Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Higinbotham Wildlife Management Area is 984 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Pennington County, near St. Hilaire, inside Deer Permit Area 256. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,042 deer in DPA 256 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 landHiginbotham WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 984 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Pennington County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 256 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | St. Hilaire |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | St. Hilaire (3 mi), Red Lake Falls (7 mi) and Thief River Falls (9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Higinbotham WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Higinbotham WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Higinbotham WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Higinbotham WMA?
Higinbotham WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 256. The DNR registered 1,042 deer in DPA 256 in 2025, against 1,033 in 2024.
| DPA | Higinbotham WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 256 | 984 | 1,042 | 1,033 | 867 |
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 Higinbotham WMA?
From St. Hilaire, go 3 1/2 miles W on CO RD 55.
Nearest towns: St. Hilaire (3 miles), Red Lake Falls (7 miles), Thief River Falls (9 miles) and Plummer (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32.
What other public land is near Higinbotham WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Pembina WMA: 6,671 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Huot WMA: 424 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Moran WMA: 426 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Jacksnipe WMA: 203 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Higinbotham WMA
Counting Higinbotham WMA itself, 1,024 of the 31,934 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 984 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 40 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Higinbotham WMA?
In Pennington County, near St. Hilaire. The DNR's directions: From St. Hilaire, go 3 1/2 miles W on CO RD 55.
Which deer permit area is Higinbotham WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 256. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Higinbotham WMA?
1,024 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Higinbotham WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Pembina WMA (6.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Higinbotham 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.