Bradshaw Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Bradshaw Lake Wildlife Management Area is 789 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Scott County, near New Market, inside Deer Permit Area 605. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,115 deer in DPA 605 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 areasCounty, city and regional landBradshaw Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 789 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Scott County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 605 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | New Market |
| DNR area office | South Metro |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Elko New Market (6 mi), New Prague (6 mi) and Credit River (6 mi) |
What is Bradshaw Lake WMA like?
This WMA is primarily managed for wetland and grassland wildlife. It consists of 65% wetland or open water, 25% grassland, and 10% woodland. This WMA is located in a relatively hilly area, with oak woodlands scattered around the WMA.
The purpose of this WMA is to preserve and enhance upland grass, wetland and Oak woodland habitat. This is the largest WMA in Scott County. It consists of 3 disjunct parcels that hopefully will be joined by future land acquisitions. Recreation Opportunities Hunting options include: deer, small game, forest game birds, pheasant, waterfowl, and turkeys. Wildlife viewing options include: wetland wildlife, prairie wildlife, and forest wildlife. A small number of Sandhill Cranes can often be seen in spring in the wetland areas of the WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Bradshaw Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Bradshaw Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Bradshaw Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Bradshaw Lake WMA: There is an area, posted with signs, near the east parking lot off of Hwy 23 where shooting is prohibited. This area buffers along the neighborhood to the south of the field and the neighbor to the north. On the S. side, just west of the S. parking lot off of Hwy 56 there is an area that shooting is prohibited along the field’s western boundary near the neighbor’s house, this is also posted..
How many deer are taken around Bradshaw Lake WMA?
Bradshaw Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 605. The DNR registered 3,115 deer in DPA 605 in 2025, against 2,826 in 2024.
| DPA | Bradshaw Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 605 | 789 | 3,115 | 2,826 | 2,821 |
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 Bradshaw Lake WMA?
4 miles west of New Market on C.R. 2, then north one mile on C.R. 23, then west.75 miles on C.R. 56 to south parking lot.
Wheelchair access is limited to gravel parking lots on the NE, E, S, and NW.
Nearest towns: Elko New Market (6 miles), New Prague (6 miles), Credit River (6 miles) and Prior Lake (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 13, MN 19 and MN 282.
What other public land is near Bradshaw Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- St. Patrick's WMA: 87 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Marsh WMA: 108 acres, 7.5 miles away
- Karnitz WMA: 185 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Esker WMA: 48 acres, 8.6 miles away
- Sanborn Lake WMA: 549 acres, 8.8 miles away
- Phelps Lake WMA: 171 acres, 9.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bradshaw Lake WMA
Counting Bradshaw Lake WMA itself, 1,060 of the 33,192 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 923 |
| County, city and regional land | 137 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bradshaw Lake WMA?
In Scott County, near New Market. The DNR's directions: 4 miles west of New Market on C.R. 2, then north one mile on C.R. 23, then west.75 miles on C.R. 56 to south parking lot.
Which deer permit area is Bradshaw Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 605. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Bradshaw Lake WMA?
1,060 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bradshaw Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest St. Patrick's WMA (1.2 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Bradshaw Lake 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.