Mentor Prairie Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Mentor Prairie Wildlife Management Area is 2,183 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Mentor, inside Deer Permit Area 257. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 979 deer in DPA 257 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 areasMentor Prairie WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,183 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 257 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Mentor |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Mentor (next to it), Erskine (7 mi) and Brooks (9 mi) |
What is Mentor Prairie WMA like?
Mentor Prairie is a jewel in the WMA system. It is located in the northern portion of the Red River prairie grassland landscape, and composed of remnant tall grass prairie with minor amounts of brush and trees.
The WMA is intensively managed through rotational and season-long grazing, prescribed fire, brush mowing, small clearcuts, and commercial logging. There is ample opportunity for hunting, trapping, walking, wildlife viewing, and nature photography. Prairie chickens use the area year-round. A Richardson's ground squirrel colony is present. Access is excellent via U.S., county, and township roads. Ample parking is provided around the unit. A walking trail is located on the east side.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Mentor Prairie WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Mentor Prairie WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Mentor Prairie WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Mentor Prairie WMA: Please keep gates closed during grazing season.
How many deer are taken around Mentor Prairie WMA?
Mentor Prairie WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 257. The DNR registered 979 deer in DPA 257 in 2025, against 928 in 2024.
| DPA | Mentor Prairie WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 257 | 2,183 | 979 | 928 | 872 |
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 Mentor Prairie WMA?
From Mentor, go 1/2 mile NW on US 2.
Nearest towns: Mentor (next to it), Erskine (7 miles), Brooks (9 miles) and Red Lake Falls (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2 and MN 32.
What other public land is near Mentor Prairie WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Dalea WMA: 37 acres, next to it
- Tilden WMA: 426 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Marcoux WMA: 380 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Oak Ridge Marsh WMA: 56 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Dugdale WMA: 960 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Erskine WMA: 1,220 acres, 5.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mentor Prairie WMA
Counting Mentor Prairie WMA itself, 7,915 of the 38,798 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (20.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 5,543 |
| State wildlife management areas | 2,372 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mentor Prairie WMA?
In Polk County, near Mentor. The DNR's directions: From Mentor, go 1/2 mile NW on US 2.
Which deer permit area is Mentor Prairie WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 257. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Mentor Prairie WMA?
7,915 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mentor Prairie WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Dalea WMA (next to it).
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, Mentor Prairie 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.