Moose River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Moose River Wildlife Management Area is 21,275 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Beltrami County, near Fourtown, inside Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 759 deer in DPA 101 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasMoose River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 21,275 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Beltrami County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 101 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fourtown |
| DNR area office | Thief Lake WMA |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (5 mi), Goodridge (19 mi) and Roosevelt (28 mi) |
What can you hunt on Moose River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Moose River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Moose River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Moose River WMA?
Moose River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR registered 759 deer in DPA 101 in 2025, against 688 in 2024.
| DPA | Moose River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 101 | 21,275 | 759 | 688 | 594 |
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 Moose River WMA?
From Four Town, go 9 miles N and W on CSAH 44 then 1 mile N on TWP RD. From Fourtown, go 9 miles N and W on CSAH 44 then 1 mile N on TWP RD.
The northern border of this WMA can be accessed via the West Moose River Forest Road. Portions of the Moose River Impoundment Dike is open seasonally to highway-licensed vehicles (closed during the nesting season) and is a snowmobile trail in the winter. West Moose River Forest Road will be closed for maintenance until about October 27, 2021. The road will remain open on the east side of Dicks Parkway.
Nearest towns: Grygla (5 miles), Goodridge (19 miles), Roosevelt (28 miles) and Middle River (29 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89.
What other public land is near Moose River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wapiti WMA: 31,755 acres, next to it
- Benville WMA: 1,194 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Saw-whet WMA: 1,286 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Grygla WMA: 3,444 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Gun-dog WMA: 1,357 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Wolf Trail WMA: 7,792 acres, 2.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Moose River WMA
Counting Moose River WMA itself, 38,655 of the 99,841 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (38.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 38,131 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 524 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Moose River WMA?
In Beltrami County, near Fourtown. The DNR's directions: From Four Town, go 9 miles N and W on CSAH 44 then 1 mile N on TWP RD. From Fourtown, go 9 miles N and W on CSAH 44 then 1 mile N on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Moose River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 101. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Moose River WMA?
38,655 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Moose River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wapiti WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Moose River 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.