Monson Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Monson Wildlife Management Area is 209 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Swift County, 3 miles from Sunburg, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 areasState parksMonson WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 209 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Swift County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| DNR area office | Appleton |
| Nearest towns | Sunburg (3 mi), Murdock (8 mi) and Kerkhoven (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on Monson WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Monson WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Monson WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Monson WMA?
Monson WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Monson WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 209 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Monson WMA?
North subunit: From Sunburg, go 3 miles W on Hwy 9 and 1.5 miles S on 160th Ave NE. Central subunit: From Sunburg, go 3 miles W on Hwy 9, 2 miles S on 160th Ave NE, and 1/2 mile W on 20th St NE. South subunit: From Sunburg, go 3 miles S on 140th St NW and 2.5 miles W on 195th Ave NW.
The North and Central subunits have established parking lots with immediate access to upland habitat. In addition, the North subunit has an interior access road and parking lot that allows for carry in access to a wetland basin. There are not parking lots at the South subunit and most of the unit is open water, with only a small strip of upland along the east side which is accessible directly from 10th St SE.
Nearest towns: Sunburg (3 miles), Murdock (8 miles), Kerkhoven (8 miles) and De Graff (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 9 and MN 104.
What other public land is near Monson WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hayes-myhre WMA: 41 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Sunburg WMA: 109 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Cabinrock WMA: 259 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Camp Kerk WMA: 1,110 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Hollerberg Lake WMA: 160 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Oleander WMA: 403 acres, 4.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Monson WMA
Counting Monson WMA itself, 1,505 of the 27,665 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 762 |
| State wildlife management areas | 567 |
| State parks | 176 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Monson WMA?
In Swift County, 3 miles from Sunburg. The DNR's directions: North subunit: From Sunburg, go 3 miles W on Hwy 9 and 1.5 miles S on 160th Ave NE. Central subunit: From Sunburg, go 3 miles W on Hwy 9, 2 miles S on 160th Ave NE, and 1/2 mile W on 20th St NE. South subunit: From Sunburg, go 3 miles S on 140th St NW and 2.5 miles W on 195th Ave NW.
Which deer permit area is Monson WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Monson WMA?
1,505 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Monson WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hayes-myhre WMA (1.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Monson 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.