Graham Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Graham Wildlife Management Area is 401 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Benton County, near Little Rock, inside Deer Permit Area 221. 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 4,908 deer in DPA 221 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 areasGraham WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 401 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Benton County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 221 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Little Rock |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Nearest towns | Gilman (6 mi), Buckman (6 mi) and Genola (11 mi) |
What is Graham WMA like?
This WMA is comprised of emergent wetland, wet meadow, upland grass with patches of sparse woodland. Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of grassland and wetland native plants and wildlife.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA, including on designated parking lots and access roads. Hunter/Hiking trail and ungroomed x-cross country ski trail.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Graham 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 Graham WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Graham WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Graham WMA?
Graham WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 221. The DNR registered 4,908 deer in DPA 221 in 2025, against 4,438 in 2024.
| DPA | Graham WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 221 | 401 | 4,908 | 4,438 | 4,050 |
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 Graham WMA?
From Little Rock, go 1.5 miles south on highway 25, then 3 miles east on county road 22.
Nearest towns: Gilman (6 miles), Buckman (6 miles), Genola (11 miles) and Rice (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 25.
What other public land is near Graham WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Benton WMA: 82 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Wisneski WMA: 164 acres, 5 miles away
- Coon Lake Marsh WMA: 54 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Rice Area Sportsmens Club WMA: 580 acres, 6 miles away
- Sartell WMA: 368 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Adams WMA: 81 acres, 8.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Graham WMA
Counting Graham WMA itself, 401 of the 25,567 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 401 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Graham WMA?
In Benton County, near Little Rock. The DNR's directions: From Little Rock, go 1.5 miles south on highway 25, then 3 miles east on county road 22.
Which deer permit area is Graham WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 221. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Graham WMA?
401 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Graham WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Benton WMA (3.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Graham 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.