Little Pine Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Little Pine Lake Wildlife Management Area is 312 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clearwater County, near Clearbrook, inside Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasLittle Pine Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 312 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clearwater County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 210 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Clearbrook |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Clearbrook (3 mi), Gonvick (5 mi) and Gully (9 mi) |
What is Little Pine Lake WMA like?
This WMA is a wetland/forest complex in a lake/agricultural landscape. There is a 196-acre impoundment with a control structure and nine additional wet meadow, shrub, and other wetlands. There are 68 acres of lowland and 33 acres of upland forest types.
There is one access and parking area on the north side of the unit and a township road adjoins a portion of the east boundary. There is a primitive carry in boat access at the control structure and dike on the main impoundment. Duck and goose hunting opportunities exist on the impoundment. Deer, bear, and ruffed grouse hunting opportunities exist in the forested areas. Wildlife observation and trapping opportunities also exist on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Little Pine Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Little Pine Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Little Pine Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Little Pine Lake WMA?
Little Pine Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 in 2025, against 1,331 in 2024.
| DPA | Little Pine Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 210 | 312 | 1,487 | 1,331 | 1,383 |
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 Pine Lake WMA?
From Clearbrook, go 1 3/4 miles south on SH 92, to County Road 6, 3 1/2 miles west to access road to unit (south). Unit is 11 miles north of Bagley on SH 92.
There is a carry in boat access on the impoundment. The aspen forest on the east side of the unit is accessible by walking in from township road.
Nearest towns: Clearbrook (3 miles), Gonvick (5 miles), Gully (9 miles) and Bagley (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 92 and MN 223.
What other public land is near Little Pine Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Carter WMA: 106 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Mule John WMA: 122 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Old Red Lake Trail WMA: 1,255 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Sagaiigan WMA: 178 acres, 9 miles away
- Hangaard WMA: 22 acres, 9.1 miles away
- Island Lake Fmha WMA: 212 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Pine Lake WMA
Counting Little Pine Lake WMA itself, 390 of the 25,415 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 390 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Pine Lake WMA?
In Clearwater County, near Clearbrook. The DNR's directions: From Clearbrook, go 1 3/4 miles south on SH 92, to County Road 6, 3 1/2 miles west to access road to unit (south). Unit is 11 miles north of Bagley on SH 92.
Which deer permit area is Little Pine Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 210. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Little Pine Lake WMA?
390 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Pine Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Carter WMA (2.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Little Pine 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).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.