Picnic Rock Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Picnic Rock Wildlife Management Area is 181 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Blue Earth County, near Mankato, inside Deer Permit Area 299. 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 726 deer in DPA 299 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 parksCounty, city and regional landPicnic Rock WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 181 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Blue Earth County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 299 |
| 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) | Mankato |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Nearest towns | Skyline (3 mi), North Mankato (4 mi) and Mankato (6 mi) |
What is Picnic Rock WMA like?
The Picnic Rock WMA is mainly comprised of: Upland and wetland forest types with a restored oak savanna/prairie component and an agricultural food plot.
This WMA is still under development. Picnic Rock WMA consists of a high quality upland forest system, restored prairie.savanna overlooking the Blue Earth River and historic Picnic Rock.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Picnic Rock 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 Picnic Rock WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Picnic Rock WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Picnic Rock WMA?
Picnic Rock WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 299. The DNR registered 726 deer in DPA 299 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | Picnic Rock WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 299 | 181 | 726 | 785 | 797 |
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 Picnic Rock WMA?
From Mankato, drive east on US Highway 169 for 5.1 miles turning left or South on Military Road. The WMA will be on your left or the Southside of Military Road.
Two parking areas will be located on the South side of Military Road.
Nearest towns: Skyline (3 miles), North Mankato (4 miles), Mankato (6 miles) and Lake Crystal (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60, US 169, US 14, MN 66 and MN 68.
What other public land is near Picnic Rock WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- O A Vee Memorial WMA: 253 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Swan Lake WMA: 3,396 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Gary Clancy WMA: 162 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Saiki WMA: 39 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Gage WMA: 29 acres, 6.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Picnic Rock WMA
Counting Picnic Rock WMA itself, 1,999 of the 22,418 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 1,395 |
| State wildlife management areas | 442 |
| County, city and regional land | 162 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Picnic Rock WMA?
In Blue Earth County, near Mankato. The DNR's directions: From Mankato, drive east on US Highway 169 for 5.1 miles turning left or South on Military Road. The WMA will be on your left or the Southside of Military Road.
Which deer permit area is Picnic Rock WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 299. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Picnic Rock WMA?
1,999 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Picnic Rock WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest O A Vee Memorial WMA (1.2 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, Picnic Rock 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.