Espelie Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Espelie Wildlife Management Area is 3,644 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Marshall County, near Grygla, inside Deer Permit Areas 208 and 111. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 465 deer in DPA 208 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 landEspelie WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 3,644 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marshall County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 208, DPA 111 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Grygla |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (2 mi), Goodridge (8 mi) and Holt (22 mi) |
What can you hunt on Espelie WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Espelie WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Espelie WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Espelie WMA?
Espelie WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 465 deer in DPA 208 in 2025, against 409 in 2024.
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 Espelie WMA?
From Grygla, go 2 miles S on CSAH 54 then 2 miles W on TWP RD.
Nearest towns: Grygla (2 miles), Goodridge (8 miles), Holt (22 miles) and Middle River (23 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89 and MN 219.
What other public land is near Espelie WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Moylan WMA: 1,715 acres, next to it
- Willow-Run WMA: 3,564 acres, next to it
- Sem WMA: 2,838 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Carmelee WMA: 3,907 acres, 1 mile away
- Valley WMA: 656 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Eckvoll WMA: 6,491 acres, 2.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Espelie WMA
Counting Espelie WMA itself, 14,109 of the 63,003 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 14,069 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 40 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Espelie WMA?
In Marshall County, near Grygla. The DNR's directions: From Grygla, go 2 miles S on CSAH 54 then 2 miles W on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Espelie WMA in?
DPA 208 (3,485 acres) and DPA 111 (159 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Espelie WMA?
14,109 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Espelie WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Moylan WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Espelie 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.