Floodwood Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Floodwood Wildlife Management Area is 217 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Floodwood, inside Deer Permit Area 173. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 528 deer in DPA 173 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 landState parksFloodwood WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 217 acres |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 173 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Floodwood |
| DNR area office | Cloquet |
| Nearest towns | Floodwood (3 mi), Meadowlands (15 mi) and Wright (17 mi) |
What is Floodwood WMA like?
Mostly lowland and upland grasslands and brushlands. Swamp conifers, and a cedar-ash stand. Some aspen and spruce-fir.
This WMA is an old farm site that is now managed for sharp-tailed grouse habitat. This unit also provides a deer wintering area. This WMA offers good openland wildlife viewing opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Floodwood WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Floodwood WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Floodwood WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Floodwood WMA?
Floodwood WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 173. The DNR registered 528 deer in DPA 173 in 2025, against 452 in 2024.
| DPA | Floodwood WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 173 | 217 | 528 | 452 | 413 |
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 Floodwood WMA?
From Floodwood, go 1 3/4 miles W on CSAH 832, then 1/2 mile S on CSAH 186, then 1/2 mile W on CSAH 837.
There is one parking lot in the southeast of this WMA.
Nearest towns: Floodwood (3 miles), Meadowlands (15 miles), Wright (17 miles) and Cromwell (17 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2 and MN 73.
What other public land is near Floodwood WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Ricehaven WMA: 656 acres, 5.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Floodwood WMA
Counting Floodwood WMA itself, 578 of the 22,911 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 361 |
| State wildlife management areas | 217 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Floodwood WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Floodwood. The DNR's directions: From Floodwood, go 1 3/4 miles W on CSAH 832, then 1/2 mile S on CSAH 186, then 1/2 mile W on CSAH 837.
Which deer permit area is Floodwood WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 173. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Floodwood WMA?
578 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Floodwood WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. One other WMA is within 10 miles, the closest Ricehaven WMA (5.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Floodwood 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.