Mustinka Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Mustinka Wildlife Management Area is 748 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Grant County, near Wendell, inside Deer Permit Areas 272 and 270. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 366 deer in DPA 272 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 areasMustinka WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 748 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Grant County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 272, DPA 270 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Wendell |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Wendell (next to it), Elbow Lake (3 mi) and Barrett (9 mi) |
What is Mustinka WMA like?
The north tract of the Mustinka WMA large areas of open water wetlands, extensive cattail at the northern end of the WMA as well as woody cover and a small food plot at the northeastern end of this tract. Open Water wetland habitat is the primary cover type of the southern tract of the Mustinka WMA. There is extensive cattail cover at the southern end of the WMA as well as woody cover in an old gravel pit at the very south end of the WMA. The northern portion of this tract, between State Hwy. 55 and a railroad crossing to the south, is designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary, where no trespass is allowed.
There are small patches of remnant prairie between the WMA boundary and wetland areas of this WMA. Waterfowl hunting can be good in the area south of the Sanctuary area. There is some native prairie and restored grassland near the western parking lot of the Mustinka WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Mustinka WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Mustinka WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Mustinka WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Mustinka WMA: Wildlife Sanctuary between Hwy. 55 and Railroad crossing.
The DNR's data marks part of Mustinka WMA as a wildlife sanctuary. Sanctuary ground is posted and closed to entry without DNR authorization.
How many deer are taken around Mustinka WMA?
Mustinka WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 366 deer in DPA 272 in 2025, against 338 in 2024.
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 Mustinka WMA?
From Wendell, go 1 mile E on SH 55.
Nearest towns: Wendell (next to it), Elbow Lake (3 miles), Barrett (9 miles) and Nashua (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 55, US 59, MN 54 and MN 79.
What other public land is near Mustinka WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Shuck WMA: 86 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Bergerud WMA: 56 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Marple WMA: 212 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Kube-swift WMA: 332 acres, 4 miles away
- Aastad WMA: 317 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Erlandson WMA: 283 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mustinka WMA
Counting Mustinka WMA itself, 1,700 of the 37,487 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 860 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 840 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mustinka WMA?
In Grant County, near Wendell. The DNR's directions: From Wendell, go 1 mile E on SH 55.
Which deer permit area is Mustinka WMA in?
DPA 272 (574 acres) and DPA 270 (174 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Mustinka WMA?
1,700 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mustinka WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Shuck WMA (2.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Mustinka 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.