Poor Farm Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Poor Farm Wildlife Management Area is 312 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Crow Wing County, near Brainerd, inside Deer Permit Area 249. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,126 deer in DPA 249 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 landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landPoor Farm WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 312 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Crow Wing County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 249 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Brainerd |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Brainerd (3 mi), Baxter (6 mi) and Riverton (9 mi) |
What is Poor Farm WMA like?
WMA consists of Crow Wing County land cooperatively managed by the state and county. Area is a mix of forest and old fields with a 30 acre bullrush marsh in the NW corner of the WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Poor Farm WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Poor Farm WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Poor Farm WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Poor Farm WMA?
Poor Farm WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 249. The DNR registered 3,126 deer in DPA 249 in 2025, against 2,772 in 2024.
| DPA | Poor Farm WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 249 | 312 | 3,126 | 2,772 | 2,539 |
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 Poor Farm WMA?
From the junction of St. Hwys 18 & 25 in the SE corner of Brainerd, S. on St. Hwy. 25 1.0 miles, parking lot to WMA is on east side of St. Hwy..
There are three public accesses on the WMA; on the West side, on the South side, and on the East side.
Nearest towns: Brainerd (3 miles), Baxter (6 miles), Riverton (9 miles) and Merrifield (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 25, MN 210, MN 18, MN 371 and MN 309.
What other public land is near Poor Farm WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Telef Paulson WMA: 40 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Ray Cook WMA: 252 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Loerch WMA: 207 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Kim Hennings WMA: 275 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Poor Farm WMA
Counting Poor Farm WMA itself, 601 of the 24,489 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 359 |
| County, city and regional land | 151 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 80 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 11 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Poor Farm WMA?
In Crow Wing County, near Brainerd. The DNR's directions: From the junction of St. Hwys 18 & 25 in the SE corner of Brainerd, S. on St. Hwy. 25 1.0 miles, parking lot to WMA is on east side of St. Hwy..
Which deer permit area is Poor Farm WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 249. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Poor Farm WMA?
601 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Poor Farm WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Telef Paulson WMA (2.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Poor Farm 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.