Popular Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Popular Wildlife Management Area is 206 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Meeker County, near Grove City, inside Deer Permit Area 283. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 584 deer in DPA 283 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 areasPopular WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 206 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Meeker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 283 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Grove City |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Atwater (5 mi), Grove City (5 mi) and Cosmos (9 mi) |
What is Popular WMA like?
This unit provides public access to Popple Lake on its eastern edge, and other deep, fresh-water marshes. Part of the unit is covered by woods, as well as seeded native grass fields, non-native grass fields, and a wildlife food plot.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Popular WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Popular WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Popular WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Popular WMA?
Popular WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 283. The DNR registered 584 deer in DPA 283 in 2025, against 462 in 2024.
| DPA | Popular WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 283 | 206 | 584 | 462 | 507 |
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 Popular WMA?
Travel south from US #12 on MN # 4 a distance of 5.5 miles then turn west on township road for a distance of 1.5 miles to the SW corner of the unit. Access trail from this corner goes east to a parking area.
Disabled access is limited to the parking area on this unit.
Nearest towns: Atwater (5 miles), Grove City (5 miles), Cosmos (9 miles) and Litchfield (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 4 and US 12.
What other public land is near Popular WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wieker WMA: 305 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Butternut WMA: 154 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Acton WMA: 40 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Gennessee WMA: 112 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Rodewald WMA: 291 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Hen Haven WMA: 40 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Popular WMA
Counting Popular WMA itself, 1,533 of the 23,014 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 896 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 637 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Popular WMA?
In Meeker County, near Grove City. The DNR's directions: Travel south from US #12 on MN # 4 a distance of 5.5 miles then turn west on township road for a distance of 1.5 miles to the SW corner of the unit. Access trail from this corner goes east to a parking area.
Which deer permit area is Popular WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 283. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Popular WMA?
1,533 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Popular WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wieker WMA (0.6 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Popular 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.