Dead Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Dead Lake Wildlife Management Area is 896 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Otter Tail County, near Dent, inside Deer Permit Area 239. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,595 deer in DPA 239 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 areasDead Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 896 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Otter Tail County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 239 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Dent |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Richville (4 mi), Dent (4 mi) and Ottertail (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on Dead Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Dead Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Dead Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Dead Lake WMA?
Dead Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 239. The DNR registered 3,595 deer in DPA 239 in 2025, against 3,341 in 2024.
| DPA | Dead Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 239 | 896 | 3,595 | 3,341 | 3,185 |
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 Dead Lake WMA?
From Dent, go 5 miles S on CSAH 35 and 44.
Several access points including 375th Ave. (south off of Hwy 44) to a parking area, and Murray Rd off of 370th Ave. Access to Battle Lake (within the unit) is via Murray Rd and secondary trail through a grass meadow.
Nearest towns: Richville (4 miles), Dent (4 miles), Ottertail (8 miles) and Perham (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 108.
What other public land is near Dead Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Amor WMA: 720 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Davies WMA: 390 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Head Lake WMA: 421 acres, 4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dead Lake WMA
Counting Dead Lake WMA itself, 2,418 of the 32,728 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,031 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 376 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 10 |
| Other federal land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dead Lake WMA?
In Otter Tail County, near Dent. The DNR's directions: From Dent, go 5 miles S on CSAH 35 and 44.
Which deer permit area is Dead Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 239. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Dead Lake WMA?
2,418 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dead Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Amor WMA (1.5 miles).
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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, Dead 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.