Elgin Woods Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Elgin Woods Wildlife Management Area is 240 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Todd County, near Ward Springs, inside Deer Permit Area 215. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 5,267 deer in DPA 215 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 areasElgin Woods WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 240 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Todd County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 215 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Ward Springs |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Grey Eagle (5 mi), Sauk Centre (6 mi) and St. Rosa (9 mi) |
What is Elgin Woods WMA like?
This WMA is comprised of mainly rolling hardwood forest that includes numerous small wetlands. There is also one larger open water marsh on the east side of the WMA. Management of this WMA focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of native plants and wildlife, with emphasis on forest-dependent wildlife.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Elgin Woods WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Elgin Woods WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Elgin Woods WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Elgin Woods WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles and motorized watercraft are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
How many deer are taken around Elgin Woods WMA?
Elgin Woods WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 215. The DNR registered 5,267 deer in DPA 215 in 2025, against 4,913 in 2024.
| DPA | Elgin Woods WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 215 | 240 | 5,267 | 4,913 | 4,318 |
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 Elgin Woods WMA?
From Ward Springs, go 3.5 miles west on county road 2, then 0.5 miles west on township road.
Access the WMA via the parking on the north end off of Blue Spruce Road. There is a 1.2 mile long hunter walking trail beginning at the parking lot, that heads to the south end of the WMA.
Nearest towns: Grey Eagle (5 miles), Sauk Centre (6 miles), St. Rosa (9 miles) and Melrose (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 71, MN 28 and MN 287.
What other public land is near Elgin Woods WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Grey Eagle WMA: 1,407 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Ostendorff WMA: 54 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Ritter WMA: 100 acres, 6.6 miles away
- Sauk River WMA: 939 acres, 7 miles away
- Lasher Lake WMA: 146 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Buckhorn Lake WMA: 157 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Elgin Woods WMA
Counting Elgin Woods WMA itself, 1,822 of the 23,533 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,664 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 158 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Elgin Woods WMA?
In Todd County, near Ward Springs. The DNR's directions: From Ward Springs, go 3.5 miles west on county road 2, then 0.5 miles west on township road.
Which deer permit area is Elgin Woods WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 215. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Elgin Woods WMA?
1,822 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Elgin Woods WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Grey Eagle WMA (0.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Elgin Woods 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.