Milan Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Milan Wildlife Management Area is 447 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Chippewa County, next to Milan, inside Deer Permit Area 275. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 997 deer in DPA 275 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 areasWalk-In AccessMilan WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 447 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Chippewa County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 275 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Milan (next to it), Appleton (5 mi) and Holloway (6 mi) |
What is Milan WMA like?
A small flowage traverses the entire length of the unit providing many acres of lowland habitats including cattail and sedge wetlands. Some old dugouts exist on the unit and there is a small woody cover planting and food plot in the NE corner.
A smaller, separate part of the unit exists one mile to the NW and is connected to the main parcel by a Federal WPA. Some native prairie exists on the unit. Much of the adjacent land is enrolled in agriculture diversion programs.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Milan WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Milan WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Milan WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Milan WMA?
Milan WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 275. The DNR registered 997 deer in DPA 275 in 2025, against 880 in 2024.
| DPA | Milan WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 275 | 447 | 997 | 880 | 775 |
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 Milan WMA?
The main part of the unit is directly east across MN #7 from the city of Milan. Boundaries are well marked.
Adjacent roadways.
Nearest towns: Milan (next to it), Appleton (5 miles), Holloway (6 miles) and Watson (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59, MN 7, MN 40 and MN 119. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Milan WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Benderberg WMA: 427 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Lac qui Parle WMA: 33,602 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Persen WMA: 227 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Clair T. Rollings Chippewa Co. WMA: 121 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Ohnah WMA: 44 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Hantho WMA: 335 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Milan WMA
Counting Milan WMA itself, 4,554 of the 33,398 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 3,747 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 807 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Milan WMA?
In Chippewa County, next to Milan. The DNR's directions: The main part of the unit is directly east across MN #7 from the city of Milan. Boundaries are well marked.
Which deer permit area is Milan WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 275. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Milan WMA?
4,554 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Milan WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Benderberg WMA (1.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Milan 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.