Pelican Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Pelican Lake Wildlife Management Area is 1,017 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Wright County, near St. Michael, 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, mourning doves 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 areasState forest and other DNR landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasCounty, city and regional landPelican Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,017 acres in 3 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, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | St. Michael |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | St. Michael (next to it), Albertville (3 mi) and Monticello (3 mi) |
What is Pelican Lake WMA like?
This WMA borders Pelican Lake, a 4,000 acre shallow lake. Most of the upland has been restored to native prairie and oak savannah surrounding wetland restorations. The restored prairie grassland will be maintained by prescribed fire.
Pelican Lake is considered by many MN waterfowl biologists, hunters, and birders to be one of the few large shallow lakes in MN that is primary spring/fall migration habitat for diver duck species: lesser scaup, canvasback, redhead, and ring-necked duck. Pelican Lake is a very unique geographical migration stepping stone for the species listed above as well as puddle ducks, geese, trumpeter swans, etc. and wetland wildlife. As a result, the lake was designated as a state wildlife management lake in 1977. At times waterfowl hunting can be good on this WMA. Pheasant hunting is usually fair to poor depending on habitat and weather conditions previous to the hunting season.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Pelican Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Pelican Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Pelican Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Pelican Lake WMA: The Pelican Lake WMA contains a 102-acre posted wildlife sanctuary located east of Iffert Ave. NE which is closed to trespass from March 1 to November 30 each year.
How many deer are taken around Pelican Lake WMA?
Pelican Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 229. The DNR registered 1,039 deer in DPA 229 in 2025, against 1,046 in 2024.
| DPA | Pelican Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 229 | 1,017 | 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 Pelican Lake WMA?
SE Unit: From St. Michael, go 3 miles W on Cty 119 and 0.25 miles S on Ibarra Ave NE. NW Unit: From Monticello, go 3.6 miles S on MN 25, then 1.6 miles E on Cty Rd 37 NE, then 1 mile S on Cty Hwy 15 (Edmondson Ave NE), then 0.15 miles W on 60th St NE.
Nearest towns: St. Michael (next to it), Albertville (3 miles), Monticello (3 miles) and Hanover (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52, I-94, MN 25, MN 241 and MN 55.
What other public land is near Pelican Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- St. Michael Meadows WMA: 211 acres, next to it
- Kelly-meyer WMA: 136 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Otsego WMA: 205 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Maple Lake WMA: 410 acres, 7.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pelican Lake WMA
Counting Pelican Lake WMA itself, 3,657 of the 50,255 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,264 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,231 |
| County, city and regional land | 1,043 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 118 |
| Other federal land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pelican Lake WMA?
In Wright County, near St. Michael. The DNR's directions: SE Unit: From St. Michael, go 3 miles W on Cty 119 and 0.25 miles S on Ibarra Ave NE. NW Unit: From Monticello, go 3.6 miles S on MN 25, then 1.6 miles E on Cty Rd 37 NE, then 1 mile S on Cty Hwy 15 (Edmondson Ave NE), then 0.15 miles W on 60th St NE.
Which deer permit area is Pelican Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 229. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Pelican Lake WMA?
3,657 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pelican Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest St. Michael Meadows WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Pelican Lake 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.