Eastern Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Eastern Wildlife Management Area is 1,028 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Otter Tail County, near Parkers Prairie, inside Deer Permit Area 240. 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 5,068 deer in DPA 240 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 areasEastern WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,028 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Otter Tail County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 240 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Parkers Prairie |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Parkers Prairie (5 mi), Eagle Bend (8 mi) and Miltona (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on Eastern 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 Eastern WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Eastern WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Eastern WMA?
Eastern WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 240. The DNR registered 5,068 deer in DPA 240 in 2025, against 4,457 in 2024.
| DPA | Eastern WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 240 | 1,028 | 5,068 | 4,457 | 4,090 |
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 Eastern WMA?
From Parkers Prairie, go 6 miles E on CSAH 42.
Access and parking area is on the north side of Hwy 42. This trail also provides access to South Maple Lake where a boat can be launched for waterfowl hunting.
Nearest towns: Parkers Prairie (5 miles), Eagle Bend (8 miles), Miltona (8 miles) and Bertha (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 29.
What other public land is near Eastern WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wrightstown WMA: 221 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Spruce Creek WMA: 365 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Miltona WMA: 107 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Schulke WMA: 38 acres, 6 miles away
- Elmo WMA: 1,508 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Hartfiel WMA: 63 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Eastern WMA
Counting Eastern WMA itself, 1,153 of the 36,614 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,028 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 83 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 42 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Eastern WMA?
In Otter Tail County, near Parkers Prairie. The DNR's directions: From Parkers Prairie, go 6 miles E on CSAH 42.
Which deer permit area is Eastern WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 240. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Eastern WMA?
1,153 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Eastern WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wrightstown WMA (4.5 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Eastern 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.