Old Red Lake Trail Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Old Red Lake Trail Wildlife Management Area is 1,255 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clearwater County, near Leonard, inside Deer Permit Area 210. 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 1,487 deer in DPA 210 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 landOld Red Lake Trail WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,255 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clearwater County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 210 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Leonard |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Leonard (2 mi), Shevlin (6 mi) and Clearbrook (6 mi) |
What is Old Red Lake Trail WMA like?
This WMA is a mixed forest, grassland, and wetland complex in a forested and agricultural landscape. Forty percent of the unit is wetland, including 8 impoundments for waterfowl. Another 40% is mixed aspen forest and 20% is open grassland.
The aspen forest (372 acres or 33 percent of WMA) on this unit is managed for ruffed grouse and deer habitat by small patch cut timber sales. Waterfowl breeding and nesting habitat management also takes place on this WMA. Deer, bear, ruffed grouse, and duck hunting opportunities exist on this unit. Along with wildlife observation and trapping opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Old Red Lake Trail WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Old Red Lake Trail WMA: Gates regulate vehicle use of unit. A separate 159 acre portion of the WMA is only accessible by foot from CSAH 47.
How many deer are taken around Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
Old Red Lake Trail WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 in 2025, against 1,331 in 2024.
| DPA | Old Red Lake Trail WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 210 | 1,255 | 1,487 | 1,331 | 1,383 |
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 Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
From Leonard, go 2 1/2 miles W on SH 223 then 1 mile S on gravel township road. A portion also accessible from a gravel township road that connects with CR 1 on the west and CR 2 on the east.
Two carry in boat access's exist on the north and south shores of Solberg Lake and the small ponds are accessible from trails and dikes.
Nearest towns: Leonard (2 miles), Shevlin (6 miles), Clearbrook (6 miles) and Bagley (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 92 and MN 223.
What other public land is near Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- West 4 Legged Lake WMA: 21 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Spike Lake WMA: 37 acres, 7 miles away
- Little Pine Lake WMA: 312 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Daniel Lake WMA: 24 acres, 8.3 miles away
- Bagley Lake WMA: 25 acres, 9.1 miles away
- Clearwater V & S 9 WMA: 42 acres, 9.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Old Red Lake Trail WMA
Counting Old Red Lake Trail WMA itself, 1,375 of the 33,737 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,296 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 79 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
In Clearwater County, near Leonard. The DNR's directions: From Leonard, go 2 1/2 miles W on SH 223 then 1 mile S on gravel township road. A portion also accessible from a gravel township road that connects with CR 1 on the west and CR 2 on the east.
Which deer permit area is Old Red Lake Trail WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 210. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Old Red Lake Trail WMA?
1,375 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Old Red Lake Trail WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest West 4 Legged Lake WMA (0.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Old Red Lake Trail 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.