Fireweed Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Fireweed Wildlife Management Area is 2,266 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Beltrami County, near Thorhult, inside Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 412 deer in DPA 111 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 landFireweed WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,266 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Beltrami County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 111 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Thorhult |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (11 mi), Goodridge (20 mi) and Ponemah (24 mi) |
What can you hunt on Fireweed WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Fireweed WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Fireweed WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Fireweed WMA?
Fireweed WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR registered 412 deer in DPA 111 in 2025, against 370 in 2024.
| DPA | Fireweed WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 111 | 2,266 | 412 | 370 | 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 Fireweed WMA?
From Thorhult, go 4 miles W on CSAH 42.
Nearest towns: Grygla (11 miles), Goodridge (20 miles), Ponemah (24 miles) and Little Rock (27 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89.
What other public land is near Fireweed WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hamre WMA: 4,530 acres, next to it
- Wolf Trail WMA: 7,792 acres, next to it
- Gun-dog WMA: 1,357 acres, next to it
- Saw-whet WMA: 1,286 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Lee WMA: 2,245 acres, 3 miles away
- Steenerson WMA: 159 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Fireweed WMA
Counting Fireweed WMA itself, 13,234 of the 40,988 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (32.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 12,470 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 764 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Fireweed WMA?
In Beltrami County, near Thorhult. The DNR's directions: From Thorhult, go 4 miles W on CSAH 42.
Which deer permit area is Fireweed WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 111. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Fireweed WMA?
13,234 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Fireweed WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hamre WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Fireweed 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.