Darwin S. Myers Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Darwin S. Myers Wildlife Management Area is 746 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near 2 mi SW of Embarrass, MN, inside Deer Permit Area 176. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 599 deer in DPA 176 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 forestDarwin S. Myers WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 746 acres |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 176 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | 2 mi SW of Embarrass, MN |
| DNR area office | Tower |
| Nearest towns | Hoyt Lakes (6 mi), Aurora (6 mi) and Biwabik (8 mi) |
What is Darwin S. Myers WMA like?
The WMA, formerly managed as a commercial rice paddy, is a mix of primarily wetland habitat bisected by the Embarrass River. Waterfowl, furbearers, deer and many bird species can be found within the lowland brush and forest, sedge meadow, and bog habitats.
Management will emphasize wetland, brushland and lowland forest plant communities. Management will include water level manipulation, removal of dikes, prescribed fire, dike mowing and maintenance, access improvement and boundary signing and posting. Unique forest/wetland bird species.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Darwin S. Myers WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Darwin S. Myers WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Darwin S. Myers WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Darwin S. Myers WMA?
Darwin S. Myers WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 176. The DNR registered 599 deer in DPA 176 in 2025, against 546 in 2024.
| DPA | Darwin S. Myers WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 176 | 746 | 599 | 546 | 576 |
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 Darwin S. Myers WMA?
From Virginia, go 5 mi N on Hwy 53 to Hwy 169, 5 mi NE to CR 21, 9 mi E to Hwy 135, then 1.5 mi S to Soini Rd, then 1 mi E to the unit.
Nearest towns: Hoyt Lakes (6 miles), Aurora (6 miles), Biwabik (8 miles) and McKinley (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 135.
What other public land is near Darwin S. Myers WMA?
Public land within 3 miles of Darwin S. Myers WMA
Counting Darwin S. Myers WMA itself, 1,731 of the 28,643 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 982 |
| State wildlife management areas | 749 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Darwin S. Myers WMA?
In St. Louis County, near 2 mi SW of Embarrass, MN. The DNR's directions: From Virginia, go 5 mi N on Hwy 53 to Hwy 169, 5 mi NE to CR 21, 9 mi E to Hwy 135, then 1.5 mi S to Soini Rd, then 1 mi E to the unit.
Which deer permit area is Darwin S. Myers WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 176. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Darwin S. Myers WMA?
1,731 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Darwin S. Myers WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Darwin S. Myers 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.