WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,367 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Rice County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 292 |
| 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) | Shieldsville |
| DNR area office | Owatonna |
| Nearest towns | Kilkenny (5 mi), Warsaw (7 mi) and Montgomery (7 mi) |
What is Boyd Sartell WMA like?
This is the main unit, of the two units that make up this WMA. It is located on the south and west side of General Shields Lake and is a mixture of marsh, small ponds, oak, maple, basswood, and grass fields. This is also the headwaters of the Cannon River. This sub-unit, located to the east of the main unit, is a mixture of marsh, small ponds, mixed hardwood forest, conifers and grass openings. Little Mud Lake has a a bog birch habitat type, uncommon to southern Minnesota.
Individuals and conservation organizations have contributed to the preservation and management of this area for the benefit wildlife. The first tract of the unit was a donation fulfilling the wishes of Mr. Sartell. Management emphasis for this WMA is on wetland protection, grassland and forest habitat management, conserving a wildlife wintering complex and important and waterfowl and riparian habitats. Conservation of this area was made possible in cooperation with the Nature Conservancy and the RIM Critical Habitat Match Program and the Trust for Public Land and Outdoor Heritage Funds. There is excellent year-around wildlife watching opportunities for uncommon species. Look for gray fox, blue-winged teal, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, egrets, bitterns, pied billed grebes, Cooper's hawk and chorus frogs.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Boyd Sartell 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 Boyd Sartell WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Boyd Sartell WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Boyd Sartell WMA?
Boyd Sartell WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 292. The DNR registered 1,197 deer in DPA 292 in 2025, against 1,149 in 2024.
| DPA | Boyd Sartell WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 292 | 1,367 | 1,197 | 1,149 | 1,088 |
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 Boyd Sartell WMA?
From Shieldsville, go 2 miles South on Dodd Road (County Highway 10), then 1 mile Northwest on Hunt Lake Trail (County Highway 37) A parking area is located at 16181 Hunt Lake Trail. A State Water Access with parking and boat ramps is available on the north side of General Shields Lake at the intersection of Trunk Highway 21 and County Road 64 adjacent to McCullough Park. From Shieldsville, go 1/2 mile NW on State Trunk Highway 21.
This unit has shoreline along both General Shields and Little Mud Lakes providing foot and carry-in access, but there is no vehicle access to either lake from this wildlife management area. There are 3 off-road parking areas. One site is located on the south side of State Trunk Highway 21, a second, smaller parking area is located on the east side of the road at 15255 Camp Winona Trail. A third parking area is at 15527 Camp Winona Trail on the south side of the road.
Nearest towns: Kilkenny (5 miles), Warsaw (7 miles), Montgomery (7 miles) and Lonsdale (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 21 and MN 99.
What other public land is near Boyd Sartell WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Gray Fox WMA: 76 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Big Woods Heritage Forest WMA: 127 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Anton Velishek Memorial WMA: 80 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Dora Lake WMA: 742 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Robert J. Lick WMA: 194 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Circle Lake WMA: 263 acres, 4.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Boyd Sartell WMA
Counting Boyd Sartell WMA itself, 1,896 of the 38,664 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,743 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 153 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Boyd Sartell WMA?
In Rice County, near Shieldsville. The DNR's directions: From Shieldsville, go 2 miles South on Dodd Road (County Highway 10), then 1 mile Northwest on Hunt Lake Trail (County Highway 37) A parking area is located at 16181 Hunt Lake Trail. A State Water Access with parking and boat ramps is available on the north side of General Shields Lake at the intersection of Trunk Highway 21 and County Road 64 adjacent to McCullough Park. From Shieldsville, go 1/2 mile NW on State Trunk Highway 21.
Which deer permit area is Boyd Sartell WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 292. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Boyd Sartell WMA?
1,896 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Boyd Sartell WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Gray Fox WMA (1.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Boyd Sartell 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).
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