Dove Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Dove Lake Wildlife Management Area is 258 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Le Sueur County, near Elysian, inside Deer Permit Area 292. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,197 deer in DPA 292 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 areasOther federal landDove Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 258 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Le Sueur County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 292 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Elysian |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Elysian (2 mi), Madison Lake (5 mi) and Waterville (6 mi) |
What is Dove Lake WMA like?
The Dove Lake WMA is mainly comprised of: Upland and wetland forest types with a restored oak savanna component and an agricultural food plot.
To access the West tract of Dove Lake WMA, a walking access is in place East of 231st Ave. This is a walking access only. The West tract walking access has no marked off road parking areas available. Field approach parking may be available unless otherwise restricted near the walking trail head.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Dove Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Dove Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Dove Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Dove Lake WMA: A no-shooting buffer zone is posted around residence on the east side of WMA along Le Sueur CSAH 13 (Elysian Rd).
How many deer are taken around Dove Lake WMA?
Dove Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 292. The DNR registered 1,197 deer in DPA 292 in 2025, against 1,149 in 2024.
| DPA | Dove Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 292 | 258 | 1,197 | 1,149 | 1,088 |
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 Dove Lake WMA?
From Elysian, go 1 1/2 miles NW on CSAH 11 then 1 mile W on CSAH 13.
Wheelchair access is limited to the gravel parking lot and adjacent county and township roads. A primitive trail runs from the parking lot along the edge of a prairie grass field to a seasonal wetland.
Nearest towns: Elysian (2 miles), Madison Lake (5 miles), Waterville (6 miles) and Janesville (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60.
What other public land is near Dove Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Earl Swain WMA: 105 acres, next to it
- Seha WMA: 132 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Carl and Verna Schmidt WMA: 49 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Murphy WMA: 212 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Frank Breen Memorial WMA: 22 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Chadderdon WMA: 133 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dove Lake WMA
Counting Dove Lake WMA itself, 540 of the 24,227 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 538 |
| Other federal land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dove Lake WMA?
In Le Sueur County, near Elysian. The DNR's directions: From Elysian, go 1 1/2 miles NW on CSAH 11 then 1 mile W on CSAH 13.
Which deer permit area is Dove Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 292. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Dove Lake WMA?
540 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dove Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Earl Swain WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Dove 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.