Dry Sand Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Dry Sand Wildlife Management Area is 800 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Cass and Wadena counties, near Nimrod, inside Deer Permit Area 246. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,143 deer in DPA 246 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 landOther federal landDry Sand WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 800 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Cass County and Wadena County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 246 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Nimrod |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Nimrod (8 mi), Staples (11 mi) and Aldrich (13 mi) |
What is Dry Sand WMA like?
Dry Sand WMA was created in 1958 to restore/improve waterfowl habitat in the drained Dry Sand Lake basin. Initial water control structure was installed in 1964 and re-constructed in 2000.
WMA consists of Dry Sand Lake (206 acres) and related Turtle Shell impoundment (44 acres), surrounding area is primarily jack pine savannah. Public access on the S. side of Dry Sand Lake is carry-in type only.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Dry Sand WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Dry Sand WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Dry Sand WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Dry Sand WMA?
Dry Sand WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 246. The DNR registered 3,143 deer in DPA 246 in 2025, against 2,624 in 2024.
| DPA | Dry Sand WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 246 | 800 | 3,143 | 2,624 | 2,394 |
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 Dry Sand WMA?
From the junction of CR's 227 & 26 on the south side of Nimrod, S. on Co. Rd. 26 4 miles, E. on Co. Rd. 9 4 miles, S. on Co. Rd. 30 2.8 miles, E. on gravel forest trail 1.25 miles to Dry Sand Lake access.
Nearest towns: Nimrod (8 miles), Staples (11 miles), Aldrich (13 miles) and Verndale (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 64.
What other public land is near Dry Sand WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Crow Wing River Corridor WMA: 750 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Farnham Lake WMA: 256 acres, 1 mile away
- Strike WMA: 300 acres, 4.1 miles away
- North Germany WMA: 278 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Meadow Brook WMA: 5,752 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dry Sand WMA
Counting Dry Sand WMA itself, 4,654 of the 29,111 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 3,395 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,246 |
| Other federal land | 13 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dry Sand WMA?
In Cass and Wadena counties, near Nimrod. The DNR's directions: From the junction of CR's 227 & 26 on the south side of Nimrod, S. on Co. Rd. 26 4 miles, E. on Co. Rd. 9 4 miles, S. on Co. Rd. 30 2.8 miles, E. on gravel forest trail 1.25 miles to Dry Sand Lake access.
Which deer permit area is Dry Sand WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 246. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Dry Sand WMA?
4,654 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dry Sand WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Crow Wing River Corridor WMA (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Dry Sand 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.