Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Gun Lake Wildlife Management Area is 830 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near Palisade, inside Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 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 landGun Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 830 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 171 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Palisade |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Palisade (2 mi), McGregor (11 mi) and Aitkin (13 mi) |
What is Gun Lake WMA like?
Gun Lake has been restored to a mix of upland grassland, brushland, and wet meadow to provide quality habitat for Sharp-tailed grouse and other iconic openland species such as bobolink, short-eared owls, and sandhills cranes. Other recreational opportunities include deer hunting, predator hunting, trapping, and wildlife viewing.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Gun Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning doves and small game for Gun Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Gun Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Gun Lake WMA: The entire WMA is a wildlife sanctuary and will be closed for public access from March 1st through May 31st. This is to protect sharp-tailed grouse during their breeding season.
The DNR's data marks part of Gun Lake WMA as a wildlife sanctuary. Sanctuary ground is posted and closed to entry without DNR authorization.
How many deer are taken around Gun Lake WMA?
Gun Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 in 2025, against 1,068 in 2024.
| DPA | Gun Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 171 | 830 | 1,165 | 1,068 | 819 |
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 Gun Lake WMA?
From Aitkin, go 8 miles NE on Hwy 169/210, then 3 miles east on Hwy 210, then 4 1/2 miles north on Aitkin County T363, then 1 mile east on Aitkin County T380 to the WMA on the North side of the road.
Nearest towns: Palisade (2 miles), McGregor (11 miles), Aitkin (13 miles) and Tamarack (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169, MN 210 and MN 232.
What other public land is near Gun Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- French Lake WMA: 537 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Roberts-Wickstrom WMA: 786 acres, 3 miles away
- Aitkin WMA: 3,415 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Little Willow River WMA: 1,861 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Newstrom Lake WMA: 796 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Kimberly Marsh WMA: 10,564 acres, 6.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gun Lake WMA
Counting Gun Lake WMA itself, 3,741 of the 28,286 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,823 |
| State wildlife management areas | 918 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gun Lake WMA?
In Aitkin County, near Palisade. The DNR's directions: From Aitkin, go 8 miles NE on Hwy 169/210, then 3 miles east on Hwy 210, then 4 1/2 miles north on Aitkin County T363, then 1 mile east on Aitkin County T380 to the WMA on the North side of the road.
Which deer permit area is Gun Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 171. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Gun Lake WMA?
3,741 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gun Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest French Lake WMA (2.7 miles).
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, Gun Lake 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.