Mervin Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Mervin Wildlife Management Area is 242 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Carlton County, near Cromwell, inside Deer Permit Area 156. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,900 deer in DPA 156 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 landMervin WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 242 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Carlton County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 156 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Cromwell |
| DNR area office | Cloquet |
| Nearest towns | Cromwell (3 mi), Wright (9 mi) and Big Lake (10 mi) |
What is Mervin WMA like?
This WMA is a forest/wetland complex of ash and cedar swamp lowlands with some aspen and spruce-fir forests along the perimeter of the unit interspersed with some upland openings.
This WMA is a good deer wintering area. The unit is not posted and it has no developed facilities. This is a remote unit with the Fond Du Lac State Forest and other state managed lands adjacent to it offering additional outdoor opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Mervin WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Mervin WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Mervin WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Mervin WMA?
Mervin WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 156. The DNR registered 1,900 deer in DPA 156 in 2025, against 1,594 in 2024.
| DPA | Mervin WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 156 | 242 | 1,900 | 1,594 | 1,299 |
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 Mervin WMA?
From Cromwell, go 1 1/2 miles E on SH 210, then 2 miles S on CSAH 21, then 1 mile E on lowland snowmobile trail (foot access only).
This WMA is only accessible by foot over a wet trail with often poor conditions thus access would be considered difficult. A snowmobile trail running east/west dissects the unit and offers winter access.
Nearest towns: Cromwell (3 miles), Wright (9 miles), Big Lake (10 miles) and Mahtowa (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 210 and MN 73.
What other public land is near Mervin WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Kettle Lake WMA: 1,313 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Carl Sandell WMA: 40 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Red Clover WMA: 323 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Sawyer WMA: 600 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Firebird WMA: 728 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mervin WMA
Counting Mervin WMA itself, 7,930 of the 23,768 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (33.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 6,373 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,557 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mervin WMA?
In Carlton County, near Cromwell. The DNR's directions: From Cromwell, go 1 1/2 miles E on SH 210, then 2 miles S on CSAH 21, then 1 mile E on lowland snowmobile trail (foot access only).
Which deer permit area is Mervin WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 156. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Mervin WMA?
7,930 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mervin WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Kettle Lake WMA (1.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Mervin 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.