Perched Valley Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Perched Valley Wildlife Management Area is 247 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Goodhue County, near Frontenac, inside Deer Permit Area 341. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,312 deer in DPA 341 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 landState parksCounty, city and regional landPerched Valley WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 247 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Goodhue County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 341 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Frontenac |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Frontenac (2 mi), Lake City (7 mi) and Red Wing (9 mi) |
What is Perched Valley WMA like?
This section of Perched Valley WMA is a forested north-facing slope. The terrain is steep, but there is likely opportunity to harvest deer, turkey, and small game for those willing to traverse the challenging topography. This unit consists of mostly wetland ranging from Type 2 to Type 5. A calcareous fen can be found there.
This portion of Perched Valley WMA formerly included the pond (Grote's Pond) on the north side of Highway 61, but it was decided that it was best suited to be included as part of Frontenac State Park in 2019. The site is quite unique and important to local wildlife, but has been degraded somewhat by the occurrence of purple loosestrife. Wildlife viewing options include wetland wildlife and forest wildlife.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Perched Valley WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Perched Valley WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Perched Valley WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Perched Valley WMA: Permit from area wildlife manager required for beaver trapping.
How many deer are taken around Perched Valley WMA?
Perched Valley WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 341. The DNR registered 3,312 deer in DPA 341 in 2025, against 2,953 in 2024.
| DPA | Perched Valley WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 341 | 247 | 3,312 | 2,953 | 3,034 |
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 Perched Valley WMA?
From Frontenac, go 2 miles N on US Hwy 61.
Nearest towns: Frontenac (2 miles), Lake City (7 miles), Red Wing (9 miles) and Bellechester (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61, US 63 and MN 58.
What other public land is near Perched Valley WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- John Murtaugh Memorial WMA: 120 acres, 7.9 miles away
- Gores Pool #3 WMA: 7,109 acres, 9.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Perched Valley WMA
Counting Perched Valley WMA itself, 3,259 of the 31,795 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 2,116 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 765 |
| State wildlife management areas | 378 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Perched Valley WMA?
In Goodhue County, near Frontenac. The DNR's directions: From Frontenac, go 2 miles N on US Hwy 61.
Which deer permit area is Perched Valley WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 341. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Perched Valley WMA?
3,259 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Perched Valley WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 2 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest John Murtaugh Memorial WMA (7.9 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, Perched Valley 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.