Kabekona Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Kabekona Wildlife Management Area is 381 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Hubbard County, near Laporte, inside Deer Permit Area 259. 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 1,643 deer in DPA 259 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 landKabekona WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 381 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Hubbard County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 259 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Laporte |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Laporte (3 mi), Lake George (7 mi) and Walker (12 mi) |
What is Kabekona WMA like?
The WMA is a complex of wetland and forested upland in a mixed forest/agricultural landscape. The forested uplands consist mostly of aspen and jack pine forest. Wetlands consist of marsh, other emergent wetlands, open water and lowland brush.
The major management focus is wetland management by maintaining water levels for the production of waterfowl. Other management includes regeneration of lowland brush and management of both young and old age forest to provide a variety of habitat types. A Great blue heron colony existed on the unit from 1975 to 1993. Mallards and blue-winged teal are now the major nesters on the unit. You may see snipe, marsh wrens, muskrats and beavers in the wetlands and flush grouse in the aspen forest.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Kabekona WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Kabekona WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Kabekona WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Kabekona WMA?
Kabekona WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 259. The DNR registered 1,643 deer in DPA 259 in 2025, against 1,329 in 2024.
| DPA | Kabekona WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 259 | 381 | 1,643 | 1,329 | 1,266 |
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 Kabekona WMA?
From Laporte, go 2 miles west on MN Hwy 200, then 2.5 miles south on MN Hwy 64. Access the southwest corner by going.5 miles west on 346th Street.
There is a short trail to access the NE corner of the unit as well as a road along the south end of the unit and a trail leading to the north part of the unit. Wheelchair access to the unit is difficult, except for viewing opportunities from MN Hwy 64.
Nearest towns: Laporte (3 miles), Lake George (7 miles), Walker (12 miles) and Akeley (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 200, MN 64 and US 71.
What other public land is near Kabekona WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Steamboat WMA: 35 acres, 9.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kabekona WMA
Counting Kabekona WMA itself, 8,894 of the 24,846 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (35.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 8,249 |
| State wildlife management areas | 645 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kabekona WMA?
In Hubbard County, near Laporte. The DNR's directions: From Laporte, go 2 miles west on MN Hwy 200, then 2.5 miles south on MN Hwy 64. Access the southwest corner by going.5 miles west on 346th Street.
Which deer permit area is Kabekona WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 259. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Kabekona WMA?
8,894 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kabekona WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. One other WMA is within 10 miles, the closest Steamboat WMA (9.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Kabekona 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.