Newstrom Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Newstrom Lake Wildlife Management Area is 796 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near Aitkin, inside Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 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 areasNewstrom Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 796 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 155 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Aitkin |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Nearest towns | Aitkin (9 mi), Palisade (9 mi) and McGregor (9 mi) |
What is Newstrom Lake WMA like?
This WMA is mostly wet, low ground. This unit is brushy with a small island of aspen in the southwest corner. This unit adjoins state forest and county tax forfeit land to north and east. This unit is primarily low ground with grass and brush. Aspen forest dominates upland. Newstrom Lake is a wild rice lake. A boardwalk extends from the north parking lot to the lake. Upland timber types managed for deer, bear, ruffed grouse.
This unit is made up of donated land. There are no developed facilities due to lack of upland on the WMA. Respect private property on adjacent lands to the west and south. Management emphasis for this unit is on protecting the wild rice lake for waterfowl. The upland timber types are managed for deer, bear, and ruffed grouse. Portions of the unit are managed cooperatively with Aitkin County. Respect private property on adjacent lands to the west and south. County tax forfeit land is to the north, other state land to the east. Permits are required for beaver and otter trapping. Deer, bear, bobcat, common snipe, alder flycatcher and swamp sparrows may be found on this WMA. There are limited deer and winter coyote hunting. Wild rice harvesting is allowed. Hunting opportunities exist for deer, waterfowl, ruffed grouse, and Woodcock.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Newstrom Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Newstrom Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Newstrom Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Newstrom Lake WMA?
Newstrom Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 in 2025, against 937 in 2024.
| DPA | Newstrom Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 155 | 796 | 1,134 | 937 | 781 |
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 Newstrom Lake WMA?
From Aitkin go 5 miles NE on Hwy 169/210, 6 miles E. on Co. Rd. 56. From Aitkin; North access: 6 miles E. on Hwy. 47, 1 mile N. on Co. Rd. 5, then 2.5 miles E. on Co. Rd. 5, 2 miles N. on 325th Place. The parking lot is on S. side of road. River access: 5 miles NE on Hwy. 169/210, 7.3 miles E. on Co. Rd. 56 to river.
Parking is limited to the township road shoulder which runs along the southwest corner of the unit. Wheelchair access is limited to the parking lot.
Nearest towns: Aitkin (9 miles), Palisade (9 miles), McGregor (9 miles) and Tamarack (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 210, MN 47 and US 169.
What other public land is near Newstrom Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Aitkin WMA: 3,415 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Kimberly Marsh WMA: 10,564 acres, 2.7 miles away
- French Lake WMA: 537 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Gun Lake WMA: 830 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Rabbit Lake WMA: 390 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Deer Run WMA: 699 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Newstrom Lake WMA
Counting Newstrom Lake WMA itself, 5,105 of the 30,992 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 4,141 |
| State wildlife management areas | 964 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Newstrom Lake WMA?
In Aitkin County, near Aitkin. The DNR's directions: From Aitkin go 5 miles NE on Hwy 169/210, 6 miles E. on Co. Rd. 56. From Aitkin; North access: 6 miles E. on Hwy. 47, 1 mile N. on Co. Rd. 5, then 2.5 miles E. on Co. Rd. 5, 2 miles N. on 325th Place. The parking lot is on S. side of road. River access: 5 miles NE on Hwy. 169/210, 7.3 miles E. on Co. Rd. 56 to river.
Which deer permit area is Newstrom Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 155. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Newstrom Lake WMA?
5,105 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Newstrom Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Aitkin WMA (2.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Newstrom Lake 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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