Lamprey Pass Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Lamprey Pass Wildlife Management Area is 1,277 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Anoka and Washington counties, near Forest Lake, inside Deer Permit Area 236. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves 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 landCounty, city and regional landLamprey Pass WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,277 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Anoka County and Washington County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 236 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Forest Lake |
| DNR area office | North Metro |
| Nearest towns | Columbus (2 mi), Forest Lake (2 mi) and Wyoming (5 mi) |
What is Lamprey Pass WMA like?
Lamprey Pass WMA is 1291 acres in size and is primarily managed for waterfowl. The area consists of 76% wetland including two open water basins that total more than 600 acres, 16% woodland and 8% grassland/food plot.
Lamprey Pass is the largest WMA outside of Carlos Avery in the North Metro area. It was purchased by Uri Lamprey in 1881 and managed as a hunt club until the 1970's. The DNR purchased the area in 1981. Howard and Mud Lakes within Lamprey Pass WMA are two of the largest bodies of water in the metro area to offer non-motorized boating opportunities where motorized boats are not allowed. Breeding eagles can be observed.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Lamprey Pass WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Lamprey Pass WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Lamprey Pass WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Lamprey Pass WMA?
Lamprey Pass WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 236. The DNR registered 2,388 deer in DPA 236 in 2025, against 2,085 in 2024.
| DPA | Lamprey Pass WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 236 | 1,277 | 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 Lamprey Pass WMA?
2 miles west of Forest Lake on Hwy 97 crossing I-35, then 1/2 mile north on W. Freeway Dr.
Wheelchair access is limited to three gravel parking lots on the east, south and west and the county road on the south.
Nearest towns: Columbus (2 miles), Forest Lake (2 miles), Wyoming (5 miles) and Centerville (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, US 8, US 61 and MN 97.
What other public land is near Lamprey Pass WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Carlos Avery WMA: 24,618 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Hardwood Creek WMA: 583 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Paul Hugo Farms WMA: 358 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Keystone Woods WMA: 1,841 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Gordie Mikkelson WMA: 860 acres, 7.6 miles away
- Mallard Marsh WMA: 56 acres, 8.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lamprey Pass WMA
Counting Lamprey Pass WMA itself, 4,751 of the 32,300 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (14.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 3,852 |
| County, city and regional land | 737 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 161 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lamprey Pass WMA?
In Anoka and Washington counties, near Forest Lake. The DNR's directions: 2 miles west of Forest Lake on Hwy 97 crossing I-35, then 1/2 mile north on W. Freeway Dr.
Which deer permit area is Lamprey Pass WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 236. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Lamprey Pass WMA?
4,751 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lamprey Pass WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Carlos Avery WMA (1.9 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Lamprey Pass 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.