Great Scott Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Great Scott Wildlife Management Area is 278 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Buhl, inside Deer Permit Area 178. 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 1,521 deer in DPA 178 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 landGreat Scott WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 278 acres |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 178 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Buhl |
| DNR area office | Tower |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Buhl (2 mi), Kinney (3 mi) and Chisholm (5 mi) |
What is Great Scott WMA like?
Mixed northern forest and wetland impoundment.
Osprey platform, bird watching.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Great Scott WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Great Scott WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Great Scott WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Great Scott WMA: The main gate is being left closed year round due to illegal dumping at the parking lot.
How many deer are taken around Great Scott WMA?
Great Scott WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 in 2025, against 1,392 in 2024.
| DPA | Great Scott WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 178 | 278 | 1,521 | 1,392 | 1,272 |
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 Great Scott WMA?
Hwy 169 at Buhl, go 2.5 miles south on County Road 453/Morse Rd.
Nearest towns: Buhl (2 miles), Kinney (3 miles), Chisholm (5 miles) and Iron Junction (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169 and MN 37.
What other public land is near Great Scott WMA?
Public land within 3 miles of Great Scott WMA
Counting Great Scott WMA itself, 2,774 of the 23,683 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,496 |
| State wildlife management areas | 278 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Great Scott WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Buhl. The DNR's directions: Hwy 169 at Buhl, go 2.5 miles south on County Road 453/Morse Rd.
Which deer permit area is Great Scott WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 178. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Great Scott WMA?
2,774 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Great Scott WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1.
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Great Scott 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.