Maple River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Maple River Wildlife Management Area is 492 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Blue Earth County, near Good Thunder, inside Deer Permit Area 299. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 726 deer in DPA 299 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 areasMaple River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 492 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Blue Earth County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 299 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Good Thunder |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Good Thunder (2 mi), Mapleton (4 mi) and Vernon Center (5 mi) |
What is Maple River WMA like?
The Maple River WMA is mainly comprised of: A restored prairie wetland complex with a shallow lake component. The Maple River WMA Tract 8 is mainly comprised of restored prairie, upland hardwood forest and river floodplain forest.
Native prairie seeding was completed in 2017. This unit has over 1.5 miles of frontage on the Maple River.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Maple River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Maple River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Maple River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Maple River WMA: This sub-unit has no special restrictions in place.
How many deer are taken around Maple River WMA?
Maple River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 299. The DNR registered 726 deer in DPA 299 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | Maple River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 299 | 492 | 726 | 785 | 797 |
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 Maple River WMA?
From Good Thunder travel. From Good Thunder travel south on CSAH 1 (550th Ave.) for 1.5 miles, then turn east on 148th St. Proceed east for 1 mile to County Road 166 (555th Ave) and turn south. Proceed south for 1/2 mile to WMA on west side of roadway.
Access can be gained from the parking area located on County Road 166 (555th Ave) or at west end of 142nd lane.
Nearest towns: Good Thunder (2 miles), Mapleton (4 miles), Vernon Center (5 miles) and Amboy (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 30, MN 22, MN 66 and US 169.
What other public land is near Maple River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- George & Elizabeth Lang WMA: 134 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Gage WMA: 29 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Saiki WMA: 39 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Gary Clancy WMA: 162 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Duckhaven WMA: 40 acres, 7.9 miles away
- Smith WMA: 337 acres, 8.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Maple River WMA
Counting Maple River WMA itself, 771 of the 31,611 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 492 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 279 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Maple River WMA?
In Blue Earth County, near Good Thunder. The DNR's directions: From Good Thunder travel. From Good Thunder travel south on CSAH 1 (550th Ave.) for 1.5 miles, then turn east on 148th St. Proceed east for 1 mile to County Road 166 (555th Ave) and turn south. Proceed south for 1/2 mile to WMA on west side of roadway.
Which deer permit area is Maple River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 299. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Maple River WMA?
771 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Maple River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest George & Elizabeth Lang WMA (3.5 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, Maple 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.