Carmelee Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Carmelee Wildlife Management Area is 3,907 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Beltrami and Marshall counties, near Grygla, inside Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 412 deer in DPA 111 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 landCarmelee WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,907 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Beltrami County and Marshall County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 111 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Grygla |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (5 mi), Goodridge (10 mi) and Oklee (27 mi) |
What can you hunt on Carmelee WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Carmelee WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Carmelee WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Carmelee WMA?
Carmelee WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR registered 412 deer in DPA 111 in 2025, against 370 in 2024.
| DPA | Carmelee WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 111 | 3,905 | 412 | 370 | 318 |
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 Carmelee WMA?
From Grygla, go 5 miles S on CSAH 54 then 1 mile E on Co Rd 2 then 1/4 mile E on CSAH 42.
Nearest towns: Grygla (5 miles), Goodridge (10 miles), Oklee (27 miles) and Thief River Falls (28 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89 and MN 1.
What other public land is near Carmelee WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sem WMA: 2,838 acres, next to it
- Lee WMA: 2,245 acres, next to it
- Wolf Trail WMA: 7,792 acres, next to it
- Willow-Run WMA: 3,564 acres, next to it
- Espelie WMA: 3,644 acres, 1 mile away
- Reiner WMA: 121 acres, 1.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Carmelee WMA
Counting Carmelee WMA itself, 17,573 of the 45,389 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (38.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 17,573 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Carmelee WMA?
In Beltrami and Marshall counties, near Grygla. The DNR's directions: From Grygla, go 5 miles S on CSAH 54 then 1 mile E on Co Rd 2 then 1/4 mile E on CSAH 42.
Which deer permit area is Carmelee WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 111. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Carmelee WMA?
17,573 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Carmelee WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sem WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Carmelee 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.