Liberty Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Liberty Wildlife Management Area is 1,368 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Fertile, inside Deer Permit Area 265. The DNR's WMA data lists deer and ducks and geese for it. Hunters registered 1,177 deer in DPA 265 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasLiberty WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,368 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 265 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and ducks and geese |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fertile |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Fertile (5 mi), Beltrami (6 mi) and Gary (12 mi) |
What is Liberty WMA like?
This WMA is remnant tall grass prairie with minor amounts of brush and trees. The major emphasis will be to manage & improve a habitat complex of mixed prairie types, marsh, & scattered brush/aspen thickets for a diversity of native plants & wildlife.
Most of this unit is in native prairie. It is a good area to observe prairie chickens and purple coneflowers. Rare species found here include Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow, sandhill crane, marbled godwit, yellow rail, and upland sandpiper. Recreational opportunities exist at all times of the year including hunting and trapping, and also wildlife viewing/wildflower photography. Definitely bring hip boots or knee boots to explore the area.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Liberty WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer and ducks and geese for Liberty WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Liberty WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Liberty WMA?
Liberty WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 265. The DNR registered 1,177 deer in DPA 265 in 2025, against 1,067 in 2024.
| DPA | Liberty WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 265 | 1,368 | 1,177 | 1,067 | 930 |
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 Liberty WMA?
From Fertile, go 5 miles W on CSAH 1.
Access is good with county roads on the north and south sides. Definitely bring hip boots or knee boots to explore the area.
Nearest towns: Fertile (5 miles), Beltrami (6 miles), Gary (12 miles) and Mentor (14 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 102.
What other public land is near Liberty WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Chicog WMA: 2,432 acres, 1 mile away
- Onstad WMA: 280 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Agassiz-Olson WMA: 1,774 acres, 3 miles away
- Burnham WMA: 990 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Thorson Prairie WMA: 1,108 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Godfrey WMA: 145 acres, 4.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Liberty WMA
Counting Liberty WMA itself, 3,771 of the 33,844 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 3,447 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 324 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Liberty WMA?
In Polk County, near Fertile. The DNR's directions: From Fertile, go 5 miles W on CSAH 1.
Which deer permit area is Liberty WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 265. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Liberty WMA?
3,771 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Liberty WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Chicog WMA (1 mile).
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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, Liberty 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.