Goose Prairie Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Goose Prairie Wildlife Management Area is 641 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clay County, near Hitterdal, inside Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 686 deer in DPA 666 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasGoose Prairie WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 641 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Hitterdal |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Hitterdal (next to it), Ulen (4 mi) and Hawley (9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Goose Prairie WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Goose Prairie WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Goose Prairie WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Goose Prairie WMA?
Goose Prairie WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Goose Prairie WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 641 | 686 |
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 Goose Prairie WMA?
From Hitterdal, go 2 miles N on SH 32.
Access is on the south side of Goose Prairie Marsh. Turn east ~3/4 mile past 97th Ave N (which goes west off of highway 32). Continue past two private driveways to parking lot on lake.
Nearest towns: Hitterdal (next to it), Ulen (4 miles), Hawley (9 miles) and Lake Park (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32.
What other public land is near Goose Prairie WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Aspen WMA: 40 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Melbye WMA: 80 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Atlanta WMA: 182 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Hitterdahl WMA: 267 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Cromwell WMA: 287 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Highland Grove WMA: 80 acres, 4.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Goose Prairie WMA
Counting Goose Prairie WMA itself, 3,301 of the 29,823 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,351 |
| State wildlife management areas | 950 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Goose Prairie WMA?
In Clay County, near Hitterdal. The DNR's directions: From Hitterdal, go 2 miles N on SH 32.
Which deer permit area is Goose Prairie WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Goose Prairie WMA?
3,301 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Goose Prairie WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Aspen WMA (1.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Goose Prairie 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.