Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area is 1,049 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Freeborn County, near Gordonsville, inside Deer Permit Area 254. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,373 deer in DPA 254 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 areasPanicum Prairie WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,049 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Freeborn County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 254 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Gordonsville |
| DNR area office | Owatonna |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Glenville (4 mi), Twin Lakes (5 mi) and Myrtle (7 mi) |
What is Panicum Prairie WMA like?
The Grass Lake Sub-unit of Panicum Prairie WMA encompasses a large portion of the bed of Grass Lake - a large marsh that was drained in the last century for farming. It is part of a large complex of conservation lands in Iowa and Minnesota. This sub-unit, Shell Rock, of the Panicum Prairie WMA is located along the Iowa border as part of a large complex of protected wildlife conservation lands in both Minnesota and Iowa. The Shell Rock River is located near the eastern edge of the unit.
Conservation of this area involves a partnership of many agencies and private conservation interests spear-headed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service and local chapters of Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. The Grass Lake complex contains a mixture of public and private lands on both sides of the Minnesota-Iowa border. This unit was made possible through the generosity of many donors especially Sharon and Dean Krafka, Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and DU. The NRCS, USFWS and Worth County Conservation Board partnered in habitat projects. Due to the areas size and variety of habitats good wildlife viewing opportunities abound. The area is especially rich during spring waterfowl migration. This area offers good year-round wildlife watching opportunities. The unit provides access to the Shell Rock for fishing and canoeing.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Panicum Prairie WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Panicum Prairie WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Panicum Prairie WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Panicum Prairie WMA: Hunters, anglers and canoeists need to be aware of the Iowa-Minnesota border, licensing requirements and appropriate regulations.
How many deer are taken around Panicum Prairie WMA?
Panicum Prairie WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 254. The DNR registered 1,373 deer in DPA 254 in 2025, against 1,340 in 2024.
| DPA | Panicum Prairie WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 254 | 1,047 | 1,373 | 1,340 | 1,346 |
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 Panicum Prairie WMA?
From Gordonsville, go 4 miles SW on CSAH 1. From Gordonsville, go 2 miles SW on CSAH 1.
Nearest towns: Glenville (4 miles), Twin Lakes (5 miles), Myrtle (7 miles) and Emmons (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, US 65 and MN 16.
What other public land is near Panicum Prairie WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Shell Rock WMA: 49 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Ann & Leo Donahue WMA: 112 acres, 5.4 miles away
- State Line Lake WMA: 47 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Upper Twin Lake WMA: 99 acres, 7 miles away
- Bear WMA: 64 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Magaksica WMA: 169 acres, 9.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Panicum Prairie WMA
Counting Panicum Prairie WMA itself, 1,081 of the 37,194 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,065 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 16 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Panicum Prairie WMA?
In Freeborn County, near Gordonsville. The DNR's directions: From Gordonsville, go 4 miles SW on CSAH 1. From Gordonsville, go 2 miles SW on CSAH 1.
Which deer permit area is Panicum Prairie WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 254. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Panicum Prairie WMA?
1,081 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Panicum Prairie WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Shell Rock WMA (2.8 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Panicum Prairie 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.