Otsego Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Otsego Wildlife Management Area is 205 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Wright County, near Albertville, inside Deer Permit Area 229. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,039 deer in DPA 229 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 park landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landOtsego WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 205 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Wright County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 229 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Albertville |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Otsego (2 mi), Albertville (3 mi) and Rogers (4 mi) |
What is Otsego WMA like?
The West Unit is a 40 acre tract of grassland and shallow cattail dominated wetland within the City of Otsego. The East Unit is a 160 acre tract of hardwood and lowland forest with some grassland areas bordering the 60 acre Rice Lake.
Although within the city limits of Otsego, the 2 WMAs remain open to hunting and trapping. We recommend hunters and trappers contact Otsego City Hall for yearly clarification.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Otsego WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Otsego WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Otsego WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Otsego WMA?
Otsego WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 229. The DNR registered 1,039 deer in DPA 229 in 2025, against 1,046 in 2024.
| DPA | Otsego WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 229 | 205 | 1,039 | 1,046 | 900 |
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 Otsego WMA?
West Unit: 3 miles east of Albertville within Section 33, T121N, R23W. East Unit: 4 miles east of Albertville within Section 34, T121N, R23W.
Nearest towns: Otsego (2 miles), Albertville (3 miles), Rogers (4 miles) and St. Michael (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, US 10, I-94, MN 101 and US 169.
What other public land is near Otsego WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- St. Michael Meadows WMA: 211 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Pelican Lake WMA: 1,017 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Otsego WMA
Counting Otsego WMA itself, 964 of the 26,977 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County, city and regional land | 716 |
| State wildlife management areas | 220 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 27 |
| National park land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Otsego WMA?
In Wright County, near Albertville. The DNR's directions: West Unit: 3 miles east of Albertville within Section 33, T121N, R23W. East Unit: 4 miles east of Albertville within Section 34, T121N, R23W.
Which deer permit area is Otsego WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 229. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Otsego WMA?
964 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Otsego WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 2 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest St. Michael Meadows WMA (4.3 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Otsego 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.