Dittmer Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Dittmer Wildlife Management Area is 562 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Mahnomen County, near Bejou, inside Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 224 deer in DPA 297 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 areasDittmer WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 562 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Mahnomen County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 297 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Bejou |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Bejou (4 mi), Riverland (7 mi) and Mahnomen (7 mi) |
What can you hunt on Dittmer WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Dittmer WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Dittmer WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Dittmer WMA?
Dittmer WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR registered 224 deer in DPA 297 in 2025, against 204 in 2024.
| DPA | Dittmer WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 297 | 562 | 224 | 204 | 145 |
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 Dittmer WMA?
From Bejou, go 2 miles S on US 59 then 3 miles W on TWP RD.
Nearest towns: Bejou (4 miles), Riverland (7 miles), Mahnomen (7 miles) and Winger (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59 and MN 200.
What other public land is near Dittmer WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Bejou WMA: 1,936 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Wambach WMA: 1,287 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Loncrace WMA: 253 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Rush WMA: 813 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Gregory WMA: 617 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Mahgre WMA: 121 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dittmer WMA
Counting Dittmer WMA itself, 2,132 of the 26,010 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,131 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dittmer WMA?
In Mahnomen County, near Bejou. The DNR's directions: From Bejou, go 2 miles S on US 59 then 3 miles W on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Dittmer WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 297. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Dittmer WMA?
2,132 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dittmer WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Bejou WMA (0.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Dittmer 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.