Caribou Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Caribou Wildlife Management Area is 14,128 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kittson County, near Lancaster, inside Deer Permit Area 263. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,024 deer in DPA 263 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 areasCaribou WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 14,128 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Kittson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 263 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lancaster |
| DNR area office | Karlstad |
| Nearest towns | Lancaster (11 mi), Lake Bronson (14 mi) and Halma (17 mi) |
What is Caribou WMA like?
This 13,000+-acre unit is a prime example of the Aspen Parkland Landscape in NW Minnesota. Aspen parklands are characterized by open terrain that contains wet and mesic prairie, sedge meadow, thickets of brush, and scattered groves of aspen.
The open aspect of the aspen parkland will be maintained through management. Frequent prescribed burns will be conducted to try to duplicate the actions of the past. 21 dugouts have been dug to provide open water for waterfowl and other wildlife species. Elk are year-round residents of this unit. The WMA is open to public hunting, trapping and other compatible recreational use. This is a very diverse native vegetation area that offers a wide selection of opportunities. Timely bird watching will produce a long list of species native to NW Minnesota. A wide variety of prairie and brush land plants can be found.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Caribou WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Caribou WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Caribou WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Caribou WMA?
Caribou WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 263. The DNR registered 1,024 deer in DPA 263 in 2025, against 920 in 2024.
| DPA | Caribou WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 263 | 14,128 | 1,024 | 920 | 1,029 |
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 WMA?
From Lancaster, go 6 miles E and 4 miles N and 1 miles E on CSAH 4 then 2 miles N on CO RD 51 then 2 miles E on TWP RD.
The east-west road through and adjacent to the unit has been improved. Three camping and parking areas have been identified with Camping Permitted@ signs. Several other areas allow adequate parking or parking is available along the main roads.
Nearest towns: Lancaster (11 miles), Lake Bronson (14 miles), Halma (17 miles) and Greenbush (18 miles).
What other public land is near Caribou WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Roseau River WMA: 75,170 acres, next to it
- Beaches Lake WMA: 30,601 acres, 1 mile away
- Skull Lake WMA: 7,444 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Cannon WMA: 78 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Bonasa WMA: 847 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Percy WMA: 1,874 acres, 7.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Caribou WMA
Counting Caribou WMA itself, 24,651 of the 105,698 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (23.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 24,445 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 206 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Caribou WMA?
In Kittson County, near Lancaster. The DNR's directions: From Lancaster, go 6 miles E and 4 miles N and 1 miles E on CSAH 4 then 2 miles N on CO RD 51 then 2 miles E on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Caribou WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 263. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Caribou WMA?
24,651 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Caribou WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Roseau River WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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 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.