Fermoy Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Fermoy Wildlife Management Area is 503 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Cotton, inside Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 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 landFermoy WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 503 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 178 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Cotton |
| DNR area office | Tower |
| Nearest towns | Meadowlands (11 mi), Iron Junction (12 mi) and Leonidas (16 mi) |
What is Fermoy WMA like?
Lowland brush & grassland mixed with aspen islands.
Sharp-tailed grouse management is emphasized on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Fermoy WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Fermoy WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Fermoy WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Fermoy WMA?
Fermoy WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 in 2025, against 1,392 in 2024.
| DPA | Fermoy WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 178 | 503 | 1,521 | 1,392 | 1,272 |
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 Fermoy WMA?
5 miles west of Cotton on St Louis Co 52 then 3 miles North on Co 7 to Sax Rd then.8 mile to Co 788, then North.6 miles. Parking lot on West side of the road.
Nearest towns: Meadowlands (11 miles), Iron Junction (12 miles), Leonidas (16 miles) and Eveleth (16 miles).
What other public land is near Fermoy WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sax WMA: 944 acres, next to it
- Zim WMA: 910 acres, next to it
- Little Whiteface River WMA: 441 acres, 7.5 miles away
- Anchor Lake WMA: 216 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Fermoy WMA
Counting Fermoy WMA itself, 8,196 of the 29,134 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (28.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 5,801 |
| State wildlife management areas | 2,395 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Fermoy WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Cotton. The DNR's directions: 5 miles west of Cotton on St Louis Co 52 then 3 miles North on Co 7 to Sax Rd then.8 mile to Co 788, then North.6 miles. Parking lot on West side of the road.
Which deer permit area is Fermoy WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 178. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Fermoy WMA?
8,196 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Fermoy WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sax WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Fermoy 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.