Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area is 650 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Wright and Stearns counties, near Clearwater, inside Deer Permit Area 219. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,989 deer in DPA 219 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 landMinnesota Veterans WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 650 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Wright County and Stearns County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 219 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Clearwater |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Clearwater (3 mi), Silver Creek (5 mi) and Fairhaven (6 mi) |
What is Minnesota Veterans WMA like?
This WMA has a diverse mix of hardwood forest, wetland and upland grasslands. The Clearwater River bisects the property giving it a unique riparian characteristic with wonderful vistas of southeast "Hardwood Hills" subsection forest.
This WMA has special significance in being a “Build A Wildlife Area” in the state dedicated on July 23, 2014 to honor those that served our country helping preserve freedom and democracy. An impressive granite monument highlights over 50 contributors. Funding for this project was providing by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for game fish and wildlife. Hunting options include: deer, small game, forest game birds, pheasant, waterfowl and turkeys. Wildlife viewing options include: wetland, prairie and forest wildlife.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Minnesota Veterans WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Minnesota Veterans WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Minnesota Veterans WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Minnesota Veterans WMA?
Minnesota Veterans WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 219. The DNR registered 1,989 deer in DPA 219 in 2025, against 1,973 in 2024.
| DPA | Minnesota Veterans WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 219 | 650 | 1,989 | 1,973 | 1,709 |
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 Minnesota Veterans WMA?
From Clearwater, go 3 ½ miles S of Hwy 94 on MN state highway 24 to parking lot. This WMA is in Sections 21, 22 & 27, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Clearwater (W) Township, Wright County and Section 21, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Lynden (S) Township, Stearns County.
Nearest towns: Clearwater (3 miles), Silver Creek (5 miles), Fairhaven (6 miles) and Clear Lake (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, I-94 and MN 24.
What other public land is near Minnesota Veterans WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Suconnix WMA: 1,007 acres, next to it
- Hoglund WMA: 362 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Maple Lake WMA: 410 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Corinna WMA: 81 acres, 7.4 miles away
- Hidden Marsh WMA: 39 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Albion WMA: 546 acres, 8.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Minnesota Veterans WMA
Counting Minnesota Veterans WMA itself, 1,916 of the 28,794 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,916 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Minnesota Veterans WMA?
In Wright and Stearns counties, near Clearwater. The DNR's directions: From Clearwater, go 3 ½ miles S of Hwy 94 on MN state highway 24 to parking lot. This WMA is in Sections 21, 22 & 27, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Clearwater (W) Township, Wright County and Section 21, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Lynden (S) Township, Stearns County.
Which deer permit area is Minnesota Veterans WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 219. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Minnesota Veterans WMA?
1,916 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Minnesota Veterans WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Suconnix WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Minnesota Veterans 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.