Brawner Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Brawner Lake Wildlife Management Area is 258 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lyon County, near Russell, inside Deer Permit Area 288. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 731 deer in DPA 288 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 areasState parksWalk-In AccessBrawner Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 258 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Lyon County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 288 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Russell |
| DNR area office | Marshall |
| Nearest towns | Russell (next to it), Lynd (5 mi) and Balaton (7 mi) |
What can you hunt on Brawner Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, mourning doves and small game for Brawner Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Brawner Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Brawner Lake WMA?
Brawner Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 288. The DNR registered 731 deer in DPA 288 in 2025, against 634 in 2024.
| DPA | Brawner Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 288 | 258 | 731 | 634 | 556 |
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 Brawner Lake WMA?
From Russell, go 1 1/2 miles NE on SH 23.
Nearest towns: Russell (next to it), Lynd (5 miles), Balaton (7 miles) and Florence (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 23 and MN 91. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Brawner Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Russell WMA: 35 acres, next to it
- Richard Dwire WMA: 40 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Lyons WMA: 572 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Ringneck Ravine WMA: 69 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Prairie Marshes WMA: 493 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Lyrock WMA: 55 acres, 2.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Brawner Lake WMA
Counting Brawner Lake WMA itself, 3,972 of the 25,098 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 1,803 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,203 |
| State wildlife management areas | 966 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Brawner Lake WMA?
In Lyon County, near Russell. The DNR's directions: From Russell, go 1 1/2 miles NE on SH 23.
Which deer permit area is Brawner Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 288. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Brawner Lake WMA?
3,972 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Brawner Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Russell WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Brawner 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.