Kim Hennings Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Kim Hennings Wildlife Management Area is 275 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Crow Wing County, near Merrifield, inside Deer Permit Area 604. 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 3,509 deer in DPA 604 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 landKim Hennings WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 275 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Crow Wing County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 604 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Merrifield |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Merrifield (2 mi), Riverton (3 mi) and Trommald (5 mi) |
What is Kim Hennings WMA like?
This WMA is named after long time DNR Fish and Wildlife (FAW) employee Kim Hennings. Kim was the lead of the FAW Acquisition team for many years and helped add hundreds of thousands of acres to the state's WMA system. The acquisition of this WMA was part of a larger acquisition project in 2024 that used Outdoor Heritage Funds and Reinvest in Minnesota funds to permanently protected over 18,000 acres of former Potlatch lands. This property is particularly special because it protects nearly a mile of shoreline on Spider lake.
Spider Lake and surrounding wetlands are used by a variety of waterfowl - including wood duck, Canada geese, and trumpeter swans. The lakeshore supports furbearers such as mink, otter, and beaver. Black bear, white-tailed deer and turkey inhabit the upland forests.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Kim Hennings 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 Kim Hennings WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Kim Hennings WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Kim Hennings WMA?
Kim Hennings WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 604. The DNR registered 3,509 deer in DPA 604 in 2025, against 3,167 in 2024.
| DPA | Kim Hennings WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 604 | 275 | 3,509 | 3,167 | 3,074 |
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 Kim Hennings WMA?
From the intersection of County Road 3 and Sorenson Lake Road, head east on Sorenson Lake Road approximately 2.3 miles.
Nearest towns: Merrifield (2 miles), Riverton (3 miles), Trommald (5 miles) and Ironton (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 210.
What other public land is near Kim Hennings WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Loerch WMA: 207 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Mission Lake WMA: 147 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Poor Farm WMA: 312 acres, 8 miles away
- Indian Jack Lake WMA: 320 acres, 9.3 miles away
- Telef Paulson WMA: 40 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kim Hennings WMA
Counting Kim Hennings WMA itself, 1,024 of the 25,717 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 749 |
| State wildlife management areas | 275 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kim Hennings WMA?
In Crow Wing County, near Merrifield. The DNR's directions: From the intersection of County Road 3 and Sorenson Lake Road, head east on Sorenson Lake Road approximately 2.3 miles.
Which deer permit area is Kim Hennings WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 604. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Kim Hennings WMA?
1,024 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kim Hennings WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Loerch WMA (3.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Kim Hennings 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.