Minneota Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Minneota Wildlife Management Area is 214 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Jackson County, near Lakefield, inside Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 505 deer in DPA 250 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 areasMinneota WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 214 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 250 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lakefield |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Lakefield (11 mi), Jackson (12 mi) and Round Lake (13 mi) |
What can you hunt on Minneota WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Minneota WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Minneota WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Minneota WMA?
Minneota WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR registered 505 deer in DPA 250 in 2025, against 479 in 2024.
| DPA | Minneota WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 250 | 214 | 505 | 479 | 497 |
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 Minneota WMA?
From Lakefield, go 11 miles S on SH 86 then 1 mile W on Township Road.
Nearest towns: Lakefield (11 miles), Jackson (12 miles), Round Lake (13 miles) and Okabena (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 86.
What other public land is near Minneota WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sangl WMA: 342 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Skunk Lake WMA: 238 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Little Sioux WMA: 307 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Pavelko WMA: 58 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Sioux Valley WMA: 608 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Pletz Slough WMA: 118 acres, 3.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Minneota WMA
Counting Minneota WMA itself, 2,237 of the 26,899 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,220 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,017 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Minneota WMA?
In Jackson County, near Lakefield. The DNR's directions: From Lakefield, go 11 miles S on SH 86 then 1 mile W on Township Road.
Which deer permit area is Minneota WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 250. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Minneota WMA?
2,237 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Minneota WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sangl WMA (0.6 miles).
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, Minneota 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.