Madsen Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Madsen Wildlife Management Area is 364 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Meeker County, near Litchfield, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 areasCounty, city and regional landWalk-In AccessMadsen WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 364 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Meeker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Litchfield |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Litchfield (4 mi), Grove City (7 mi) and Darwin (8 mi) |
What is Madsen WMA like?
This 362+ acre wildlife area is dominated by a 221 acre shallow cattail marsh partially drained by a county ditch on its east side. A food plot, established native grass nesting cover and lowland deciduous make up the remaining acreage.
A Bald eagle nest is located in a cottonwood tree along the East side. Please do not disturb during nesting season.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Madsen WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Madsen WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Madsen WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Madsen WMA?
Madsen WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Madsen WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 364 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Madsen WMA?
Go North 2.2 miles on MN # 22 from the point where it branches off from US Hwy. # 12. This brings you to an access strip entering the unit from the West.
Access for people with disabilities is limited to gravel road along the South boundary and the West access strip.
Nearest towns: Litchfield (4 miles), Grove City (7 miles), Darwin (8 miles) and Eden Valley (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 22, US 12 and MN 24.
What other public land is near Madsen WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Litchfield WMA: 120 acres, 3 miles away
- Manannah WMA: 320 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Powers Lake WMA: 276 acres, 6 miles away
- Thoen Lake WMA: 155 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Grovelund WMA: 27 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Teal Scurry WMA: 235 acres, 8.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Madsen WMA
Counting Madsen WMA itself, 724 of the 24,709 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 364 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 360 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Madsen WMA?
In Meeker County, near Litchfield. The DNR's directions: Go North 2.2 miles on MN # 22 from the point where it branches off from US Hwy. # 12. This brings you to an access strip entering the unit from the West.
Which deer permit area is Madsen WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Madsen WMA?
724 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Madsen WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Litchfield WMA (3 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, Madsen 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.