Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area is 208 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Dakota County, near Hampton, inside Deer Permit Area 605. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,115 deer in DPA 605 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 areasHampton Woods WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 208 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Dakota County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 605 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Hampton |
| DNR area office | South Metro |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Hampton (next to it), Vermillion (4 mi) and Empire (4 mi) |
What is Hampton Woods WMA like?
This WMA is one of the largest and most diverse contiguous forested areas of southern Dakota County. The majority of the land is mesic oak forest with a great diversity of tree, shrub and forb species. The topography is gently rolling to rolling in nature. Soils are mostly well drained loam with fine sand. Although the forest has been selectively logged in the past there is still a diverse canopy. Buckthorn does dominate the understory in many places, but enough natives still remain to provide significant habitat for many wildlife species.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Hampton Woods WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Hampton Woods WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Hampton Woods WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Hampton Woods WMA: There is a 500 ft. "No Hunting or Trapping" zone along the northern boundary and an additional 200 ft. zone along the southern boundary of this WMA. All weapons must be unloaded and cased within these zones. This WMA is open for archery deer hunting and spring/fall turkey hunting. Small game may be taken through November 30th, 2026. All trappers and predator hunters must, regardless of furbearers taken, obtain a permit from the area manager.
Hampton Woods WMA is one of the WMAs where every trapper needs a permit from the area wildlife manager.
How many deer are taken around Hampton Woods WMA?
Hampton Woods WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 605. The DNR registered 3,115 deer in DPA 605 in 2025, against 2,826 in 2024.
| DPA | Hampton Woods WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 605 | 208 | 3,115 | 2,826 | 2,821 |
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 Hampton Woods WMA?
From the junction of Highway 52 and County Highway 50, travel 3.1 miles west/northwest on Hwy 50, take a left (south) on Collier Court and travel 0.1 miles to parking area/trail head.
Access to this WMA is Collier Ct. off of Co. Rd. 50. Collier Ct. is a legal easement through neighboring landowners on both sides of the road. Please be respectful of landowner’s property. No parking other than in the designated parking slots may occur.
Nearest towns: Hampton (next to it), Vermillion (4 miles), Empire (4 miles) and New Trier (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, MN 56 and MN 3.
What other public land is near Hampton Woods WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Vermillion River WMA: 1,494 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA: 2,841 acres, 3 miles away
- Spring Lake Islands WMA: 766 acres, 9.1 miles away
- Chub Lake WMA: 203 acres, 9.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hampton Woods WMA
Counting Hampton Woods WMA itself, 671 of the 23,438 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 671 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hampton Woods WMA?
In Dakota County, near Hampton. The DNR's directions: From the junction of Highway 52 and County Highway 50, travel 3.1 miles west/northwest on Hwy 50, take a left (south) on Collier Court and travel 0.1 miles to parking area/trail head.
Which deer permit area is Hampton Woods WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 605. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Hampton Woods WMA?
671 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hampton Woods WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Vermillion River WMA (2.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Hampton Woods 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.