Chen Bay Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Chen Bay Wildlife Management Area is 414 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lincoln County, near Lake Benton, inside Deer Permit Area 286. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 588 deer in DPA 286 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 areasWalk-In AccessChen Bay WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 414 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 286 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lake Benton |
| DNR area office | Marshall |
| Nearest towns | Lake Benton (4 mi), Arco (5 mi) and Tyler (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Chen Bay WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Chen Bay WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Chen Bay WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Chen Bay WMA?
Chen Bay WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 286. The DNR registered 588 deer in DPA 286 in 2025, against 497 in 2024.
| DPA | Chen Bay WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 286 | 414 | 588 | 497 | 436 |
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 Chen Bay WMA?
From Lake Benton, go 3 miles N on US 75 then 2 miles E on CR 12/121.
Nearest towns: Lake Benton (4 miles), Arco (5 miles), Tyler (6 miles) and Ivanhoe (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75 and US 14.
What other public land is near Chen Bay WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Collinson WMA: 87 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Marshfield WMA: 78 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Sioux Lookout WMA: 83 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Emerald WMA: 77 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Discors WMA: 140 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Tyler WMA: 462 acres, 4.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Chen Bay WMA
Counting Chen Bay WMA itself, 913 of the 25,179 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 588 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 325 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Chen Bay WMA?
In Lincoln County, near Lake Benton. The DNR's directions: From Lake Benton, go 3 miles N on US 75 then 2 miles E on CR 12/121.
Which deer permit area is Chen Bay WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 286. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Chen Bay WMA?
913 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Chen Bay WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Collinson WMA (2.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Chen Bay 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.