Groth Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Groth Wildlife Management Area is 171 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Nobles County, near Wilmont, inside Deer Permit Area 237. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 301 deer in DPA 237 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasWalk-In AccessGroth WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 171 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Nobles County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 237 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Wilmont |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Wilmont (4 mi), Fulda (9 mi) and Lismore (10 mi) |
What is Groth WMA like?
This WMA has two subunits. This North subunit is creek valley grassland with the Jack Creek running through it. This WMA has two subunits. This South subunit contains a 35-acre permanent marsh managed for waterfowl with associated grasslands and woody cover plantings.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Groth WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Groth WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Groth WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Groth WMA?
Groth WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 237. The DNR registered 301 deer in DPA 237 in 2025, against 332 in 2024.
| DPA | Groth WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 237 | 171 | 301 | 332 | 359 |
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 Groth WMA?
From Wilmont, go 3.5 miles east on County Road 16, then 1 mile north and.5 miles east on township rd. From Reading, go 4 miles north on County Road 9 then 1 mile west on County Road 16.
Nearest towns: Wilmont (4 miles), Fulda (9 miles), Lismore (10 miles) and Iona (10 miles).
What other public land is near Groth WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Swessinger WMA: 713 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Stable Banks WMA: 45 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Einck WMA: 50 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Pheasant Run WMA: 31 acres, 4.4 miles away
- County Line WMA: 322 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Lone Tree WMA: 564 acres, 5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Groth WMA
Counting Groth WMA itself, 583 of the 27,332 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 348 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 235 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Groth WMA?
In Nobles County, near Wilmont. The DNR's directions: From Wilmont, go 3.5 miles east on County Road 16, then 1 mile north and.5 miles east on township rd. From Reading, go 4 miles north on County Road 9 then 1 mile west on County Road 16.
Which deer permit area is Groth WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 237. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Groth WMA?
583 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Groth WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Swessinger WMA (2.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Groth 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.