Island Lake Fmha Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Island Lake Fmha Wildlife Management Area is 212 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clearwater County, near Ebro, inside Deer Permit Areas 210 and 298. 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 landIsland Lake Fmha WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 212 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clearwater County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 210, DPA 298 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Ebro |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Ebro (next to it), Lengby (5 mi) and Bagley (5 mi) |
What is Island Lake Fmha WMA like?
This WMA consists of a mixture of wetlands, lowland brush, upland grass and aspen-hardwood forest habitats. The Clearwater River flows through a portion of the WMA. This unit used to be the site of a gravel pit.
This unit is managed for a mosaic of wetland habitats, including openland areas, for wetland dependent species of wildlife. It is also managed for forest wildlife species.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Island Lake Fmha WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Island Lake Fmha WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Island Lake Fmha WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Island Lake Fmha WMA?
Island Lake Fmha WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 in 2025, against 1,331 in 2024.
| DPA | Island Lake Fmha WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 210 | 172 | 1,487 | 1,331 | 1,383 |
| DPA 298 | 40 | 779 | 671 | 491 |
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 Island Lake Fmha WMA?
From Ebro, go 1.5 miles south and west on township road.
The road to the north of the WMA has washed out and can no longer be used to access the unit. The road entering the unit from the south side is gated and also can not be used for access. Currently the unit can only be accessed via the Clearwater River.
Nearest towns: Ebro (next to it), Lengby (5 miles), Bagley (5 miles) and Pine Bend (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2 and MN 92.
What other public land is near Island Lake Fmha WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lengby WMA: 130 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Mosquito Creek WMA: 747 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Sagaiigan WMA: 178 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Carter WMA: 106 acres, 7 miles away
- Rosebud WMA: 46 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Perch Lake WMA: 252 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Island Lake Fmha WMA
Counting Island Lake Fmha WMA itself, 1,535 of the 30,076 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,094 |
| State wildlife management areas | 441 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Island Lake Fmha WMA?
In Clearwater County, near Ebro. The DNR's directions: From Ebro, go 1.5 miles south and west on township road.
Which deer permit area is Island Lake Fmha WMA in?
DPA 210 (172 acres) and DPA 298 (40 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Island Lake Fmha WMA?
1,535 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Island Lake Fmha WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lengby WMA (5.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Island Lake Fmha 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.