Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Meadow Brook Wildlife Management Area is 5,752 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Cass County, near Pillager, inside Deer Permit Area 246. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,143 deer in DPA 246 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 landMeadow Brook WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,752 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Cass County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 246 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Pillager |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Lake Shore (7 mi), East Gull Lake (9 mi) and Pillager (9 mi) |
What is Meadow Brook WMA like?
Meadow Brook was created in 1979 for the purposes of forest wildlife management. The unit is primarily forested (aspen, oak and northern hardwoods) with numerous forested wetlands throughout. Area actively managed through timber sales.
This is large non-motorized WMA that provides 17.5 miles of hunter walking trails with 7 parking lots. Two accessible parking lots (gravel surface) exist in the SW corner of the WMA that are used by deer hunters to shoot over adjacent fields.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Meadow Brook WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Meadow Brook WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Meadow Brook WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Meadow Brook WMA?
Meadow Brook WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 246. The DNR registered 3,143 deer in DPA 246 in 2025, against 2,624 in 2024.
| DPA | Meadow Brook WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 246 | 5,752 | 3,143 | 2,624 | 2,394 |
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 Meadow Brook WMA?
From the junction of State Highway 210 & County Road 1 just west of Pillager, north on County Road 1 4.4 miles, west on County Road 34 4.5 miles, north on county road 38 5.0 miles, at this point you are at the junction of two township roads (north and east) that provide access to this wildlife management area.
Nearest towns: Lake Shore (7 miles), East Gull Lake (9 miles), Pillager (9 miles) and Motley (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 64.
What other public land is near Meadow Brook WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Farnham Lake WMA: 256 acres, 8.5 miles away
- Dry Sand WMA: 800 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Meadow Brook WMA
Counting Meadow Brook WMA itself, 7,464 of the 49,548 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 5,807 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,657 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Meadow Brook WMA?
In Cass County, near Pillager. The DNR's directions: From the junction of State Highway 210 & County Road 1 just west of Pillager, north on County Road 1 4.4 miles, west on County Road 34 4.5 miles, north on county road 38 5.0 miles, at this point you are at the junction of two township roads (north and east) that provide access to this wildlife management area.
Which deer permit area is Meadow Brook WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 246. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Meadow Brook WMA?
7,464 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Meadow Brook WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 2 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Farnham Lake WMA (8.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Meadow Brook 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.