Hornstein Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Hornstein Wildlife Management Area is 429 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Big Stone County, near Beardsley, inside Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 495 deer in DPA 274 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 areasState parksHornstein WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 429 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Big Stone County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 274 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Beardsley |
| DNR area office | Appleton |
| Nearest towns | Beardsley (3 mi), Browns Valley (4 mi) and Barry (9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Hornstein WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Hornstein WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Hornstein WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Hornstein WMA?
Hornstein WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR registered 495 deer in DPA 274 in 2025, against 453 in 2024.
| DPA | Hornstein WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 274 | 429 | 495 | 453 | 402 |
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 Hornstein WMA?
From Beardsley, go.5 mile on SH 28 then 3 miles S on CSAH 33 then 2 miles on township rd. 2 miles west on Hwy 28, 1 mile south on CR 54, and then 1 mile west on 250th St.
Access is on the south end of the unit via 250th Street.
Nearest towns: Beardsley (3 miles), Browns Valley (4 miles), Barry (9 miles) and Clinton (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 7, MN 28 and MN 27.
What other public land is near Hornstein WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Metz WMA: 291 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Mallard Hole WMA: 156 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Allen WMA: 46 acres, 8 miles away
- Foley WMA: 110 acres, 8.7 miles away
- Taffe WMA: 237 acres, 9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hornstein WMA
Counting Hornstein WMA itself, 429 of the 35,941 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 429 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hornstein WMA?
In Big Stone County, near Beardsley. The DNR's directions: From Beardsley, go.5 mile on SH 28 then 3 miles S on CSAH 33 then 2 miles on township rd. 2 miles west on Hwy 28, 1 mile south on CR 54, and then 1 mile west on 250th St.
Which deer permit area is Hornstein WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 274. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Hornstein WMA?
429 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hornstein WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Metz WMA (3.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Hornstein 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.