Caribou Falls Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Caribou Falls Wildlife Management Area is 315 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lake County, near Silver Bay, inside Deer Permit Area 126. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 117 deer in DPA 126 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 forestState parksCaribou Falls WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 315 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 126 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Silver Bay |
| DNR area office | Two Harbors |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Finland (10 mi), Silver Bay (16 mi) and Beaver Bay (19 mi) |
What is Caribou Falls WMA like?
This WMA consists of two separate subunits that are bisected by Caribou Falls State Park Wayside. Its aspen-birch forest is managed primarily for deer and grouse habitat.
Deer habitat has been enhanced by planting white spruce for winter cover; and clearcutting aspen-birch and mowing brush for browse production. Deer habitat has been enhanced by planting white spruce for winter cover and clearcutting aspen-birch for browse production. Walk past the gate, north on the leased driveway to access the WMA which lies to the east. A gated, former logging road provides a walking trail North-South through this subunit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Caribou Falls WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Caribou Falls WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Caribou Falls WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Caribou Falls WMA: Walk-in access only. Parking available only by the gate.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Caribou Falls WMA: Walk-in access only. Parking available at school bus turn-around (1/2 mile E of State Park Wayside).
How many deer are taken around Caribou Falls WMA?
Caribou Falls WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 126. The DNR registered 117 deer in DPA 126 in 2025, against 85 in 2024.
| DPA | Caribou Falls WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 126 | 315 | 117 | 85 | 62 |
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 Caribou Falls WMA?
From Silver Bay, go 15.0 Miles NE on MN Hwy 61 to 7117 East Hwy 61. Turn left (north) onto a small parking lot near a gate on an access road. From Silver Bay, go 15.8 Miles NE on MN Hwy 61 past the State Wayside Rest, turn left (north) onto the access road to parking lot (under the power line) on the gated access road.
Nearest towns: Finland (10 miles), Silver Bay (16 miles), Beaver Bay (19 miles) and Lutsen (21 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 61.
What other public land is near Caribou Falls WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Little Marais WMA: 274 acres, 3.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Caribou Falls WMA
Counting Caribou Falls WMA itself, 5,023 of the 24,895 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (20.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 3,914 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 597 |
| State wildlife management areas | 512 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Caribou Falls WMA?
In Lake County, near Silver Bay. The DNR's directions: From Silver Bay, go 15.0 Miles NE on MN Hwy 61 to 7117 East Hwy 61. Turn left (north) onto a small parking lot near a gate on an access road. From Silver Bay, go 15.8 Miles NE on MN Hwy 61 past the State Wayside Rest, turn left (north) onto the access road to parking lot (under the power line) on the gated access road.
Which deer permit area is Caribou Falls WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 126. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Caribou Falls WMA?
5,023 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Caribou Falls WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. One other WMA is within 10 miles, the closest Little Marais WMA (3.1 miles).
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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, Caribou Falls 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.