Hartford Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Hartford Wildlife Management Area is 162 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Todd County, near Browerville, inside Deer Permit Area 214. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,781 deer in DPA 214 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 landHartford WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 162 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Todd County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 214 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Browerville |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Browerville (4 mi), Long Prairie (7 mi) and Clarissa (9 mi) |
What is Hartford WMA like?
This WMA is restored native grass fields, with lowland grass bordering a small creek. Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of native grassland and wetland plants and wildlife.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Hartford WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Hartford WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Hartford WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Hartford WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA, including on designated parking lots and access roads.
How many deer are taken around Hartford WMA?
Hartford WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 214. The DNR registered 4,781 deer in DPA 214 in 2025, against 4,380 in 2024.
| DPA | Hartford WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 214 | 162 | 4,781 | 4,380 | 4,063 |
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 Hartford WMA?
From Browerville, go 6 miles east on county road 14.
Disabled access is limited to the township road and parking lot on the NE corner of the WMA.
Nearest towns: Browerville (4 miles), Long Prairie (7 miles), Clarissa (9 miles) and Swanville (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 71.
What other public land is near Hartford WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sheets Lake WMA: 132 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Turtle Creek WMA: 320 acres, 3 miles away
- Long Prairie River WMA: 965 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Little Elk WMA: 1,477 acres, 6 miles away
- Ruff-Nik WMA: 1,060 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Kobliska WMA: 411 acres, 8.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hartford WMA
Counting Hartford WMA itself, 446 of the 22,092 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 245 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 201 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hartford WMA?
In Todd County, near Browerville. The DNR's directions: From Browerville, go 6 miles east on county road 14.
Which deer permit area is Hartford WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 214. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Hartford WMA?
446 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hartford WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sheets Lake WMA (2.8 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, Hartford 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.