Marple Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Marple Wildlife Management Area is 212 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Grant County, near Wendell, inside Deer Permit Area 270. The DNR's WMA data lists ducks and geese for it. Hunters registered 330 deer in DPA 270 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 areasMarple WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 212 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Grant County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 270 |
| DNR lists for hunting | ducks and geese |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Wendell |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Wendell (3 mi), Nashua (6 mi) and Tintah (8 mi) |
What is Marple WMA like?
The habitat on the Marple WMA is almost entirely wetland. The open water wetland is bordered by a thin strip of grassland.
The Marple WMA can hold good numbers of waterfowl.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Marple WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists ducks and geese for Marple WMA. Each follows the statewide season.
What are the rules on Marple WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Marple WMA?
Marple WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 270. The DNR registered 330 deer in DPA 270 in 2025, against 304 in 2024.
| DPA | Marple WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 270 | 212 | 330 | 304 | 247 |
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 Marple WMA?
From Wendell, go 2 miles N on CSAH 11 then 3 miles W on CO RD 43.
Nearest towns: Wendell (3 miles), Nashua (6 miles), Tintah (8 miles) and Elbow Lake (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 55.
What other public land is near Marple WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Kube-swift WMA: 332 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Shuck WMA: 86 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Coyour Memorial WMA: 240 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Bergerud WMA: 56 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Copeland WMA: 200 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Mustinka WMA: 748 acres, 3.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Marple WMA
Counting Marple WMA itself, 1,706 of the 24,318 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,036 |
| State wildlife management areas | 670 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Marple WMA?
In Grant County, near Wendell. The DNR's directions: From Wendell, go 2 miles N on CSAH 11 then 3 miles W on CO RD 43.
Which deer permit area is Marple WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 270. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Marple WMA?
1,706 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Marple WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Kube-swift WMA (0.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Marple 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.