Mahoney's Marsh Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Mahoney's Marsh Wildlife Management Area is 324 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Scott County, near Belle Plaine, inside Deer Permit Area 338. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 704 deer in DPA 338 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 landCounty, city and regional landMahoney's Marsh WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 324 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Scott County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 338 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Belle Plaine |
| DNR area office | South Metro |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Belle Plaine (3 mi), Henderson (7 mi) and Heidelberg (8 mi) |
What is Mahoney's Marsh WMA like?
Consists predominantly of wetland and planted prairie, with some wet meadow and forest. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural with an occasional wetland or woodlot.
This WMA is a great place to watch migrating waterfowl. There are several other WMA's and the MN Valley Recreation Area within a few miles of this WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Mahoney's Marsh WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Mahoney's Marsh WMA: There is one small area that is posted as a "no shooting allowed" area.
How many deer are taken around Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
Mahoney's Marsh WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 338. The DNR registered 704 deer in DPA 338 in 2025, against 594 in 2024.
| DPA | Mahoney's Marsh WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 338 | 324 | 704 | 594 | 608 |
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 Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
3 miles south of Belle Plaine on the east and west side of Co. Rd. 3.
Wheelchair access is limited to the parking lot and gravel roads that border the WMA.
Nearest towns: Belle Plaine (3 miles), Henderson (7 miles), Heidelberg (8 miles) and Jordan (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169, MN 19 and MN 25.
What other public land is near Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Raven WMA: 72 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Pheasants Forever #3 WMA: 27 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Michel Marsh WMA: 139 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Clark Lake WMA: 33 acres, 2.6 miles away
- O'Brien WMA: 25 acres, 2.6 miles away
- St. Thomas Lake WMA: 320 acres, 3.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mahoney's Marsh WMA
Counting Mahoney's Marsh WMA itself, 652 of the 26,260 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 632 |
| County, city and regional land | 20 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
In Scott County, near Belle Plaine. The DNR's directions: 3 miles south of Belle Plaine on the east and west side of Co. Rd. 3.
Which deer permit area is Mahoney's Marsh WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 338. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Mahoney's Marsh WMA?
652 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mahoney's Marsh WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Raven WMA (0.7 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, Mahoney's Marsh 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.