Mc Carthy Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Mc Carthy Lake Wildlife Management Area is 3,264 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Wabasha County, near Kellogg, inside Deer Permit Area 642. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 2,077 deer in DPA 642 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 areasMc Carthy Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,264 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Wabasha County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 642 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Kellogg |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Kellogg (2 mi), Minneiska (4 mi) and Wabasha (7 mi) |
What is Mc Carthy Lake WMA like?
Mixed upland and lowland hardwoods of oak, maple, ash, birch, cottonwood and willow. Upland fields consists of native warm and cool season grasses. Former channel of Zumbro River dissects unit and has created numerous wetlands including wild rice.
Management emphasis to maintain a rich, diverse interspersion of numerous communities throughout the wildlife area. Timber management, prescribed burning, nesting cover development and maintenance practices are utilized. Six parking lots exist. Sandhill cranes, eagles, tundra swans and numerous shore birds may be commonly observed. The Weaver Dunes SNA is adjacent to this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Mc Carthy Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Mc Carthy Lake WMA: A special use permit is required for beaver trapping when allowed.
How many deer are taken around Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
Mc Carthy Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 642. The DNR registered 2,077 deer in DPA 642 in 2025, against 1,890 in 2024.
| DPA | Mc Carthy Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 642 | 3,264 | 2,077 | 1,890 |
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 Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
From Kellogg, go 4 miles SE on US Hwy 61.
Nearest towns: Kellogg (2 miles), Minneiska (4 miles), Wabasha (7 miles) and Elba (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61 and MN 74.
What other public land is near Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Whitewater WMA: 27,469 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Pool 4 WMA: 142 acres, 4 miles away
- Thorpe WMA: 143 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mc Carthy Lake WMA
Counting Mc Carthy Lake WMA itself, 12,690 of the 41,308 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (30.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 5,676 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 4,189 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,825 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
In Wabasha County, near Kellogg. The DNR's directions: From Kellogg, go 4 miles SE on US Hwy 61.
Which deer permit area is Mc Carthy Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 642. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Mc Carthy Lake WMA?
12,690 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mc Carthy Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Whitewater WMA (1.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Mc Carthy Lake 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.