Oriniak Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Oriniak Wildlife Management Area is 312 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Pennington County, near Thief River Falls, inside Deer Permit Area 209. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,486 deer in DPA 209 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 areasOriniak WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 312 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Pennington County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 209 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Thief River Falls |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Plummer (6 mi), Oklee (11 mi) and Brooks (11 mi) |
What can you hunt on Oriniak WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Oriniak WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Oriniak WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Oriniak WMA?
Oriniak WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 209. The DNR registered 1,486 deer in DPA 209 in 2025, against 1,380 in 2024.
| DPA | Oriniak WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 209 | 312 | 1,486 | 1,380 | 1,234 |
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 Oriniak WMA?
From Thief River Falls, go 7 1/2 miles SE on US 59, 4 miles E CSAH 3/Center St., then 2 1/2 miles S 250th Ave SE.
Nearest towns: Plummer (6 miles), Oklee (11 miles), Brooks (11 miles) and St. Hilaire (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59.
What other public land is near Oriniak WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Emardville WMA: 88 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Jacksnipe WMA: 203 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Oriniak WMA
Counting Oriniak WMA itself, 400 of the 24,046 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 400 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Oriniak WMA?
In Pennington County, near Thief River Falls. The DNR's directions: From Thief River Falls, go 7 1/2 miles SE on US 59, 4 miles E CSAH 3/Center St., then 2 1/2 miles S 250th Ave SE.
Which deer permit area is Oriniak WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 209. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Oriniak WMA?
400 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Oriniak WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 2 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Emardville WMA (2.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Oriniak 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.