Brandon Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Brandon Wildlife Management Area is 182 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Douglas County, near Brandon, inside Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR's WMA data lists pheasants and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 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 areasOther federal landBrandon WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 182 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 273 |
| DNR lists for hunting | pheasants and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Brandon |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Brandon (2 mi), Garfield (4 mi) and Evansville (6 mi) |
What is Brandon WMA like?
This unit is half upland with some water on the west side of the unit. The rest of the WMA is of the moist soil emergent vegetation type. There is also a small tree planting located on the unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Brandon WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists pheasants and small game for Brandon WMA. Each follows the statewide season.
What are the rules on Brandon WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Brandon WMA?
Brandon WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 in 2025, against 978 in 2024.
| DPA | Brandon WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 273 | 182 | 1,013 | 978 | 968 |
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 Brandon WMA?
From Brandon, go 2 miles S on CSAH 7 then 1/4 mile E on CO RD 56.
Nearest towns: Brandon (2 miles), Garfield (4 miles), Evansville (6 miles) and Millerville (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94 and US 52.
What other public land is near Brandon WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Moe WMA: 39 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Pioneer Trail WMA: 49 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Urness WMA: 265 acres, 4 miles away
- Evansville WMA: 123 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Lake Venus WMA: 91 acres, 5.3 miles away
- La Grande WMA: 119 acres, 5.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Brandon WMA
Counting Brandon WMA itself, 754 of the 22,473 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 531 |
| State wildlife management areas | 222 |
| Other federal land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Brandon WMA?
In Douglas County, near Brandon. The DNR's directions: From Brandon, go 2 miles S on CSAH 7 then 1/4 mile E on CO RD 56.
Which deer permit area is Brandon WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 273. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Brandon WMA?
754 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Brandon WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Moe WMA (2.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Brandon 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.