Naylor Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Naylor Wildlife Management Area is 307 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Dodge County, near Claremont, inside Deer Permit Area 233. 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 652 deer in DPA 233 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 landCounty, city and regional landNaylor WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 307 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Dodge County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 233 |
| 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) | Claremont |
| DNR area office | Owatonna |
| Nearest towns | Claremont (3 mi), Dodge Center (5 mi) and West Concord (5 mi) |
What is Naylor WMA like?
This WMA is located along the valley of the South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River provides a variety of wildlife habitats. Upland and lowland brush are the most abundant habitats interspersed with wetlands, woods and grasslands. This Aquatic Management Area compliments the adjacent Naylor WMA by protecting additional river corridor along the South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River. Part of the area is an abandoned sand and gravel quarry creating a small lake.
Management objectives are to maintain a mix of habitats using a variety of means including prescribed fires, farming, and timber management. This area is one of the first WMAs acquired via the RIM Critical Habitat Match Program with Pheasants Forever. Unfortunately this area receives significant unauthorized use including motor vehicle trespass and littering. Please show respect for the area and follow public use rules. The wide-variety of habitats result in good wild viewing opportunities. A variety of waterfowl use the river and beaver ponds. Hunting opportunities are best for pheasants, cottontail rabbits, deer, raccoon and waterfowl. The pond offers angling for panfish. The area offers good wildlife viewing opportunities. Watch for beaver, muskrat and mink along the river. The Naylor WMA bounds the west side of this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Naylor 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 Naylor WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Naylor WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Naylor WMA?
Naylor WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 233. The DNR registered 652 deer in DPA 233 in 2025, against 620 in 2024.
| DPA | Naylor WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 233 | 307 | 652 | 620 | 598 |
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 Naylor WMA?
From Claremont, go 2 miles E. on US 14 then 1.7 miles N. on County Road 5. From Claremont, go 3 miles E. on US 14 then 1.7 miles N. on Twp Rd.
Nearest towns: Claremont (3 miles), Dodge Center (5 miles), West Concord (5 miles) and Mantorville (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 14 and MN 56.
What other public land is near Naylor WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Vorce WMA: 40 acres, 1.5 miles away
- McMartin WMA: 38 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Pheasants Forever WMA: 297 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Marsh Wren WMA: 40 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Bud Jensen WMA: 102 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Naylor WMA
Counting Naylor WMA itself, 375 of the 25,162 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 375 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Naylor WMA?
In Dodge County, near Claremont. The DNR's directions: From Claremont, go 2 miles E. on US 14 then 1.7 miles N. on County Road 5. From Claremont, go 3 miles E. on US 14 then 1.7 miles N. on Twp Rd.
Which deer permit area is Naylor WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 233. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Naylor WMA?
375 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Naylor WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Vorce WMA (1.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Naylor 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).
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