Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area is 24,618 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Anoka and Chisago counties, near Columbus, inside Deer Permit Areas 235, 236 and 227. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 191 deer in DPA 235 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 landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCarlos Avery WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 24,618 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Anoka County and Chisago County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 235, DPA 236, DPA 227 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Columbus |
| DNR area office | North Metro |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Wyoming (next to it), Stacy (next to it) and Chisago City (next to it) |
What is Carlos Avery WMA like?
Carlos Avery WMA is approximately 24,000 acres. It consists of about 2/3 wetland and 1/3 upland and is managed primarily for Deer, Waterfowl and Turkeys. There are 20 Pools where water is actively managed to produce habitat for waterfowl. Carlos Avery WMA is approximately 24,000 acres. It consists of about 2/3 wetland 1/3 upland and is managed primarily for Deer, Waterfowl and Turkeys. There are 20 Pools where water is actively managed to produce habitat for waterfowl.
4,500 acres of the area are posted as Wildlife Sanctuary and closed to all trespassing. Very popular area for bird watching. There are 18 Wheelchair accessible blinds are available for use during the Turkey season or as part of a special Deer hunt conducted by Capable Partners. Very popular area for bird watching. There are 18 Wheelchair accessible blinds available for use during the Turkey season or as part of a special Deer hunt conducted by Capable Partners.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Carlos Avery WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game for Carlos Avery WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Carlos Avery WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Carlos Avery WMA: Area is closed from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am each night.
Carlos Avery WMA is one of the WMAs where every trapper needs a permit from the area wildlife manager.
Highway-licensed vehicles may drive the established roads on Carlos Avery WMA; on most WMAs vehicles are kept to designated routes.
Carlos Avery WMA has accessible duck or goose hunting blinds for hunters with mobility issues.
How many deer are taken around Carlos Avery WMA?
Carlos Avery WMA lies in 3 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 191 deer in DPA 235 in 2025, against 140 in 2024.
| DPA | Carlos Avery WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 235 | 24,601 | 191 | 140 | 158 |
| DPA 236 | 13 | 2,388 | 2,085 | 1,986 |
| DPA 227 | 5 | 4,198 | 3,893 | 3,470 |
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 Carlos Avery WMA?
The WMA office is located 7 miles west of I-35 on Anoka Cty Hwy 18. Take the Forest Lake (Washington Cty Hwy 2) exit west from I-35. This unit can be accessed from the Forest Lake, Wyoming, or Stacy exits off of I-35. The WMA office is located 7 miles west of Forest Lake on Anoka Cty Hwy 18. Take the Forest Lake (Washington Cty Hwy 2) exit west from I-35. This unit can be accessed from the Forest Lake, Wyoming, or Stacy exits off of I-35.
Nearest towns: Wyoming (next to it), Stacy (next to it), Chisago City (next to it) and Martin Lake (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, US 8, US 61, MN 65 and MN 95.
What other public land is near Carlos Avery WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Gordie Mikkelson WMA: 860 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Lamprey Pass WMA: 1,277 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Janet Johnson Memorial WMA: 787 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Hoffman Lake WMA: 115 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Marvin W. Schubring Memorial WMA: 285 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Mallard Marsh WMA: 56 acres, 3.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Carlos Avery WMA
Counting Carlos Avery WMA itself, 29,047 of the 138,175 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (21%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 27,254 |
| County, city and regional land | 909 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 817 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 67 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Carlos Avery WMA?
In Anoka and Chisago counties, near Columbus. The DNR's directions: The WMA office is located 7 miles west of I-35 on Anoka Cty Hwy 18. Take the Forest Lake (Washington Cty Hwy 2) exit west from I-35. This unit can be accessed from the Forest Lake, Wyoming, or Stacy exits off of I-35. The WMA office is located 7 miles west of Forest Lake on Anoka Cty Hwy 18. Take the Forest Lake (Washington Cty Hwy 2) exit west from I-35. This unit can be accessed from the Forest Lake, Wyoming, or Stacy exits off of I-35.
Which deer permit area is Carlos Avery WMA in?
DPA 235 (24,601 acres), DPA 236 (13 acres) and DPA 227 (5 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Carlos Avery WMA?
29,047 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Carlos Avery WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Gordie Mikkelson WMA (1.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Carlos Avery 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.
Minnesota hunting Anoka County Chisago County DPA 235 DPA 236 DPA 227