Gruhl Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Gruhl Wildlife Management Area is 464 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clay County, near Hawley, inside Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 686 deer in DPA 666 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 areasState parksGruhl WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 464 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Hawley |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Hawley (4 mi), Hitterdal (8 mi) and Glyndon (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on Gruhl WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Gruhl WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Gruhl WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Gruhl WMA?
Gruhl WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Gruhl WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 464 | 686 |
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 Gruhl WMA?
From Hawley, go 4 miles W on US 10 then 1 mile N on CSAH 113.
Access is on the west side off of 190th St. N. There is currently not a designated parking lot on this WMA.
Nearest towns: Hawley (4 miles), Hitterdal (8 miles), Glyndon (8 miles) and Felton (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10 and MN 9.
What other public land is near Gruhl WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Jeral WMA: 75 acres, 4 miles away
- Flowing Prairie WMA: 1,556 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Cromwell WMA: 287 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Hawley WMA: 163 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Magnusson WMA: 267 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Hitterdahl WMA: 267 acres, 6.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gruhl WMA
Counting Gruhl WMA itself, 1,076 of the 25,967 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 464 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 432 |
| State parks | 180 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gruhl WMA?
In Clay County, near Hawley. The DNR's directions: From Hawley, go 4 miles W on US 10 then 1 mile N on CSAH 113.
Which deer permit area is Gruhl WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Gruhl WMA?
1,076 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gruhl WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Jeral WMA (4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Gruhl 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.