Buffalo Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Buffalo Lake Wildlife Management Area is 568 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Murray County, near Dovray, inside Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 904 deer in DPA 295 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 areasWalk-In AccessBuffalo Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 568 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 295 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Dovray |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Dovray (next to it), Currie (3 mi) and The Lakes (4 mi) |
What is Buffalo Lake WMA like?
This WMA consists of two tracts. This subunit is primarily a large marsh with associated grass uplands and part of the east shore of Buffalo Lake. There are some woodlands in the west portion of the subunit. This WMA consists of two tracts. This Northwest subunit contains five wetland basins and associated grassland uplands. This subunit is managed for waterfowl and upland game bird production.
The north unit contains a variety of Nongame. This subunit contains a variety of nongame.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Buffalo Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Buffalo Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Buffalo Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Buffalo Lake WMA?
Buffalo Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR registered 904 deer in DPA 295 in 2025, against 835 in 2024.
| DPA | Buffalo Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 295 | 568 | 904 | 835 | 827 |
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 Buffalo Lake WMA?
From Dovray, 1 mile west on Highway 30 then 1.5 miles north on township road. From Currie, go 4 miles east on Highway 30 and co rd 11, then 1 mile north on township rd.
Nearest towns: Dovray (next to it), Currie (3 miles), The Lakes (4 miles) and Westbrook (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 30. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Buffalo Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Dovray WMA: 998 acres, next to it
- Buttermilk Run WMA: 56 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Rupp WMA: 83 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Sweetman WMA: 35 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Devils Run WMA: 90 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Shetek WMA: 731 acres, 3.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Buffalo Lake WMA
Counting Buffalo Lake WMA itself, 2,525 of the 29,509 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,724 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 801 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Buffalo Lake WMA?
In Murray County, near Dovray. The DNR's directions: From Dovray, 1 mile west on Highway 30 then 1.5 miles north on township road. From Currie, go 4 miles east on Highway 30 and co rd 11, then 1 mile north on township rd.
Which deer permit area is Buffalo Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 295. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Buffalo Lake WMA?
2,525 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Buffalo Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Dovray WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Buffalo 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.