Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Kettle Lake Wildlife Management Area is 1,313 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Carlton County, near Cromwell, inside Deer Permit Area 156. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,900 deer in DPA 156 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 landKettle Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,313 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Carlton County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 156 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Cromwell |
| DNR area office | Cloquet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Cromwell (5 mi), Mahtowa (8 mi) and Big Lake (8 mi) |
What is Kettle Lake WMA like?
This WMA is a wetland/forest complex with a large, shallow wild rice lake and marsh, which has grassy islands, along with extensive brush lands and bogs mixed with some aspen and spruce-fir forest types.
Management emphasis on this WMA is for waterfowl and sharp-tailed grouse habitat which involves active forest management practices. This WMA offers scenic views and opportunities for open land and wetland wildlife viewing as well as an extensive trail system. Wild rice harvesting is allowed on this WMA. This unit is a popular trapping and waterfowl hunting area.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Kettle Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Kettle Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Kettle Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Kettle Lake WMA: The Corona Ditch Trail gate is open from December 1 to April 1 each year to allow snowmobile traffic. The remainder of the year the gate is closed to protect the road and nesting wildlife (foot traffic is still allowed).
How many deer are taken around Kettle Lake WMA?
Kettle Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 156. The DNR registered 1,900 deer in DPA 156 in 2025, against 1,594 in 2024.
| DPA | Kettle Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 156 | 1,313 | 1,900 | 1,594 | 1,299 |
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 Kettle Lake WMA?
From Cromwell, go 4 1/2 miles E on SH 210, then 3 miles S on Kettle Lake Road.
There is a carry-in canoe access to the lake.
Nearest towns: Cromwell (5 miles), Mahtowa (8 miles), Big Lake (8 miles) and Barnum (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 210 and MN 73.
What other public land is near Kettle Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Mervin WMA: 242 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Carl Sandell WMA: 40 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Sawyer WMA: 600 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Red Clover WMA: 323 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Firebird WMA: 728 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kettle Lake WMA
Counting Kettle Lake WMA itself, 14,662 of the 30,837 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (47.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 13,104 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,558 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kettle Lake WMA?
In Carlton County, near Cromwell. The DNR's directions: From Cromwell, go 4 1/2 miles E on SH 210, then 3 miles S on Kettle Lake Road.
Which deer permit area is Kettle Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 156. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Kettle Lake WMA?
14,662 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kettle Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Mervin WMA (1.1 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Kettle Lake 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.