Magnusson Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Magnusson Wildlife Management Area is 267 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clay County, near Downer, inside Deer Permit Area 269. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 464 deer in DPA 269 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasState parksMagnusson WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 267 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 269 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Downer |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Hawley (7 mi), Baker (8 mi) and Barnesville (9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Magnusson WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves, bear and small game for Magnusson WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Magnusson WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Magnusson WMA?
Magnusson WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 269. The DNR registered 464 deer in DPA 269 in 2025, against 418 in 2024.
| DPA | Magnusson WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 269 | 267 | 464 | 418 | 395 |
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 Magnusson WMA?
From Downer, go 3 1/2 miles E and N on CSAH 10 then 2 miles N on TWP RD.
There are currently no parking areas on this unit, but access to the west side can be gained from 70th Ave S. or 180th St. S.
Nearest towns: Hawley (7 miles), Baker (8 miles), Barnesville (9 miles) and Glyndon (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 9.
What other public land is near Magnusson WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Bjornson WMA: 647 acres, 2 miles away
- Clay County WMA: 924 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Hawley WMA: 163 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Janssen WMA: 319 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Skree WMA: 165 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Hay Creek WMA: 40 acres, 4.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Magnusson WMA
Counting Magnusson WMA itself, 1,645 of the 23,331 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,081 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 564 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Magnusson WMA?
In Clay County, near Downer. The DNR's directions: From Downer, go 3 1/2 miles E and N on CSAH 10 then 2 miles N on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Magnusson WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 269. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Magnusson WMA?
1,645 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Magnusson WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Bjornson WMA (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, Magnusson 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.