Pednor Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Pednor Wildlife Management Area is 244 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Becker County, near Lake Park, inside Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR's WMA data lists deer and small game for it. Hunters registered 224 deer in DPA 297 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 areasPednor WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 244 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Becker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 297 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lake Park |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Ogema (6 mi), Callaway (7 mi) and White Earth (9 mi) |
What is Pednor WMA like?
The WMA contains typical prairie pothole habitat with a mosaic of scattered wetlands, wet meadows, and prairie. Primary vegetation is cattails, sedges, Phragmites, willows, prairie grasses, and herbs. 20 dugouts excavated in 1968 add to the diversity.
Management goal is to maintain habitat for waterfowl and prairie wildlife, by prescribed burning and small wildlife food plots. Prairie chickens use the uplands, while up to 30 pairs of blue-winged teal have been counted in the potholes. Pednor was purchased with Pittman-Robertson funds in 1957 and 1973 for waterfowl production. The high quality prairie has big bluestem, golden Alexander, wild licorice, and patches of wolfberry.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Pednor WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer and small game for Pednor WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Pednor WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Pednor WMA?
Pednor WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR registered 224 deer in DPA 297 in 2025, against 204 in 2024.
| DPA | Pednor WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 297 | 244 | 224 | 204 | 145 |
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 Pednor WMA?
From Lake Park, go 11 m. N on csah 9/cr101, 1 m. E on CR 105/320th Street.
Nearest towns: Ogema (6 miles), Callaway (7 miles), White Earth (9 miles) and Waubun (10 miles).
What other public land is near Pednor WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Ogema Springs WMA: 680 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Spring Creek WMA: 960 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Coburn WMA: 400 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Atlanta WMA: 182 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Waubun WMA: 2,412 acres, 7 miles away
- Melbye WMA: 80 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pednor WMA
Counting Pednor WMA itself, 2,924 of the 23,739 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,680 |
| State wildlife management areas | 244 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pednor WMA?
In Becker County, near Lake Park. The DNR's directions: From Lake Park, go 11 m. N on csah 9/cr101, 1 m. E on CR 105/320th Street.
Which deer permit area is Pednor WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 297. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Pednor WMA?
2,924 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pednor WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Ogema Springs WMA (4.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Pednor 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.