Circle Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Circle Lake Wildlife Management Area is 263 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Rice County, near Millersburg, inside Deer Permit Area 605. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,115 deer in DPA 605 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 areasCounty, city and regional landCircle Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 263 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Rice County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 605 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Millersburg |
| DNR area office | Owatonna |
| Nearest towns | Lonsdale (4 mi), Dundas (7 mi) and Faribault (8 mi) |
What is Circle Lake WMA like?
This wildlife management area (WMA) consists of a mainland tract on the northwest arm of Circle Lake and the large island within Circle Lake. The unit has rolling topography supporting a mix of grasslands, forest and extensive wetland habitats. Shallow marshes and ponds are dominant features of the mainland tract. Upland cover consists of "old field" grassland, brushland with stands of young woodland, conifer plantings and a small area of hardwood forest. Mature maple-basswood forest rings the island as is rises up from the lake. The interior of the island is gently rolling land with brushland, grassland and small wetlands.
Management emphasizes habitat for waterfowl and wetland wildlife as well as upland game and other species dependent on habitats that are transitional between grasslands and forest. Management practices including grassland enhancement, prescribed burns, and removal of invasive woody species will help maintain productive cover. The mainland and island tracts were acquired by The Trust for Public Land with the assistance of the Outdoor Heritage Fund then gifted to the Department of Natural Resources for wildlife conservation and wildlife-based recreation. The mainland tract was acquired in 2017 and the island added in 2025. The mainland portion of the area has been devoted to wildlife conservation for many years. It was developed and maintained to benefit waterfowl by the Cook Waterfowl Foundation before becoming a public wildlife management area. The island tract has a storied history.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Circle Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Circle Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Circle Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Circle Lake WMA?
Circle Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 605. The DNR registered 3,115 deer in DPA 605 in 2025, against 2,826 in 2024.
| DPA | Circle Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 605 | 263 | 3,115 | 2,826 | 2,821 |
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 Circle Lake WMA?
Travel about 1.5 miles west of Millersburg on Rice County State Aid Highway 1 (Millersburg Blvd).
Road access to the mainland portion of area is good as the WMA is bounded by Millersburg Boulevard, Echo Avenue and Circle Lake Trail. A parking area is located on the east side of Echo Avenue about 0.2 miles south of its intersection with Millersburg Boulevard. Another small parking area is available in the southeast corner of the mainland unit on the north side of Circle Lake Trail. It may be reached by following Circle Lake Trail to the southwest for about 0.7 miles from its intersection with Millersburg Boulevard. A State Public Water Access at 4838 Circle Lake Trail provides lake access to reach the island as well as additional off road parking for the mainland portion of the WMA. The island is about 1 mile by water to the southeast of the public water access. There is no developed landing on the island.
Nearest towns: Lonsdale (4 miles), Dundas (7 miles), Faribault (8 miles) and Northfield (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, MN 21, MN 19 and MN 3.
What other public land is near Circle Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Milest WMA: 216 acres, 1 mile away
- Paulson Marsh WMA: 62 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Big Woods Heritage Forest WMA: 127 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Sunktokeca Creek WMA: 202 acres, 4 miles away
- Robert J. Lick WMA: 194 acres, 4 miles away
- Peat Bog WMA: 154 acres, 4.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Circle Lake WMA
Counting Circle Lake WMA itself, 938 of the 27,594 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 558 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 224 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 156 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Circle Lake WMA?
In Rice County, near Millersburg. The DNR's directions: Travel about 1.5 miles west of Millersburg on Rice County State Aid Highway 1 (Millersburg Blvd).
Which deer permit area is Circle Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 605. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Circle Lake WMA?
938 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Circle Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Milest WMA (1 mile).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Circle Lake 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.