Janssen Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Janssen Wildlife Management Area is 319 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clay County, near Barnesville, inside Deer Permit Area 269. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 464 deer in DPA 269 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 areasJanssen WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 319 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 269 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Barnesville |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Barnesville (5 mi), Baker (9 mi) and Hawley (10 mi) |
What can you hunt on Janssen WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Janssen WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Janssen WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Janssen WMA: Portion of this WMA is a state duck refuge closed to trespass from Sept 1 through the close of the regular waterfowl season.
How many deer are taken around Janssen WMA?
Janssen WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 269. The DNR registered 464 deer in DPA 269 in 2025, against 418 in 2024.
| DPA | Janssen WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 269 | 319 | 464 | 418 | 395 |
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 Janssen WMA?
From Barnesville, go 2 miles E on SH 34 then 4 miles N on CSAH 25 then 1 mile E on CO RD 126.
Nearest towns: Barnesville (5 miles), Baker (9 miles), Hawley (10 miles) and Glyndon (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, I-94, MN 9 and MN 34.
What other public land is near Janssen WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Clay County WMA: 924 acres, next to it
- Hay Creek WMA: 40 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Bjornson WMA: 647 acres, 2 miles away
- Barnesville WMA: 1,629 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Skree WMA: 165 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Interstate Highway 94 Borrow Pit WMA: 93 acres, 3.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Janssen WMA
Counting Janssen WMA itself, 2,654 of the 24,633 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,613 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 41 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Janssen WMA?
In Clay County, near Barnesville. The DNR's directions: From Barnesville, go 2 miles E on SH 34 then 4 miles N on CSAH 25 then 1 mile E on CO RD 126.
Which deer permit area is Janssen WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 269. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Janssen WMA?
2,654 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Janssen WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Clay County WMA (next to it).
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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, Janssen 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.