Oxbow Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Oxbow Wildlife Management Area is 332 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Jackson County, near Heron Lake, inside Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 505 deer in DPA 250 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 areasOxbow WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 332 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 250 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Heron Lake |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Kinbrae (4 mi), Brewster (5 mi) and Okabena (5 mi) |
What can you hunt on Oxbow WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Oxbow WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Oxbow WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Oxbow WMA?
Oxbow WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR registered 505 deer in DPA 250 in 2025, against 479 in 2024.
| DPA | Oxbow WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 250 | 332 | 505 | 479 | 497 |
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 Oxbow WMA?
From Heron Lake, go 3 miles SW on SH 60 then 3 miles W on Co Rd 63.
Nearest towns: Kinbrae (4 miles), Brewster (5 miles), Okabena (5 miles) and Heron Lake (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60.
What other public land is near Oxbow WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Graham Creek WMA: 90 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Libra WMA: 29 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Fred Hoffenkamp WMA: 87 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Fury WMA: 26 acres, 3 miles away
- Valleau WMA: 309 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Crosse WMA: 67 acres, 3.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Oxbow WMA
Counting Oxbow WMA itself, 570 of the 26,045 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 538 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 32 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Oxbow WMA?
In Jackson County, near Heron Lake. The DNR's directions: From Heron Lake, go 3 miles SW on SH 60 then 3 miles W on Co Rd 63.
Which deer permit area is Oxbow WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 250. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Oxbow WMA?
570 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Oxbow WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Graham Creek WMA (0.5 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, Oxbow 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.