Lake Guckeen Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Lake Guckeen Wildlife Management Area is 341 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Faribault County, near Guckeen, inside Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 854 deer in DPA 253 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 landLake Guckeen WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 341 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Faribault County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 253 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Guckeen |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Blue Earth (5 mi), Granada (6 mi) and Winnebago (7 mi) |
What is Lake Guckeen WMA like?
A restored prairie wetland complex with a created wetland component.
The North tract has one parking area available East of CSAH 1 (320th Ave), 0.13 miles South from Interstate 90 on the Northwest side of the WMA. An improved water access for waterfowl hunters and anglers is also available on the WMA at this location. No motorized watercraft are allowed. The South tract has one parking area adjacent to 115th Street on the Southwest corner of the WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Lake Guckeen WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Lake Guckeen WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Lake Guckeen WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Lake Guckeen WMA: No motorized watercraft are allowed on Lake Guckeen. Lake Guckeen is located within WMA boundaries which prohibits motorized vehicles of any kind.
How many deer are taken around Lake Guckeen WMA?
Lake Guckeen WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR registered 854 deer in DPA 253 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | Lake Guckeen WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 253 | 341 | 854 | 785 | 845 |
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 Guckeen WMA?
For north tract, from Guckeen, go 1mile N on CSAH 1. For south tract, from Guckeen, go 1/2 mile east on township road.
The North tract has a gravel parking area at the boat launch.
Nearest towns: Blue Earth (5 miles), Granada (6 miles), Winnebago (7 miles) and Northrop (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-90 and US 169.
What other public land is near Lake Guckeen WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lane WMA: 60 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Luedtke WMA: 162 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Center Creek WMA: 355 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Gruven WMA: 326 acres, 7.5 miles away
- East Chain WMA: 389 acres, 7.9 miles away
- Rice Lake WMA: 198 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Guckeen WMA
Counting Lake Guckeen WMA itself, 402 of the 25,811 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 402 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Guckeen WMA?
In Faribault County, near Guckeen. The DNR's directions: For north tract, from Guckeen, go 1mile N on CSAH 1. For south tract, from Guckeen, go 1/2 mile east on township road.
Which deer permit area is Lake Guckeen WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 253. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Lake Guckeen WMA?
402 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Guckeen WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lane WMA (2.3 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, Lake Guckeen 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.