Lower Dean Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Lower Dean Wildlife Management Area is 243 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Crow Wing County, near Crosby, inside Deer Permit Area 604. 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 3,509 deer in DPA 604 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 landCounty, city and regional landLower Dean WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 243 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Crow Wing County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 604 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Crosby |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Cuyuna (6 mi), Crosby (7 mi) and Trommald (8 mi) |
What is Lower Dean WMA like?
Lower Dean Wildlife Management Area was established in the late 1950's to provide access, protect and manage waterfowl habitat on Lower Dean Lake.
Lower Dean Lake is an important natural wild rice lake. Public access to this lake is carry-in type only.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Lower Dean 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 Lower Dean WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Lower Dean WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Lower Dean WMA?
Lower Dean WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 604. The DNR registered 3,509 deer in DPA 604 in 2025, against 3,167 in 2024.
| DPA | Lower Dean WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 604 | 243 | 3,509 | 3,167 | 3,074 |
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 Lower Dean WMA?
From the junction of State Highways 6 & 210 in Crosby, north on State Highway 6 4.0 miles, east on County Road. 19 5.0 miles, north on Township. Road.5 mile, west on the township road to the very end (2.0 miles) where there is a public access to Lower Dean Lake.
The minimum maintenance road leading to the public water access is susceptible to seasonal flooding.
Nearest towns: Cuyuna (6 miles), Crosby (7 miles), Trommald (8 miles) and Deerwood (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 6.
What other public land is near Lower Dean WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Upper Dean WMA: 40 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Indian Jack Lake WMA: 320 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Birchdale WMA: 1,426 acres, 7 miles away
- Cedar Lake WMA: 97 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Duck Lake WMA: 1,042 acres, 9.2 miles away
- Deer Run WMA: 699 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lower Dean WMA
Counting Lower Dean WMA itself, 1,276 of the 26,470 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 993 |
| State wildlife management areas | 283 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lower Dean WMA?
In Crow Wing County, near Crosby. The DNR's directions: From the junction of State Highways 6 & 210 in Crosby, north on State Highway 6 4.0 miles, east on County Road. 19 5.0 miles, north on Township. Road.5 mile, west on the township road to the very end (2.0 miles) where there is a public access to Lower Dean Lake.
Which deer permit area is Lower Dean WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 604. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Lower Dean WMA?
1,276 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lower Dean WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Upper Dean WMA (2.2 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Lower Dean 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.