Little Willow River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Little Willow River Wildlife Management Area is 1,861 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near Palisade, inside Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 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 Willow River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,861 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 171 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Palisade |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Palisade (8 mi), Aitkin (11 mi) and Emily (13 mi) |
What is Little Willow River WMA like?
This WMA is an eleven-acre bog lake surrounded by black spruce, black ash, and cedar. A small ditch runs south out of the lake toward County Road. 3. This WMA is primarily oak, aspen, birch and basswood forest cover types with two wetland impoundments.
Management emphasis for this WMA is on cedar winter cover for deer and protection of the bog lake. This is a cooperative WMA with Aitkin County. On this unit the impoundments are managed for waterfowl while the timber types are managed for deer, bear, ruffed grouse and woodcock. Deer, waterfowl, and furbearing species are likely to use this WMA. 15 miles of hunter walking trails are maintained on the WMA and nearby state forest land to increase hunter access and provide additional non-hunter recreational opportunities. Two impoundments on the WMA provide waterfowl hunting and additional wildlife viewing opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Little Willow River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Little Willow River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Little Willow River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Little Willow River WMA: No wild rice harvesting allowed. Permits are required for beaver and otter trapping.
How many deer are taken around Little Willow River WMA?
Little Willow River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 in 2025, against 1,068 in 2024.
| DPA | Little Willow River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 171 | 1,861 | 1,165 | 1,068 | 819 |
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 Willow River WMA?
From Palisade go 8 miles W. on Co. Rd. 3, N. side of road. From Palisade; East access: 8.5 miles W. on Co. Rd. 3 then 1.5 miles S. on Co. Rd. 1, both sides of road. Impoundment access: 10.5 miles W. on Co. Rd. 3 then 1 mile S. on 400th Place, take trail to east.
Limited wheelchair access at the parking areas and entrance roads.
Nearest towns: Palisade (8 miles), Aitkin (11 miles), Emily (13 miles) and Cuyuna (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169.
What other public land is near Little Willow River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Deer Run WMA: 699 acres, 5 miles away
- Birchdale WMA: 1,426 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Gun Lake WMA: 830 acres, 5.9 miles away
- French Lake WMA: 537 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Aitkin WMA: 3,415 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Roberts-Wickstrom WMA: 786 acres, 7.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Willow River WMA
Counting Little Willow River WMA itself, 11,476 of the 37,165 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (30.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 9,605 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,871 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Willow River WMA?
In Aitkin County, near Palisade. The DNR's directions: From Palisade go 8 miles W. on Co. Rd. 3, N. side of road. From Palisade; East access: 8.5 miles W. on Co. Rd. 3 then 1.5 miles S. on Co. Rd. 1, both sides of road. Impoundment access: 10.5 miles W. on Co. Rd. 3 then 1 mile S. on 400th Place, take trail to east.
Which deer permit area is Little Willow River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 171. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Little Willow River WMA?
11,476 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Willow River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Deer Run WMA (5 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Little Willow 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.