Cold Springs Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Cold Springs Wildlife Management Area is 259 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Renville County, near Redwood Falls, inside Deer Permit Area 281. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,343 deer in DPA 281 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 AccessCold Springs WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 259 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Renville County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 281 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Redwood Falls |
| DNR area office | New Ulm |
| Nearest towns | Delhi (3 mi), Redwood Falls (4 mi) and Morton (8 mi) |
What is Cold Springs WMA like?
This unit is a mixture of remnant prairie, rock outcrop, oak woods, and cedar thicket with small wetlands scattered throughout. Frontage exists along the Minnesota River.
Deer and turkey hunting are the primary opportunities at this location, but other wildlife can occasionally be found also.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Cold Springs WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Cold Springs WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Cold Springs WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Cold Springs WMA?
Cold Springs WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 281. The DNR registered 1,343 deer in DPA 281 in 2025, against 1,227 in 2024.
| DPA | Cold Springs WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 281 | 259 | 1,343 | 1,227 | 1,156 |
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 Cold Springs WMA?
From Redwood Falls, go 3.4 miles N and E on Redwood CSAH 101 and Renville CSAH 1, then go 4 miles NW on Renville County CSAH15 to the WMA access road on the south (left hand) side of the road.
Nearest towns: Delhi (3 miles), Redwood Falls (4 miles), Morton (8 miles) and Belview (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 19, MN 67 and US 71. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Cold Springs WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Cedar Rock WMA: 947 acres, next to it
- Granite Prairie WMA: 192 acres, 1 mile away
- Waukon Rim WMA: 385 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Klabunde WMA: 203 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Delhi WMA: 147 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Whispering Ridge WMA: 269 acres, 4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cold Springs WMA
Counting Cold Springs WMA itself, 1,987 of the 25,050 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,926 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 61 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Cold Springs WMA?
In Renville County, near Redwood Falls. The DNR's directions: From Redwood Falls, go 3.4 miles N and E on Redwood CSAH 101 and Renville CSAH 1, then go 4 miles NW on Renville County CSAH15 to the WMA access road on the south (left hand) side of the road.
Which deer permit area is Cold Springs WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 281. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Cold Springs WMA?
1,987 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cold Springs WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Cedar Rock WMA (next to it).
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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, Cold Springs 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.