Gully Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Gully Wildlife Management Area is 446 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Gully, inside Deer Permit Area 209. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,486 deer in DPA 209 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 landGully WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 446 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 209 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Gully |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Trail (8 mi), Gully (8 mi) and Oklee (10 mi) |
What is Gully WMA like?
This unit is approximately 1/3 equal parts marsh/water, grassland, and brush/timber, providing diverse wildlife habitats. Management is geared at maintaining this diversity, mostly through shearing and commercial logging.
This was the first WMA to be acquired in Polk County, in1955. It provides good, huntable land in an area that is either largely agricultural, or off limits to hunting. Hip waders may be needed to cross some ditches during wet periods. Expect to find deer, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl, sandhill cranes, woodcock, bluebirds, northern harrier, and tree swallows.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Gully WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Gully WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Gully WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Gully WMA?
Gully WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 209. The DNR registered 1,486 deer in DPA 209 in 2025, against 1,380 in 2024.
| DPA | Gully WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 209 | 446 | 1,486 | 1,380 | 1,234 |
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 Gully WMA?
From Gully, go 8 miles N on CSAH 2.
Access is good with the county road on the east side of the WMA and a township road running through it.
Nearest towns: Trail (8 miles), Gully (8 miles), Oklee (10 miles) and Gonvick (11 miles).
What other public land is near Gully WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Crane WMA: 1,297 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Le Blanc WMA: 159 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Larix WMA: 589 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Hangaard WMA: 22 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gully WMA
Counting Gully WMA itself, 573 of the 26,333 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 573 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gully WMA?
In Polk County, near Gully. The DNR's directions: From Gully, go 8 miles N on CSAH 2.
Which deer permit area is Gully WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 209. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Gully WMA?
573 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gully WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Crane WMA (2.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Gully 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.