Grygla Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Grygla Wildlife Management Area is 3,444 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Marshall County, near Grygla, inside Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 759 deer in DPA 101 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 areasGrygla WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,444 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marshall County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 101 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Grygla |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (4 mi), Goodridge (16 mi) and Middle River (20 mi) |
What is Grygla WMA like?
This subunit is a wetland/lowland brush complex. This is an area of interspersed brushlands, wetlands, openings and forested habitats. A number of foodplots are also present. This is the core of Minnesota's primary elk range.
Elk are year-round residents of this unit. Elk can often be viewed in the foodplot fields early or late in the day. In September, elk can sometimes be herd bugling.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Grygla WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Grygla WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Grygla WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Grygla WMA?
Grygla WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR registered 759 deer in DPA 101 in 2025, against 688 in 2024.
| DPA | Grygla WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 101 | 3,444 | 759 | 688 | 594 |
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 Grygla WMA?
From Grygla, go 5 miles N on CSAH 54. From Grygla, travel 5 miles north on Marshall County 54. No parking lot.
Nearest towns: Grygla (4 miles), Goodridge (16 miles), Middle River (20 miles) and Holt (23 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89.
What other public land is near Grygla WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wapiti WMA: 31,755 acres, next to it
- Thief Lake WMA: 54,632 acres, 1 mile away
- Valley WMA: 656 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Moose River WMA: 21,275 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Eckvoll WMA: 6,491 acres, 3 miles away
- Benville WMA: 1,194 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Grygla WMA
Counting Grygla WMA itself, 13,611 of the 59,833 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 13,611 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Grygla WMA?
In Marshall County, near Grygla. The DNR's directions: From Grygla, go 5 miles N on CSAH 54. From Grygla, travel 5 miles north on Marshall County 54. No parking lot.
Which deer permit area is Grygla WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 101. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Grygla WMA?
13,611 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Grygla WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wapiti WMA (next to it).
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, Grygla 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.