Enerson Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Enerson Wildlife Management Area is 282 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near McIntosh, inside Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 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 landEnerson WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 282 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 210 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | McIntosh |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | McIntosh (6 mi), Trail (6 mi) and Oklee (8 mi) |
What is Enerson WMA like?
This WMA is a mixture of lakes and wetlands, hardwood forest, brushlands, and grassland. The management emphasis on this unit is to preserve and manage a mix of wetland, grass, brush and timber for wildlife.
The unit consists of two separate parcels. Enerson Lake is in Section 19 and the Hill River runs through both parcels. The area is quite pretty with open fields, brushy groves and a lake adjacent. Spring frog choruses can be impressive with Canadian toad and spring peeper being quite abundant.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Enerson WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Enerson WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Enerson WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Enerson WMA?
Enerson WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 in 2025, against 1,331 in 2024.
| DPA | Enerson WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 210 | 282 | 1,487 | 1,331 | 1,383 |
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 Enerson WMA?
From McIntosh, go 3 1/2 miles N on CSAH 8 then 3 miles E on CSAH 35 then 2 miles N on TWP RD.
Access is available to both parcels via township roads. Walking access is available to Enerson Lake.
Nearest towns: McIntosh (6 miles), Trail (6 miles), Oklee (8 miles) and Fosston (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 92.
What other public land is near Enerson WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hill River WMA: 139 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Brandsvold WMA: 144 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Polk WMA: 2,762 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Timber Doodle WMA: 158 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Kakaik WMA: 204 acres, 8 miles away
- Erskine WMA: 1,220 acres, 8.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Enerson WMA
Counting Enerson WMA itself, 933 of the 26,143 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 638 |
| State wildlife management areas | 290 |
| Other federal land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Enerson WMA?
In Polk County, near McIntosh. The DNR's directions: From McIntosh, go 3 1/2 miles N on CSAH 8 then 3 miles E on CSAH 35 then 2 miles N on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Enerson WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 210. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Enerson WMA?
933 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Enerson WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hill River WMA (3.5 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, Enerson 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.