East Chain Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
East Chain Wildlife Management Area is 389 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Martin County, near East Chain, inside Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 854 deer in DPA 253 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 landCounty, city and regional landEast Chain WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 389 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Martin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 253 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | East Chain |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Fairmont (6 mi), Granada (7 mi) and Northrop (10 mi) |
What can you hunt on East Chain WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for East Chain WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on East Chain WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around East Chain WMA?
East Chain WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR registered 854 deer in DPA 253 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | East Chain WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 253 | 389 | 854 | 785 | 845 |
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 East Chain WMA?
From East Chain, go 1 1/2 miles N on CO RD 151.
Nearest towns: Fairmont (6 miles), Granada (7 miles), Northrop (10 miles) and Welcome (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 15.
What other public land is near East Chain WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Swag WMA: 74 acres, 4 miles away
- Luedtke WMA: 162 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Minowa WMA: 100 acres, 5 miles away
- Gruven WMA: 326 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Center Creek WMA: 355 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Lake Guckeen WMA: 341 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of East Chain WMA
Counting East Chain WMA itself, 438 of the 26,838 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 400 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 38 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is East Chain WMA?
In Martin County, near East Chain. The DNR's directions: From East Chain, go 1 1/2 miles N on CO RD 151.
Which deer permit area is East Chain WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 253. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around East Chain WMA?
438 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, East Chain WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Swag WMA (4 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, East Chain 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.