Caraway Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Caraway Wildlife Management Area is 208 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Jackson County, near Lakefield, inside Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 505 deer in DPA 250 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 areasCounty, city and regional landCaraway WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 208 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 250 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lakefield |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Fish Lake (5 mi), Wilder (5 mi) and Windom (6 mi) |
What is Caraway WMA like?
This WMA is composed of a mixture of grassland, wetland, and woodland habitat types typical of southwestern Minnesota. This unit contains a large wetland and abundant upland areas ideal for both waterfowl and upland game.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Caraway WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Caraway WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Caraway WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Caraway WMA?
Caraway WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR registered 505 deer in DPA 250 in 2025, against 479 in 2024.
| DPA | Caraway WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 250 | 208 | 505 | 479 | 497 |
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 Caraway WMA?
From Lakefield, go 7 miles N on SH 86 then 3 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
Nearest towns: Fish Lake (5 miles), Wilder (5 miles), Windom (6 miles) and Lakefield (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60, US 71 and MN 86.
What other public land is near Caraway WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lillegaard WMA: 88 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Two Sheds WMA: 151 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Laurs Lake WMA: 266 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Timber Lake WMA: 907 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Teal Lake WMA: 124 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Wolf Lake WMA: 105 acres, 4.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Caraway WMA
Counting Caraway WMA itself, 695 of the 24,237 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 399 |
| State wildlife management areas | 296 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Caraway WMA?
In Jackson County, near Lakefield. The DNR's directions: From Lakefield, go 7 miles N on SH 86 then 3 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Caraway WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 250. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Caraway WMA?
695 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Caraway WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lillegaard WMA (1.3 miles).
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, Caraway 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.