Frank Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Frank Wildlife Management Area is 615 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Becker County, near Detroit Lakes, inside Deer Permit Area 258. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,329 deer in DPA 258 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 areasCounty, city and regional landFrank WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 615 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Becker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 258 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Detroit Lakes |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Detroit Lakes (2 mi), Audubon (7 mi) and Frazee (9 mi) |
What is Frank WMA like?
The habitat diversity includes upland deciduous hardwoods, lowland hardwoods, lowland brush/willow swamp, mixed emergent marshes and open grassland. The partially drained Rice Lake connects the multiple tracts of Frank WMA, and the Pelican River flows through the WMA.
Management emphasis focuses on waterfowl, deer, turkey and upland game production and habitat improvement to benefit those species. This unit's location close to Detroit Lakes and difficult accessibility make it a challenge to conduct prescribed burns on. Timber harvest, brush shearing and tree planting are some strategies used to improve habitat for wildlife. The partially drained Rice Lake is in the process of being restored, which should enhance waterfowl habitat on the WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Frank WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game for Frank WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Frank WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Frank WMA?
Frank WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 258. The DNR registered 1,329 deer in DPA 258 in 2025, against 1,093 in 2024.
| DPA | Frank WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 258 | 615 | 1,329 | 1,093 | 883 |
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 Frank WMA?
2 miles North/Northeast.
There is access and a parking lot on the east side of the southern unit of Frank WMA off of Totland Rd. The central unit is largely inaccessible except for a narrow sliver of land connecting it to the south unit along the east side of Rice Lake. The north unit is accessible off of CR21, Anchor Road or Rice Lake road. Anchor road is being closed in 2020 as part of the Rice Lake Restoration Project.
Nearest towns: Detroit Lakes (2 miles), Audubon (7 miles), Frazee (9 miles) and Callaway (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10, MN 34 and US 59.
What other public land is near Frank WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Stenseth WMA: 27 acres, next to it
- Pickerel WMA: 321 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Bruce J. Schwartz WMA: 89 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Shelly Island WMA: 103 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Hubbel Pond WMA: 3,515 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Audubon WMA: 31 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Frank WMA
Counting Frank WMA itself, 1,726 of the 31,227 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 678 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 624 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 314 |
| County, city and regional land | 110 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Frank WMA?
In Becker County, near Detroit Lakes. The DNR's directions: 2 miles North/Northeast.
Which deer permit area is Frank WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 258. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Frank WMA?
1,726 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Frank WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Stenseth 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, Frank 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.