Head Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Head Lake Wildlife Management Area is 421 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Otter Tail County, near Richville, inside Deer Permit Area 239. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,595 deer in DPA 239 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasHead Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 421 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Otter Tail County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 239 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Richville |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Richville (next to it), Ottertail (4 mi) and Dent (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Head Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Head Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Head Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Head Lake WMA?
Head Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 239. The DNR registered 3,595 deer in DPA 239 in 2025, against 3,341 in 2024.
| DPA | Head Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 239 | 421 | 3,595 | 3,341 | 3,185 |
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 Head Lake WMA?
From Richville, go 1 mile SE on Twp Rd.
Access is on Head Lake road east of Richville. The gate on the north end of the unit is locked during the firearms deer season to allow for undisturbed hunting, but is otherwise open to allow access to Head Lake where a small boat/canoe can be launched in the cattails (not an improved landing).
Nearest towns: Richville (next to it), Ottertail (4 miles), Dent (6 miles) and Perham (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 108 and MN 78.
What other public land is near Head Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Dead Lake WMA: 896 acres, 4 miles away
- Davies WMA: 390 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Amor WMA: 720 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Otto WMA: 69 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Head Lake WMA
Counting Head Lake WMA itself, 503 of the 25,971 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 456 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 47 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Head Lake WMA?
In Otter Tail County, near Richville. The DNR's directions: From Richville, go 1 mile SE on Twp Rd.
Which deer permit area is Head Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 239. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Head Lake WMA?
503 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Head Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Dead Lake WMA (4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Head 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.