Farnham Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Farnham Lake Wildlife Management Area is 256 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Cass and Wadena counties, near Staples, inside Deer Permit Area 246. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,143 deer in DPA 246 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 landOther federal landCounty, city and regional landFarnham Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 256 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Cass County and Wadena County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 246 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Staples |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Staples (9 mi), Nimrod (10 mi) and Aldrich (11 mi) |
What is Farnham Lake WMA like?
The Farnham Lake wildlife management area was created in 2012 to provide public access and protect shoreline on Farnham Lake, an important shallow/wild rice lake.
Land protection efforts were facilitated through the acquisition of 49 acres of Potlatch property by Ducks Unlimited, an acquisition of 92 acres of Potlatch land by Cass County through an Outdoor Heritage Fund grant, and a cooperative lease by Cass County for the acquired Potlatch tract on an additional 82 acres. Recreational opportunities exist throughout the year, including hunting, wild rice harvest, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and wildlife watching/photography.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Farnham Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Farnham Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Farnham Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Farnham Lake WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the wildlife management area except on designated routes and parking lots.
How many deer are taken around Farnham Lake WMA?
Farnham Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 246. The DNR registered 3,143 deer in DPA 246 in 2025, against 2,624 in 2024.
| DPA | Farnham Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 246 | 256 | 3,143 | 2,624 | 2,394 |
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 Farnham Lake WMA?
From the junction of State Highway 210 and County Road 30 in Staples, 11 miles north parking lot to wildlife management area and carry-in public water access to Farnham Lake is on the north side of County Road 30.
The public access is directly off Cass County Highway 30.
Nearest towns: Staples (9 miles), Nimrod (10 miles), Aldrich (11 miles) and Motley (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 64.
What other public land is near Farnham Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Dry Sand WMA: 800 acres, 1 mile away
- Crow Wing River Corridor WMA: 750 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Strike WMA: 300 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Meadow Brook WMA: 5,752 acres, 8.5 miles away
- North Germany WMA: 278 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Farnham Lake WMA
Counting Farnham Lake WMA itself, 2,903 of the 24,289 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,830 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,060 |
| Other federal land | 13 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Farnham Lake WMA?
In Cass and Wadena counties, near Staples. The DNR's directions: From the junction of State Highway 210 and County Road 30 in Staples, 11 miles north parking lot to wildlife management area and carry-in public water access to Farnham Lake is on the north side of County Road 30.
Which deer permit area is Farnham Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 246. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Farnham Lake WMA?
2,903 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Farnham Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Dry Sand WMA (1 mile).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Farnham Lake 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.