Burnham Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Burnham Wildlife Management Area is 990 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Crookston, inside Deer Permit Area 256. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,042 deer in DPA 256 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 areasBurnham WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 990 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 256 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Crookston |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Fertile (6 mi), Mentor (9 mi) and Beltrami (10 mi) |
What is Burnham WMA like?
This WMA is remnant tall grass prairie with minor amounts of brush and trees. The major emphasis will be to manage & improve a habitat complex of mixed prairie types, marsh, & scattered brush/aspen thickets for a diversity of native plants & wildlife. This unit consists of a restored prairie wetland, and man-made wetland, and adjoining grassland cover for nesting habitat and prairie wildlife.
Access to this unit is good, with township roads north and central, and a paved county road to the south. The Pembina trail borders the east side. Parking areas are located on the south and central roads. Burnham Creek is managed under a cooperative agreement with the watershed board. This WMA is rich in "low prairie" habitat, typical of seep areas below beach ridges in Polk County. Prairie chickens can be hunted by those who draw a license. Viewing opportunities include prairie grouse, migratory birds, and native prairie plants.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Burnham WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Burnham WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Burnham WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Burnham WMA: This unit is closed to all uses from September 1 through October 31. This includes hunting, trapping, fishing, and trespassing (walking).
How many deer are taken around Burnham WMA?
Burnham WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 256. The DNR registered 1,042 deer in DPA 256 in 2025, against 1,033 in 2024.
| DPA | Burnham WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 256 | 990 | 1,042 | 1,033 | 867 |
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 Burnham WMA?
From SH 102, travel east 1.25 mi on CSAH 41. From Hwy 102, east 4.8 mi on County Road 45; then south 4 mi on County Road 44; then east 2 1/4 mi and north 0.5 mi on township roads.
Access is good with roads on the North, West, and South sides.
Nearest towns: Fertile (6 miles), Mentor (9 miles), Beltrami (10 miles) and Crookston (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32 and MN 102.
What other public land is near Burnham WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Trail WMA: 609 acres, next to it
- Godfrey WMA: 145 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Onstad WMA: 280 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Shypoke WMA: 161 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Chicog WMA: 2,432 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Thorson Prairie WMA: 1,108 acres, 2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Burnham WMA
Counting Burnham WMA itself, 13,877 of the 36,393 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (38.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 6,380 |
| State wildlife management areas | 5,425 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,072 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Burnham WMA?
In Polk County, near Crookston. The DNR's directions: From SH 102, travel east 1.25 mi on CSAH 41. From Hwy 102, east 4.8 mi on County Road 45; then south 4 mi on County Road 44; then east 2 1/4 mi and north 0.5 mi on township roads.
Which deer permit area is Burnham WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 256. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Burnham WMA?
13,877 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Burnham WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Trail WMA (next to it).
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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, Burnham 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.