Goethite Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Goethite Wildlife Management Area is 304 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Fillmore County, near Spring Valley, inside Deer Permit Area 647. 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 1,444 deer in DPA 647 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 parksGoethite WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 304 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Fillmore County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 647 |
| 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) | Spring Valley |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Ostrander (3 mi), Spring Valley (4 mi) and Wykoff (7 mi) |
What is Goethite WMA like?
Woodlots are comprised of oak, cottonwood, maple, ash and aspen. Upland fields are cool season grasses. Four water control structures with numerous wetlands exist. A portion of the south branch of the Root River runs through south end of unit.
Management emphasis is to maintain a rich, diverse interspersion of numerous communities throughout the unit. Prescribed burning, water level manipulation and nesting cover maintenance practices are utilized. One parking lot exists.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Goethite 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 Goethite WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Goethite WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Goethite WMA: A special use permit is required for beaver trapping when allowed.
How many deer are taken around Goethite WMA?
Goethite WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 647. The DNR registered 1,444 deer in DPA 647 in 2025, against 1,358 in 2024.
| DPA | Goethite WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 647 | 304 | 1,444 | 1,358 | 1,247 |
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 Goethite WMA?
From Spring Valley, go 4 miles S on US Hwy 63 then 1.5 miles E on Twp. Rd.
Access by Township road that divides the WMA.
Nearest towns: Ostrander (3 miles), Spring Valley (4 miles), Wykoff (7 miles) and Le Roy (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63 and MN 16.
What other public land is near Goethite WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Seven Springs WMA: 340 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Cherry Grove WMA: 78 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Beaver Creek WMA: 1,294 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Nosek WMA: 141 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Cartney WMA: 481 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Spring Valley WMA: 81 acres, 8.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Goethite WMA
Counting Goethite WMA itself, 437 of the 24,265 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 387 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 39 |
| State parks | 11 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Goethite WMA?
In Fillmore County, near Spring Valley. The DNR's directions: From Spring Valley, go 4 miles S on US Hwy 63 then 1.5 miles E on Twp. Rd.
Which deer permit area is Goethite WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 647. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Goethite WMA?
437 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Goethite WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Seven Springs WMA (3.3 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Goethite 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.