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Grace Marshes Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access

Grace Marshes Wildlife Management Area is 922 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Chippewa County, near Clara City, inside Deer Permit Area 282. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 242 deer in DPA 282 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.

Map of Grace Marshes Wildlife Management Area in Minnesota, with the public land around it, Chippewa County and Murdock, De Graff and Montevideo

State wildlife management areasGrace Marshes WMACounty lineLakeHighway

Grace Marshes WMA at a glance
Size922 acres
CountyChippewa County
Deer Permit AreaDPA 282
DNR lists for huntingdeer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game
Nearest town (DNR)Clara City
DNR area officeNew London
Nearest townsMurdock (11 mi), De Graff (11 mi) and Montevideo (12 mi)

What is Grace Marshes WMA like?

This 442 acre unit is out in the middle of ag. country and is primarily flat, containing several shallow wetlands, food plots, native and non-native grass fields, tree plantings, and volunteer deciduous trees. This 159 acre unit is out in the middle of ag. country and is primarily flat, containing several shallow wetlands, food plot, native and non-native grass fields, tree planting, and volunteer deciduous trees. The SE unit of Grace Marshes WMA is a 320-acre restored prairie and wetland habitat complex.

A piece of native prairie exists on the west side of this tract. Very unique in this part of MN. Check it out. A piece of native prairie exists on the NE tract of this unit which is very unique in this part of MN. Check it out. 600 acres of adjacent private cropland have been enrolled in CREP and permanent cover established. This is a boost to local wildlife populations. The unit is a well-balanced mix of habitats. It is nearly 50% wetland and 50% upland. It is great habitat for pheasants and waterfowl, and there are also a surprising number of deer on the Grace Marshes WMA. This subunit will be managed to maximize the quality of the grassland and wetland habitat components. The primary tool will be the well-timed application of prescribed fires to the land. The unit also contains a block tree planting and 2 small wildlife food plots planted by DNR to provide winter food for wildlife.

In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.

What can you hunt on Grace Marshes WMA?

The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Grace Marshes WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.

What are the rules on Grace Marshes WMA?

Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.

How many deer are taken around Grace Marshes WMA?

Grace Marshes WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 282. The DNR registered 242 deer in DPA 282 in 2025, against 217 in 2024.

DPAGrace Marshes WMA acres in itDeer, 2025Deer, 2024Deer, 2023
DPA 282922242217209

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 Grace Marshes WMA?

From the junction of CR 2 and MN 23 in Clara City, travel N on #2 a distance of 9.7 miles, then turn W on twp. gravel road 9 miles to the NE corner of the main unit. Take Swift County Road 33 south out of Murdock for 8.5 miles to MN St. Hwy 40. Take a right and head west of Hwy 40 for 6 miles. Take a left and proceed south on Chippewa County Road 5 for 1.3 miles. The parking lot is on the right-hand side of the road.

Restricted to adjacent roadways. The main parking lot is on the east end of the unit.

Nearest towns: Murdock (11 miles), De Graff (11 miles), Montevideo (12 miles) and Clara City (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 277 and MN 29.

What other public land is near Grace Marshes WMA?

DNR WMAs within 10 miles:

Public land within 3 miles of Grace Marshes WMA

Counting Grace Marshes WMA itself, 922 of the 31,816 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).

ManagerAcres within 3 miles
State wildlife management areas922

Questions hunters ask

Where is Grace Marshes WMA?

In Chippewa County, near Clara City. The DNR's directions: From the junction of CR 2 and MN 23 in Clara City, travel N on #2 a distance of 9.7 miles, then turn W on twp. gravel road 9 miles to the NE corner of the main unit. Take Swift County Road 33 south out of Murdock for 8.5 miles to MN St. Hwy 40. Take a right and head west of Hwy 40 for 6 miles. Take a left and proceed south on Chippewa County Road 5 for 1.3 miles. The parking lot is on the right-hand side of the road.

Which deer permit area is Grace Marshes WMA in?

Deer Permit Area 282. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.

How much public land is around Grace Marshes WMA?

922 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Grace Marshes WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Shakopee WMA (3.4 miles).

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Where these facts come from

FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.

Minnesota hunting Chippewa County DPA 282