Little Whiteface River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Little Whiteface River Wildlife Management Area is 441 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Meadowlands, inside Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 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 landOther federal landLittle Whiteface River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 441 acres |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 178 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Meadowlands |
| DNR area office | Cloquet |
| Nearest towns | Meadowlands (4 mi), Brookston (15 mi) and Floodwood (18 mi) |
What is Little Whiteface River WMA like?
Mostly swamp conifers and low brushlands. Scattered islands of aspen and spruce-fir forest. Riparian forest along small river.
Access to this WMA is very difficult due to the poor ditch bank road and poor foot access to the unit. This WMA is not posted or developed. This WMA offers a very remote setting for wildlife viewing and hunting.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Little Whiteface River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Little Whiteface River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Little Whiteface River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Little Whiteface River WMA?
Little Whiteface River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 in 2025, against 1,392 in 2024.
| DPA | Little Whiteface River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 178 | 441 | 1,521 | 1,392 | 1,272 |
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 Whiteface River WMA?
From Meadowlands, go 3 1/2 miles E on CSAH 133, then 1 mile N on TWP 211, then 1 1/4 E on TWP 155 (low maintenance road, no bridge over river).
Nearest towns: Meadowlands (4 miles), Brookston (15 miles), Floodwood (18 miles) and Iron Junction (22 miles).
What other public land is near Little Whiteface River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Zim WMA: 910 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Sax WMA: 944 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Fermoy WMA: 503 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Whiteface River WMA
Counting Little Whiteface River WMA itself, 2,962 of the 26,135 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,477 |
| State wildlife management areas | 442 |
| Other federal land | 43 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Whiteface River WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Meadowlands. The DNR's directions: From Meadowlands, go 3 1/2 miles E on CSAH 133, then 1 mile N on TWP 211, then 1 1/4 E on TWP 155 (low maintenance road, no bridge over river).
Which deer permit area is Little Whiteface River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 178. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Little Whiteface River WMA?
2,962 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Whiteface River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Zim WMA (4.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Little Whiteface River 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.