Grayling Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Grayling Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 9,960 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near McGregor, inside Deer Permit Area 173. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 528 deer in DPA 173 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasGrayling Marsh WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 9,960 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 173 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | McGregor |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | McGregor (next to it), Tamarack (3 mi) and Wright (8 mi) |
What is Grayling Marsh WMA like?
This WMA consists of uplands dominated by aspen with low areas that are primarily brush and grass. A wetland impoundment is located in the west portion of the unit.
Much of the unit is lowland habitats which are managed for openland wildlife species such as sharp-tailed grouse and sandhill cranes. This WMA offers good opportunities for waterfowl observation. Sandhill cranes nest on the unit. Deer, bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, Canada geese, mallards, swamp sparrows, gray catbirds and wolves may be seen on this WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Grayling Marsh WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Grayling Marsh WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Grayling Marsh WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Grayling Marsh WMA: No wild rice harvesting allowed. A permit is required for beaver and otter trapping.
How many deer are taken around Grayling Marsh WMA?
Grayling Marsh WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 173. The DNR registered 528 deer in DPA 173 in 2025, against 452 in 2024.
| DPA | Grayling Marsh WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 173 | 9,960 | 528 | 452 | 413 |
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 Grayling Marsh WMA?
To main access: From McGregor, go 2 miles E on Hwy 210, 2.5 miles N on CR 73, access road on the east side of CR. To east access: From McGregor, go 6 miles E on Hwy 210, 1 mile N on 160th Place.
Wheelchair access is limited to the graveled access road into the parking lot.
Nearest towns: McGregor (next to it), Tamarack (3 miles), Wright (8 miles) and Palisade (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 210, MN 65 and MN 232.
What other public land is near Grayling Marsh WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Mcgregor WMA: 651 acres, next to it
- Kimberly Marsh WMA: 10,564 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Lawler WMA: 235 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Sandy Lake Resevoir WMA: 24 acres, 3 miles away
- Salo Marsh WMA: 2,036 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Wold WMA: 425 acres, 6.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Grayling Marsh WMA
Counting Grayling Marsh WMA itself, 24,024 of the 63,275 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (38%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 12,120 |
| State wildlife management areas | 11,904 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Grayling Marsh WMA?
In Aitkin County, near McGregor. The DNR's directions: To main access: From McGregor, go 2 miles E on Hwy 210, 2.5 miles N on CR 73, access road on the east side of CR. To east access: From McGregor, go 6 miles E on Hwy 210, 1 mile N on 160th Place.
Which deer permit area is Grayling Marsh WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 173. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Grayling Marsh WMA?
24,024 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Grayling Marsh WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Mcgregor WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Grayling Marsh 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.