Little Elk Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Little Elk Wildlife Management Area is 1,477 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Morrison County, near Randall, inside Deer Permit Area 214. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear 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 landLittle Elk WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,477 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Morrison County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 214 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Randall |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Randall (5 mi), Flensburg (7 mi) and Swanville (8 mi) |
What is Little Elk WMA like?
This WMA is comprised of two large enhanced open water wetlands, lowland grass and brush, and upland areas of tame and restored native prairie, as well as upland and lowland forest. The south branch of the Little Elk River and Ted Brook flow through this unit.
Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of native plants and wildlife, with emphasis on wetland habitats. Primitive public water access.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Little Elk WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Little Elk WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Little Elk WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Little Elk WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA, including on designated parking lots and access roads.
How many deer are taken around Little Elk WMA?
Little Elk WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 214. The DNR registered 4,781 deer in DPA 214 in 2025, against 4,380 in 2024.
| DPA | Little Elk WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 214 | 1,477 | 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 Little Elk WMA?
From Randall, go 0.3 miles west on CSAH 14, then 3 miles south on CSAH 1, then 4 miles west on County Road 217, and then 1.2 miles west on township rd 283 to the center of the WMA.
After major wind events the access road, parking lot and drag-in access at the end of 205th Street may be blocked by downed trees, and it may take time for staff to respond. If you access these facilities, it's recommended you scout the site prior to your main visit.
Nearest towns: Randall (5 miles), Flensburg (7 miles), Swanville (8 miles) and Sobieski (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10, MN 27 and MN 28.
What other public land is near Little Elk WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Ruff-Nik WMA: 1,060 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Culdrum WMA: 31 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Mud Lake WMA: 718 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Hartford WMA: 162 acres, 6 miles away
- Turtle Creek WMA: 320 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA: 702 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Elk WMA
Counting Little Elk WMA itself, 1,518 of the 35,741 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,477 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 41 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Elk WMA?
In Morrison County, near Randall. The DNR's directions: From Randall, go 0.3 miles west on CSAH 14, then 3 miles south on CSAH 1, then 4 miles west on County Road 217, and then 1.2 miles west on township rd 283 to the center of the WMA.
Which deer permit area is Little Elk WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 214. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Little Elk WMA?
1,518 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Elk WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Ruff-Nik WMA (3.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Little Elk 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.