Gruven Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Gruven Wildlife Management Area is 326 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Martin County, near Fairmont, inside Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 854 deer in DPA 253 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 areasCounty, city and regional landWalk-In AccessGruven WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 326 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Martin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 253 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fairmont |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Granada (2 mi), Fairmont (4 mi) and Northrop (4 mi) |
What is Gruven WMA like?
This WMA is composed of a mixture of grassland, wetland, and woodland habitat types typical of southwestern Minnesota. This unit contains river bottoms and abundant upland areas ideal for deer, waterfowl, and upland game species.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Gruven WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Gruven WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Gruven WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Gruven WMA?
Gruven WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR registered 854 deer in DPA 253 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | Gruven WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 253 | 326 | 854 | 785 | 845 |
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 Gruven WMA?
From the intersection of Interstate 90 and Highway 15 go north 1/4 mile, go east two miles on 135th St., go south on 230th Ave. 1 mile, go east 1/4 mile on 128th St. The WMA will be on your north side of 128th St.
Nearest towns: Granada (2 miles), Fairmont (4 miles), Northrop (4 miles) and Welcome (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-90, MN 15 and MN 262.
What other public land is near Gruven WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Center Creek WMA: 355 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Luedtke WMA: 162 acres, 4 miles away
- East Chain WMA: 389 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Lake Guckeen WMA: 341 acres, 7.5 miles away
- Lane WMA: 60 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Armbrust WMA: 66 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gruven WMA
Counting Gruven WMA itself, 419 of the 24,684 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 389 |
| County, city and regional land | 30 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gruven WMA?
In Martin County, near Fairmont. The DNR's directions: From the intersection of Interstate 90 and Highway 15 go north 1/4 mile, go east two miles on 135th St., go south on 230th Ave. 1 mile, go east 1/4 mile on 128th St. The WMA will be on your north side of 128th St.
Which deer permit area is Gruven WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 253. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Gruven WMA?
419 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gruven WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Center Creek WMA (2.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Gruven 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.