Island Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Island Wildlife Management Area is 173 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Martin County, near Welcome, inside Deer Permit Area 252. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 601 deer in DPA 252 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 areasIsland WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 173 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Martin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 252 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Welcome |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Welcome (4 mi), Ceylon (5 mi) and Fairmont (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Island WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Island WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Island WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Island WMA?
Island WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 252. The DNR registered 601 deer in DPA 252 in 2025, against 555 in 2024.
| DPA | Island WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 252 | 173 | 601 | 555 | 607 |
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 WMA?
For the northern tract, from Welcome, go 3 miles S on SH 263 then 2 miles E on CSAH 22 then 1/2 mile S on Twp Rd. For the south east tract, from Welcome, go 3 miles S on SH 263 then 2 miles E on CSAH 22, then 2 miles S on 150th Ave, then east 1/2 mile on 70th St, then north 1/2 mile on Pierce Lake Road to the parking area.
Nearest towns: Welcome (4 miles), Ceylon (5 miles), Fairmont (6 miles) and Sherburn (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 263 and I-90.
What other public land is near Island WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Des Belt WMA: 107 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Krahmer WMA: 376 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Ceylon WMA: 148 acres, 5 miles away
- Rooney Run WMA: 540 acres, 7.5 miles away
- Fox Lake WMA: 35 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Four Corners WMA: 612 acres, 8.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Island WMA
Counting Island WMA itself, 442 of the 26,127 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 267 |
| State wildlife management areas | 175 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Island WMA?
In Martin County, near Welcome. The DNR's directions: For the northern tract, from Welcome, go 3 miles S on SH 263 then 2 miles E on CSAH 22 then 1/2 mile S on Twp Rd. For the south east tract, from Welcome, go 3 miles S on SH 263 then 2 miles E on CSAH 22, then 2 miles S on 150th Ave, then east 1/2 mile on 70th St, then north 1/2 mile on Pierce Lake Road to the parking area.
Which deer permit area is Island WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 252. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Island WMA?
442 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Island WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Des Belt WMA (3.1 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Island 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.