Lake Five Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Lake Five Wildlife Management Area is 276 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kanabec County, near Kroschel, inside Deer Permit Area 157. 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 4,606 deer in DPA 157 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 landLake Five WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 276 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Kanabec County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 157 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Kroschel |
| DNR area office | Cambridge |
| Nearest towns | McGrath (9 mi), Finlayson (11 mi) and Sandstone (13 mi) |
What can you hunt on Lake Five 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 Lake Five WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Lake Five WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Lake Five WMA?
Lake Five WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 157. The DNR registered 4,606 deer in DPA 157 in 2025, against 4,255 in 2024.
| DPA | Lake Five WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 157 | 276 | 4,606 | 4,255 | 3,716 |
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 Lake Five WMA?
From Kroschel, go 4 miles N on CSAH 20 then 2 miles W on CO RD 85 then 1 mile W on TWP RD and 1/4 mile N on TRAIL.
Nearest towns: McGrath (9 miles), Finlayson (11 miles), Sandstone (13 miles) and Brook Park (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 18.
What other public land is near Lake Five WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Kroschel WMA: 1,538 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Bean Dam WMA: 247 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Hay Snake WMA: 237 acres, 5 miles away
- Pomroy Pastures WMA: 991 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Five WMA
Counting Lake Five WMA itself, 5,403 of the 24,168 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 4,237 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,166 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Five WMA?
In Kanabec County, near Kroschel. The DNR's directions: From Kroschel, go 4 miles N on CSAH 20 then 2 miles W on CO RD 85 then 1 mile W on TWP RD and 1/4 mile N on TRAIL.
Which deer permit area is Lake Five WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 157. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Lake Five WMA?
5,403 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Five WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Kroschel WMA (1.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Lake Five 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.