Gordon W. Yeager Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Gordon W. Yeager Wildlife Management Area is 490 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Olmsted County, near Rochester, inside Deer Permit Area 643. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,469 deer in DPA 643 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 areasCounty, city and regional landGordon W. Yeager WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 490 acres in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Olmsted County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 643 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Rochester |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Rochester (3 mi), Marion (6 mi) and Eyota (8 mi) |
What is Gordon W. Yeager WMA like?
This WMA is one of 4 subunits of the Gordon W. Yeager WMA which are, in general, bisected by County Road 22 and the DM&E railroad. However, this unit has some land that lies North of the railroad tracks and connects to the Gordon W. Yeager Nelson Unit. It is the largest of the 4 subunits and is mostly a large forested tract that includes bottomland forest following a small creek corridor and upland forest that includes oak and walnut species. An addition to this unit in 2025 includes additional upland forest and small agricultural fields that are planned to be restored to native habitat. This WMA is one of 4 subunits of the Gordon W. Yeager WMA which are bisected by County Road 22 and the DM&E railroad. It is adjacent to Quarry Hill Nature Center which is managed by the city of Rochester. A large portion of the habitat on this subunit is a young forest restoration that includes oak species and walnut. A small wooded creek corridor also exists along the southern boundary of this subunit. This WMA is one of 4 subunits of the Gordon W. Yeager WMA which are bisected by County Road 22 and the DM&E railroad. It is mostly grassland and brushland habitat with some interspersed mature trees. This subunit of the Gordon W. Yeager WMA is a mix of oak forest, planted pine stands, and restored native prairie. Large fields of restored native prairie can be found in the southwest part of the unit, and in the upper fields on the North side of the unit. This WMA is one of 4 subunits of the Gordon W. Yeager WMA which are bisected by County Road 22 and the DM&E railroad. The Rochester Area DNR shop facility is located on this subunit. The eastern portion is mostly prairie habitat with intermixed trees. The western portion is predominantly mature forest.
The primary uses of the WMA are birding, berry picking, hiking, general nature observation, and hunting. HABITAT MANAGEMENT NOTICE: Wooded portions of this unit are currently undergoing woody invasive brush management to reduce understory invasion of buckthorn and honeysuckle. Sites are being mechanically/hand-cleared and treated with herbicides to reduce re-sprouting of invasive species. We apologize for the inconvenience of this habitat management effort, but are confident the work will improve site access and species diversity for years to come.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Gordon W. Yeager WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Gordon W. Yeager WMA: This subunit of the WMA is within the Rochester Game Refuge and is closed to waterfowl hunting. Deer hunting is limited to the use of archery equipment. Small game and turkey hunting is restricted to shotguns with size BBB or smaller diameter shot. Firearms firing a single projectile are not allowed.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Gordon W. Yeager WMA: This subunit of the WMA is closed to the discharge of firearms, however hunting with archery equipment is allowed. It is also within the Rochester Game Refuge and is closed to waterfowl hunting.
How many deer are taken around Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
Gordon W. Yeager WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 643. The DNR registered 3,469 deer in DPA 643 in 2025, against 3,028 in 2024.
| DPA | Gordon W. Yeager WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 643 | 490 | 3,469 | 3,028 | 3,039 |
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 Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
From Rochester, go north of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the E side of the road and on the S side of the railroad tracks. Address of the West (Main) parking lot is 578 E Circle Dr NE, Rochester, MN 55906. From Rochester, go N of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the W side of the road and on the N side of the railroad tracks. From Rochester, go N of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the E side of the road and on the N side of the railroad tracks. From East Circle Drive/County Road 22, go E on College View Road/County Road 9 approximately 1.5 miles. Parking area will then be on the N side of County Road 9 just E of the railroad tracks. Address of the parking lot is: 4489 College View Rd E, Rochester, MN 55904. From Rochester, go N of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the W side of the road and on the S side of the railroad tracks.
There are two parking areas that can be accessed from East Circle Dr/County Rd 22 along the western boundary of the subunit. A third parking area is along Silver Creek Rd NE. There is no formal parking lot for access to this subunit. Parking along the southern portion of Silver Creek Rd NE or in the adjacent gravel parking lot at Quarry Hill Nature Center are the recommended options. There is no formal parking lot for access to this subunit. Parking along Silver Creek Rd NE is the recommended option. Parking is limited to one parking lot located in the SE corner of the unit. A management access road open to foot traffic runs through the unit in a north-westerly fashion to the restored prairie area in the northern portion of the unit. Parking for this subunit is in either of the two parking lots at the end of Silver Creek Rd NE where it leads to the Rochester Area DNR shop facility.
Nearest towns: Rochester (3 miles), Marion (6 miles), Eyota (8 miles) and Elgin (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, US 14 and US 63.
What other public land is near Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Eastside WMA: 119 acres, next to it
- Haverhill WMA: 398 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Keller WMA: 197 acres, 9.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gordon W. Yeager WMA
Counting Gordon W. Yeager WMA itself, 1,599 of the 28,858 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 | 1,010 |
| County, city and regional land | 589 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
In Olmsted County, near Rochester. The DNR's directions: From Rochester, go north of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the E side of the road and on the S side of the railroad tracks. Address of the West (Main) parking lot is 578 E Circle Dr NE, Rochester, MN 55906. From Rochester, go N of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the W side of the road and on the N side of the railroad tracks. From Rochester, go N of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the E side of the road and on the N side of the railroad tracks. From East Circle Drive/County Road 22, go E on College View Road/County Road 9 approximately 1.5 miles. Parking area will then be on the N side of County Road 9 just E of the railroad tracks. Address of the parking lot is: 4489 College View Rd E, Rochester, MN 55904. From Rochester, go N of the intersection of East Circle Dr/County Road 22 and College View Rd/County Road 9 approximately 0.5 miles. It is on the W side of the road and on the S side of the railroad tracks.
Which deer permit area is Gordon W. Yeager WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 643. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Gordon W. Yeager WMA?
1,599 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gordon W. Yeager WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Eastside WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Gordon W. Yeager 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).
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