Mud Goose Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Mud Goose Wildlife Management Area is 17,021 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Cass County, near Ball Club, inside Deer Permit Areas 172 and 197. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,687 deer in DPA 172 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 forestMud Goose WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 17,021 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Cass County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 172, DPA 197 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Ball Club |
| DNR area office | Grand Rapids |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Ball Club (3 mi), Boy River (5 mi) and Federal Dam (7 mi) |
What is Mud Goose WMA like?
This WMA is a mixture of forest, shallow lakes, and wet meadows. The unit is managed to improve forest wildlife and waterfowl habitat, with special emphasis on wild rice management. The lake levels are managed by the Mud Lake dam on the Leech Lake River.
Mud and Goose lakes are important lakes for ring-neck ducks. The north west side of Mud Lake is a game refuge. Hunter walking trails, wild rice harvesting, shore fishing at the Mud Lake dam and primitive camp sites.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Mud Goose WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Mud Goose WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Mud Goose WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Mud Goose WMA: Motorized watercraft are permitted, except on any day the waterfowl season is open. Motor size is restricted to 10 horsepower or less. Mud Lake has special Leech Lake Indian Reservation wild rice harvesting restrictions.
How many deer are taken around Mud Goose WMA?
Mud Goose WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 1,687 deer in DPA 172 in 2025, against 1,536 in 2024.
| DPA | Mud Goose WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 172 | 8,731 | 1,687 | 1,536 | 1,258 |
| DPA 197 | 8,290 | 1,098 | 831 | 871 |
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 Mud Goose WMA?
From Ball Club, go 1 mile east on U. S. Highway 2, South 2 miles on County Road 18 and 3 miles west on County Road 139.
Nearest towns: Ball Club (3 miles), Boy River (5 miles), Federal Dam (7 miles) and Zemple (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2.
What other public land is near Mud Goose WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Willow Lake Deer Yard WMA: 40 acres, 9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mud Goose WMA
Counting Mud Goose WMA itself, 62,069 of the 80,121 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (77.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 31,671 |
| State wildlife management areas | 17,021 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 13,377 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mud Goose WMA?
In Cass County, near Ball Club. The DNR's directions: From Ball Club, go 1 mile east on U. S. Highway 2, South 2 miles on County Road 18 and 3 miles west on County Road 139.
Which deer permit area is Mud Goose WMA in?
DPA 172 (8,731 acres) and DPA 197 (8,290 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Mud Goose WMA?
62,069 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mud Goose WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. One other WMA is within 10 miles, the closest Willow Lake Deer Yard WMA (9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Mud Goose 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.