David H. Steen Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
David H. Steen Wildlife Management Area is 184 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Big Stone County, near Clinton, inside Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and ducks and geese for it. Hunters registered 495 deer in DPA 274 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 areasState parksDavid H. Steen WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 184 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Big Stone County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 274 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants and ducks and geese |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Clinton |
| DNR area office | Appleton |
| Nearest towns | Clinton (4 mi), Ortonville (8 mi) and Barry (10 mi) |
What can you hunt on David H. Steen WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and ducks and geese for David H. Steen WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on David H. Steen WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around David H. Steen WMA?
David H. Steen WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR registered 495 deer in DPA 274 in 2025, against 453 in 2024.
| DPA | David H. Steen WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 274 | 184 | 495 | 453 | 402 |
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 David H. Steen WMA?
From Clinton, go 2 miles W on CSAH 6 then 3 miles S on CO RD 63.
Nearest towns: Clinton (4 miles), Ortonville (8 miles), Barry (10 miles) and Graceville (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75 and MN 7.
What other public land is near David H. Steen WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Big Stone WMA: 390 acres, 1 mile away
- Thielke Lake WMA: 1,256 acres, 2 miles away
- Reisdorph WMA: 214 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Wesley E. Olson WMA: 198 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Thomson WMA: 119 acres, 6.6 miles away
- Skoog WMA: 189 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of David H. Steen WMA
Counting David H. Steen WMA itself, 2,228 of the 22,395 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 975 |
| State parks | 749 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 504 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is David H. Steen WMA?
In Big Stone County, near Clinton. The DNR's directions: From Clinton, go 2 miles W on CSAH 6 then 3 miles S on CO RD 63.
Which deer permit area is David H. Steen WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 274. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around David H. Steen WMA?
2,228 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, David H. Steen WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Big Stone WMA (1 mile).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, David H. Steen 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.