Callaway Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Callaway Wildlife Management Area is 317 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Becker County, near Callaway, inside Deer Permit Area 298. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 779 deer in DPA 298 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 areasCallaway WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 317 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Becker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 298 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Callaway |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Callaway (4 mi), White Earth (6 mi) and Ogema (7 mi) |
What is Callaway WMA like?
The varied cover types include two semi-permanent wetlands totaling 60 acres of open water, 84 acres of marsh, 35 acres of lowland willow-dogwood brush, 122 acres of bur oak and aspen forest, and 20 acres of upland grass.
Management strategies include timber harvests to increase forest age class diversity and dugouts excavated in 1980 for waterfowl use. The WMA was acquired in 1964 and 1967 "to preserve valuable water and wildlife lands in the headwaters of the Buffalo River watershed.". Park in the parking area off 292nd Street, at the start of the non-motorized trail.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Callaway WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Callaway WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Callaway WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Callaway WMA?
Callaway WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 298. The DNR registered 779 deer in DPA 298 in 2025, against 671 in 2024.
| DPA | Callaway WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 298 | 317 | 779 | 671 | 491 |
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 Callaway WMA?
From Callaway, go 3 m. E on CSAH 14,.25 m. N on CSAH 21,.5 m. E on 292nd Street.
Nearest towns: Callaway (4 miles), White Earth (6 miles), Ogema (7 miles) and Audubon (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59.
What other public land is near Callaway WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Teiken-dalve WMA: 73 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Ogema Springs WMA: 680 acres, 4.3 miles away
- White Earth WMA: 43 acres, 7.9 miles away
- Spring Creek WMA: 960 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Stenseth WMA: 27 acres, 8.8 miles away
- Frank WMA: 615 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Callaway WMA
Counting Callaway WMA itself, 1,453 of the 24,082 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 776 |
| State wildlife management areas | 515 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 162 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Callaway WMA?
In Becker County, near Callaway. The DNR's directions: From Callaway, go 3 m. E on CSAH 14,.25 m. N on CSAH 21,.5 m. E on 292nd Street.
Which deer permit area is Callaway WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 298. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Callaway WMA?
1,453 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Callaway WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Teiken-dalve WMA (3.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Callaway 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.