Deerwood Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Deerwood Wildlife Management Area is 322 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kittson and Marshall counties, near Karlstad, inside Deer Permit Area 264. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,995 deer in DPA 264 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 areasDeerwood WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 322 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Kittson County and Marshall County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 264 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Karlstad |
| DNR area office | Karlstad |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Karlstad (next to it), Strandquist (5 mi) and Halma (7 mi) |
What is Deerwood WMA like?
This WMA is 4 separate tracts of State Trust lands. Management will be limited until the land is acquired. Parcels contain some oak woodland, oak savanna, or dry prairie on the gravel beach ridges. Emergent wetlands exist between the beach ridges.
The mosaic of timber, brush, grass, and wetland provides a large amount of edge for wildlife. This is an excellent area for woodland wildlife. Winter opportunities include snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Fall hunting opportunities exist for several big game species. Summer flowers of the prairie such as blazing star may be seen here and photography opportunities are excellent.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Deerwood WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Deerwood WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Deerwood WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Deerwood WMA: Access is available to 3 of the 4 parcels from public roads or land.
How many deer are taken around Deerwood WMA?
Deerwood WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 264. The DNR registered 1,995 deer in DPA 264 in 2025, against 2,007 in 2024.
| DPA | Deerwood WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 264 | 322 | 1,995 | 2,007 | 1,770 |
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 Deerwood WMA?
From Karlstad, go 1 mi SE on SH 59, 1 mi S & 0.5 mil W township roads.
Nearest towns: Karlstad (next to it), Strandquist (5 miles), Halma (7 miles) and Lake Bronson (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 11 and US 59.
What other public land is near Deerwood WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Twin Lakes WMA: 8,867 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Devils Playground WMA: 1,459 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Florian WMA: 1,528 acres, 4.8 miles away
- East Park WMA: 10,420 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Pelan WMA: 3,637 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Alces WMA: 75 acres, 7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Deerwood WMA
Counting Deerwood WMA itself, 2,167 of the 32,564 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,167 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Deerwood WMA?
In Kittson and Marshall counties, near Karlstad. The DNR's directions: From Karlstad, go 1 mi SE on SH 59, 1 mi S & 0.5 mil W township roads.
Which deer permit area is Deerwood WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 264. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Deerwood WMA?
2,167 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Deerwood WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Twin Lakes WMA (1.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Deerwood 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.