Oleander Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Oleander Wildlife Management Area is 403 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kandiyohi County, near Sunburg, inside Deer Permit Area 277. 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 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 areasState parksOleander WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 403 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Kandiyohi County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| 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) | Sunburg |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Sunburg (2 mi), Brooten (9 mi) and Belgrade (10 mi) |
What is Oleander WMA like?
This unit contains a large cattail marsh with some limited open water holes. Upland consists of some seeded native grasses, non-native grass fields, a few prairie remnants, and a large, old farm grove with an adjacent woody cover planting. The "islands" are mature hardwood species, including bur oak, basswood, maple, hackberry, and walnut. Deer, turkeys, and squirrels find these wooded islands to be good habitat.
Some of the old non-native grasslands will be converted to native grass in the near future. There are 40 acres of restored prairie on the far east side of the WMA. Native remnant prairie exists on the eastern and northern fringe of the large wetland.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Oleander 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 Oleander WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Oleander WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Oleander WMA?
Oleander WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Oleander WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 403 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Oleander WMA?
Travel north on C.R. # 36 from its junction with Mn # 9 a distance of 1.3 miles then turn right on the township road and travel 1.2 miles to the south end of unit, north side rd.
An access trail enters the unit at its south end which goes north to a parking area. There is parking lot off the township road on the east side of the WMA. It is situated next to a walk-in access trail entering the east side of the unit back into the old farm grove.
Nearest towns: Sunburg (2 miles), Brooten (9 miles), Belgrade (10 miles) and New London (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 9 and MN 104.
What other public land is near Oleander WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Little Jo WMA: 301 acres, 2 miles away
- Cabinrock WMA: 259 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Sunburg WMA: 109 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Monson WMA: 209 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Simon Lake WMA: 412 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Tamarac WMA: 615 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Oleander WMA
Counting Oleander WMA itself, 3,142 of the 26,366 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,311 |
| State wildlife management areas | 831 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Oleander WMA?
In Kandiyohi County, near Sunburg. The DNR's directions: Travel north on C.R. # 36 from its junction with Mn # 9 a distance of 1.3 miles then turn right on the township road and travel 1.2 miles to the south end of unit, north side rd.
Which deer permit area is Oleander WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Oleander WMA?
3,142 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Oleander WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Little Jo WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Oleander 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.