Keller Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Keller Wildlife Management Area is 197 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Olmsted County, near Rochester, inside Deer Permit Area 643. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,469 deer in DPA 643 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 areasCounty, city and regional landKeller WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 197 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Olmsted County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 643 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Rochester |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Nearest towns | High Forest (5 mi), Stewartville (6 mi) and Rochester (7 mi) |
What is Keller WMA like?
This WMA is mostly wooded with bottomland hardwoods and oak species. There is also intermixed restored prairie found on the unit. Within the wooded sections, several former agricultural fields have been replanted to oaks and walnut.
This area provides opportunities for hunting deer, turkey, and squirrel. The area can be a great place to observe forest songbirds and spring wild flowers. The Zumbro River runs through the unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Keller WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Keller WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Keller WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Keller WMA?
Keller WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 643. The DNR registered 3,469 deer in DPA 643 in 2025, against 3,028 in 2024.
| DPA | Keller WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 643 | 197 | 3,469 | 3,028 | 3,039 |
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 Keller WMA?
From Rochester, go 4 miles W on Salem Rd SW then 4 miles S on County Rd 15 SW. Address of the North parking lot is 6648 60th St SW, Byron, MN 55920. Address of the West (Main) parking lot is 6664 County Rd 15 SW, Byron, MN 55920. Address of the SW parking lot is 6918 County Rd 15 SW, Stewartville, MN 55976.
There are three parking areas on-site, but only the large parking lot off County Rd 15 is handicap accessible due to the ruggedness of the unit. The small parking area furthest south along the western boundary is formerly just a field access, so care must be taken to make sure vehicles can get back out of the steep approach.
Nearest towns: High Forest (5 miles), Stewartville (6 miles), Rochester (7 miles) and Byron (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63, MN 30 and I-90.
What other public land is near Keller WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Rock Dell WMA: 490 acres, 2 miles away
- High Forest WMA: 69 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Nelson Fen WMA: 79 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Suess WMA: 54 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Marian Marshall WMA: 59 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Schumann WMA: 92 acres, 3.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Keller WMA
Counting Keller WMA itself, 686 of the 23,936 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 686 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Keller WMA?
In Olmsted County, near Rochester. The DNR's directions: From Rochester, go 4 miles W on Salem Rd SW then 4 miles S on County Rd 15 SW. Address of the North parking lot is 6648 60th St SW, Byron, MN 55920. Address of the West (Main) parking lot is 6664 County Rd 15 SW, Byron, MN 55920. Address of the SW parking lot is 6918 County Rd 15 SW, Stewartville, MN 55976.
Which deer permit area is Keller WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 643. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Keller WMA?
686 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Keller WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Rock Dell WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Keller 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.