Follies Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Follies Wildlife Management Area is 610 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kandiyohi and Stearns counties, near New London, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasFollies WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 610 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Kandiyohi County and Stearns County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | New London |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Regal (3 mi), Belgrade (4 mi) and Lake Henry (6 mi) |
What is Follies WMA like?
This 500+ acre WMA lies on flat topography and contains former crop fields seeded to native and non-native grasses, native prairie which was once pastured, and large areas of cattail marsh.
With more acquisition, water depths in the main basin could possibly be raised to create a more productive marsh.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Follies WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Follies WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Follies WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Follies WMA?
Follies WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Follies WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 610 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Follies WMA?
Travel North from New London on CR 9 (NE end of town) 7.5 miles to the Kandiyohi/Stearns county line. WMA will be on your left (East).
Limited to adjacent roadways, access trail, and parking area.
Nearest towns: Regal (3 miles), Belgrade (4 miles), Lake Henry (6 miles) and New London (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 55 and US 71.
What other public land is near Follies WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: 757 acres, next to it
- Regal Meadows WMA: 306 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Tribute WMA: 232 acres, 1 mile away
- Crow River WMA: 155 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Burbank WMA: 506 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Regal Flats WMA: 508 acres, 3.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Follies WMA
Counting Follies WMA itself, 3,026 of the 27,552 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,080 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 906 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 40 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Follies WMA?
In Kandiyohi and Stearns counties, near New London. The DNR's directions: Travel North from New London on CR 9 (NE end of town) 7.5 miles to the Kandiyohi/Stearns county line. WMA will be on your left (East).
Which deer permit area is Follies WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Follies WMA?
3,026 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Follies WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Stearns Prairie Heritage 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, Follies 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.