Cedar Mountain Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Cedar Mountain Wildlife Management Area is 168 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Redwood County, near Franklin, inside Deer Permit Area 290. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,202 deer in DPA 290 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 landWalk-In AccessCedar Mountain WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 168 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Redwood County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 290 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Franklin |
| DNR area office | New Ulm |
| Nearest towns | Franklin (next to it), Morton (5 mi) and Morgan (5 mi) |
What is Cedar Mountain WMA like?
This WMA currently consists of two separate tracts: the northern tract consists of restored prairie and crop fields. The southern tract consists of maple basswood forest with bur oak at the top of the south ridge.
The northern tract's habitat supports pheasants and grassland bird species, as well as deer and turkeys coming out of the adjacent woods to feed. The southern tract provides excellent habitat for turkeys, deer, squirrels, and nongame forest species.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Cedar Mountain WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Cedar Mountain WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Cedar Mountain WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Cedar Mountain WMA?
Cedar Mountain WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 290. The DNR registered 1,202 deer in DPA 290 in 2025, against 1,206 in 2024.
| DPA | Cedar Mountain WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 290 | 168 | 1,202 | 1,206 | 1,018 |
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 Cedar Mountain WMA?
North Tract - From Franklin, go 1.5 miles S on CSAH 11, then 0.25 mi W on access road. South Tract - From Franklin, go 2.25 mi S on CSAH 11 then 0.75 mi W on Township Road.
Nearest towns: Franklin (next to it), Morton (5 miles), Morgan (5 miles) and Fairfax (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 19 and MN 67. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Cedar Mountain WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Tiger Lake WMA: 698 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Beaver Falls WMA: 446 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Waukon Rim WMA: 385 acres, 8.9 miles away
- Minnriver WMA: 91 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cedar Mountain WMA
Counting Cedar Mountain WMA itself, 485 of the 24,912 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 314 |
| State wildlife management areas | 171 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Cedar Mountain WMA?
In Redwood County, near Franklin. The DNR's directions: North Tract - From Franklin, go 1.5 miles S on CSAH 11, then 0.25 mi W on access road. South Tract - From Franklin, go 2.25 mi S on CSAH 11 then 0.75 mi W on Township Road.
Which deer permit area is Cedar Mountain WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 290. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Cedar Mountain WMA?
485 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cedar Mountain WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Tiger Lake WMA (6.1 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, Cedar Mountain 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.