Chicog Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Chicog Wildlife Management Area is 2,432 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Fertile, inside Deer Permit Area 265. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,177 deer in DPA 265 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasChicog WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 2,432 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 265 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fertile |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Beltrami (6 mi), Fertile (6 mi) and Mentor (13 mi) |
What is Chicog WMA like?
This WMA is located in the northern portion of the Red River prairie grassland landscape. The purpose of this WMA is to manage and improve a habitat complex of mixed prairie types, marsh, and scattered brush/aspen thickets for a diversity of wildlife.
Access is excellent to this large WMA. There are numerous parking areas on the perimeter and interior of this unit. There are several driving trails and other walking trails. There is also a public water access to Melvin Slough, with adjacent parking. This large WMA is an outstanding example of some of Minnesota's remaining mesic prairie. It benefits from being near to several other prairie units and forms a "conservation connection" so important to a number of wildlife species. This is an excellent area for viewing prairie plants and wildlife. Rare features include a calcareous fen and dry prairie, wet prairie and dry prairie. Rare and unique flowering plants are found here. Also present are rare birds.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Chicog WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Chicog WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Chicog WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Chicog WMA?
Chicog WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 265. The DNR registered 1,177 deer in DPA 265 in 2025, against 1,067 in 2024.
| DPA | Chicog WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 265 | 2,432 | 1,177 | 1,067 | 930 |
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 Chicog WMA?
From Hwy 102, 0.1 mi west on County Road 41, then south 1.5 mi on a township road to parking area on right (west) side of road.
Access is good with township roads on the south and east sides. A parking lot with an information sign is located on the east side of the unit.
Nearest towns: Beltrami (6 miles), Fertile (6 miles), Mentor (13 miles) and Crookston (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 102.
What other public land is near Chicog WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Liberty WMA: 1,368 acres, 1 mile away
- Thorson Prairie WMA: 1,108 acres, 1 mile away
- Burnham WMA: 990 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Onstad WMA: 280 acres, 2 miles away
- Trail WMA: 609 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Godfrey WMA: 145 acres, 3.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Chicog WMA
Counting Chicog WMA itself, 7,405 of the 36,122 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (20.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 5,504 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,824 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 77 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Chicog WMA?
In Polk County, near Fertile. The DNR's directions: From Hwy 102, 0.1 mi west on County Road 41, then south 1.5 mi on a township road to parking area on right (west) side of road.
Which deer permit area is Chicog WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 265. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Chicog WMA?
7,405 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Chicog WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Liberty WMA (1 mile).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Chicog 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.