Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area is 1,841 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Washington County, near Marine on St. Croix, inside Deer Permit Area 236. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 2,388 deer in DPA 236 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 landOther federal landState parksCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landKeystone Woods WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,841 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 236 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Marine on St. Croix |
| DNR area office | North Metro |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Hugo (3 mi), Marine on St. Croix (4 mi) and Scandia (5 mi) |
What is Keystone Woods WMA like?
<p>Formerly owned by the Kelley Land and Cattle Company, this sprawling parcel of land remains one of the<a href="https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/wildlife/north-metro/keystone-woods/keystone-woods-tpl.pdf"> largest tracts of undeveloped land</a> in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.<p> <p>It has a diversity of different land cover types, including hardwood forest, woodlands, grasslands and numerous interspersed wetlands. The land provides significant habitat for a variety of wildlife species and is part of the larger Carnelian Creek habitat corridor linking to the St. Croix River.<p> <p>The property contains several small lakes, which provide great habitat for a variety of aquatic species, including Barker Lake.<p>.
Please be mindful of property boundary signs and respectful of adjacent landowners. Do not park on the shoulders of the County Roads. Use the designated parking areas.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Keystone Woods WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, bear and small game for Keystone Woods WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Keystone Woods WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Keystone Woods WMA: <p><a href="https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/ammo/nontoxic.html">Only nontoxic ammunition</a> can be possessed on their person and used to take, or attempt to take, wild animals on Keystone Woods WMA. In addition: Hunters must submit to firearm inspection when requested in the field. Individuals with a valid permit to carry may possess a handgun and ammunition which is not nontoxic but may not use that ammunition to take wild game.<p> <p>Firearm discharge is not allowed in seven areas of the WMA near residences. Please refer to the<a href="https://apps.dnr.state.mn.us/wahma/attachments/12468/public"> Visitor map</a> for No firearms discharge areas.<p>.
How many deer are taken around Keystone Woods WMA?
Keystone Woods WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 236. The DNR registered 2,388 deer in DPA 236 in 2025, against 2,085 in 2024.
| DPA | Keystone Woods WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 236 | 1,841 | 2,388 | 2,085 | 1,986 |
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 Keystone Woods WMA?
5 miles west of Marine on St. Croix on 170th Street North. Then south along Manning Trail North. There are 5 parking lots around the unit; 2 ADA accessible and 3 standard parking lots.
Nearest towns: Hugo (3 miles), Marine on St. Croix (4 miles), Scandia (5 miles) and Forest Lake (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61, MN 97 and MN 95.
What other public land is near Keystone Woods WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hardwood Creek WMA: 583 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Paul Hugo Farms WMA: 358 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Lamprey Pass WMA: 1,277 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Rutstrum WMA: 24 acres, 7.4 miles away
- Bayport WMA: 452 acres, 9.6 miles away
- Carlos Avery WMA: 24,618 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Keystone Woods WMA
Counting Keystone Woods WMA itself, 3,082 of the 35,697 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,411 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 503 |
| County, city and regional land | 164 |
| Other federal land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Keystone Woods WMA?
In Washington County, near Marine on St. Croix. The DNR's directions: 5 miles west of Marine on St. Croix on 170th Street North. Then south along Manning Trail North. There are 5 parking lots around the unit; 2 ADA accessible and 3 standard parking lots.
Which deer permit area is Keystone Woods WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 236. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Keystone Woods WMA?
3,082 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Keystone Woods WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hardwood Creek WMA (2.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Keystone Woods 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.