Hasselton Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Hasselton Wildlife Management Area is 216 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Fosston, inside Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 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 areasHasselton WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 216 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 210 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fosston |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Fosston (5 mi), Lengby (6 mi) and Pine Bend (9 mi) |
What is Hasselton WMA like?
This WMA is a mosaic of lakes and wetlands, hardwood forest, brushlands, and grassland. Primary management tools are brush mowing and commercial logging to maintain a diversity of age classes and plenty of edge habitat for wildlife.
This unit was purchased for its excellent marsh complex and associated upland cover for migrating and nesting waterfowl. A small area of native prairie is in the southeast corner. It also provides good ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting, and trapping. A public lake access on the east side of County Road 6 is available for Sand Hill Lake. This unit is an easy drive from Fosston and provides many outdoor recreation possibilities. Wear boots - your feet may get wet.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Hasselton WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Hasselton WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Hasselton WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Hasselton WMA?
Hasselton WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 in 2025, against 1,331 in 2024.
| DPA | Hasselton WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 210 | 216 | 1,487 | 1,331 | 1,383 |
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 Hasselton WMA?
From Fosston, go 4 1/2 miles S on CSAH 6.
Access is excellent via the county road. Several ditch crossings exist and a public lake access is available for Sand Hill Lake.
Nearest towns: Fosston (5 miles), Lengby (6 miles), Pine Bend (9 miles) and Ebro (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2.
What other public land is near Hasselton WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hovland WMA: 220 acres, 0.8 miles away
- La Voi WMA: 50 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Rosebud WMA: 46 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Foot WMA: 78 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Kroening WMA: 21 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Killian WMA: 80 acres, 3.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hasselton WMA
Counting Hasselton WMA itself, 1,493 of the 22,966 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 707 |
| State wildlife management areas | 533 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 253 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hasselton WMA?
In Polk County, near Fosston. The DNR's directions: From Fosston, go 4 1/2 miles S on CSAH 6.
Which deer permit area is Hasselton WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 210. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Hasselton WMA?
1,493 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hasselton WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hovland WMA (0.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Hasselton 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.