Lawrence Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Lawrence Lake Wildlife Management Area is 202 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Todd County, near Staples, inside Deer Permit Area 214. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,781 deer in DPA 214 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 landLawrence Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 202 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Todd County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 214 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Staples |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Staples (4 mi), Motley (6 mi) and Aldrich (9 mi) |
What is Lawrence Lake WMA like?
This portion of Lawrence Lake WMA lies on the northeast side of Lawrence Lake and is a mixture of lowland brush and grass areas. Management of this subunit focuses on maintaining the wetland covertype. This WMA is a mixture of oak, aspen, and pine forests. Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of native plants and wildlife, with an emphasis on forested habitat and associated species.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Lawrence Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Lawrence Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Lawrence Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Lawrence Lake WMA: Restricted access, public access to this subunit is by water only. Off-highway vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and motorized watercraft are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Lawrence Lake WMA: Public water access to Lawrence Lake. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. OHVs, ATVs, snowmobiles and motorized watercraft are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
How many deer are taken around Lawrence Lake WMA?
Lawrence Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 214. The DNR registered 4,781 deer in DPA 214 in 2025, against 4,380 in 2024.
| DPA | Lawrence Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 214 | 202 | 4,781 | 4,380 | 4,063 |
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 Lawrence Lake WMA?
From Staples, go 1.5 miles south on highway 210, then 2.5 miles southeast on county road 7, then 0.5 miles west on township road. From Staples, go 2 miles south on highway 210, then 3 miles east on county road 7.
The access road on the WMA is minimum maintenance (travel at your own risk), and is not well suited to passenger vehicles other than those with sufficient clearance and 4-wheel drive. The end of the trail is not very large and cannot accommodate more than a couple vehicles. In addition, there is no access to Lawrence Lake with watercraft other than via-drag-in access with canoes, kayaks, and small duck boats. There is also often a low spot before reaching the lake that is often damaged by vehicles accessing the site during wet periods, and worsens during exceptionally wet years. Disabled access is limited to the township road and parking lot on the NW side of the main subunit of the WMA. The access road on the WMA is minimum maintenance (travel at your own risk), and is not well suited to passenger vehicles other than those with sufficient clearance and 4-wheel drive. The end of the trail is not very large and cannot accommodate more than a couple vehicles. In addition, there is no access to Lawrence Lake with watercraft other than via-drag-in access with canoes, kayaks, and small duck boats. There is also often a low spot before reaching the lake that is often damaged by vehicles accessing the site during wet periods, and worsens during exceptionally wet years.
Nearest towns: Staples (4 miles), Motley (6 miles), Aldrich (9 miles) and Verndale (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10 and MN 210.
What other public land is near Lawrence Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Staples WMA: 1,429 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Philbrook WMA: 337 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Dower Lake WMA: 40 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Kobliska WMA: 411 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Long Prairie River WMA: 965 acres, 9.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lawrence Lake WMA
Counting Lawrence Lake WMA itself, 1,974 of the 23,765 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,631 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 293 |
| County, city and regional land | 50 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lawrence Lake WMA?
In Todd County, near Staples. The DNR's directions: From Staples, go 1.5 miles south on highway 210, then 2.5 miles southeast on county road 7, then 0.5 miles west on township road. From Staples, go 2 miles south on highway 210, then 3 miles east on county road 7.
Which deer permit area is Lawrence Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 214. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Lawrence Lake WMA?
1,974 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lawrence Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Staples WMA (0.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Lawrence Lake 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).
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