H.C. Southwick Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
H.C. Southwick Wildlife Management Area is 569 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Murray County, near Slayton, inside Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 904 deer in DPA 295 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 areasH.C. Southwick WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 569 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 295 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Slayton |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Slayton (2 mi), Iona (3 mi) and Avoca (4 mi) |
What is H.C. Southwick WMA like?
Area is a creek valley grassland with Big Slough WPA bordering the north. This WMA contains a 300 acre permanent marsh that is adjacent to a 500 acre permanent marsh on Big Slough WPA. Area also has grasslands and woody cover.
This unit is a major wintering area for deer and pheasants. Funds and assistance from Ducks Unlimited helped construct the water control structure and fish barrier at the outlet of the marsh. This unit, formerly named the Big Slough WMA, was re-named the Hiram C. Southwick WMA in 1988. This is one of the largest public hunting areas in Murray County. An abandoned dike offers good wetland wildlife viewing.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on H.C. Southwick WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for H.C. Southwick WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on H.C. Southwick WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around H.C. Southwick WMA?
H.C. Southwick WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR registered 904 deer in DPA 295 in 2025, against 835 in 2024.
| DPA | H.C. Southwick WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 295 | 569 | 904 | 835 | 827 |
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 H.C. Southwick WMA?
From Slayton, go 2 miles south on co rd 33, then.6 miles east on township rd. From Slayton, go 2 miles southeast on U.S. Highway 59.
Nearest towns: Slayton (2 miles), Iona (3 miles), Avoca (4 miles) and Hadley (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59, MN 30 and MN 267.
What other public land is near H.C. Southwick WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wajer WMA: 81 acres, next to it
- Badger Lake WMA: 617 acres, 1 mile away
- Christensen WMA: 131 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Beaver Creek WMA: 1,294 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Wirock WMA: 122 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Avoca WMA: 60 acres, 3.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of H.C. Southwick WMA
Counting H.C. Southwick WMA itself, 2,319 of the 28,544 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,429 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 811 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 79 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is H.C. Southwick WMA?
In Murray County, near Slayton. The DNR's directions: From Slayton, go 2 miles south on co rd 33, then.6 miles east on township rd. From Slayton, go 2 miles southeast on U.S. Highway 59.
Which deer permit area is H.C. Southwick WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 295. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around H.C. Southwick WMA?
2,319 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, H.C. Southwick WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wajer WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, H.C. Southwick 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.