Powers Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Powers Lake Wildlife Management Area is 276 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Meeker County, near Darwin, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 areasCounty, city and regional landPowers Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 276 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Meeker County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Darwin |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Darwin (3 mi), Kingston (4 mi) and Dassel (5 mi) |
What is Powers Lake WMA like?
This unit is Powers Lake WMA, tracts 18 and 19.
Powers Lake WMA is a small 4.6-acre tract of land on the south shore of Powers Lake. The WMA provides the only public access to the lake, which is over 400 acres. The lakes can be heavily utilized by divers depending on the current water quality and subsequent plant growth. Limited opportunities for hunting exist on the 4.6 acres of upland due to size of tract, but pheasants do utilize the area and can be harvested here. The WMA is 278 acres of upland and restored wetland habitat sandwiched amongst the drained lake basins of Hanon Marsh and North Buckley Lake. The drained lakes are still wet enough to support emergent wetland vegetation, such as cattails and phragmites. This tall, dense, robust vegetation is excellent thermal cover for pheasants and white-tailed deer. The wetland restoration was completed in the fall of 2024.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Powers Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Powers Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Powers Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Powers Lake WMA?
Powers Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Powers Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 276 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Powers Lake WMA?
From Darwin, MN travel 4.7 miles north on CSAH 14. Take a right onto CSAH 21 and travel east for 1 mile to Powers Lake WMA, which will be on your left (north). From the intersection of US Hwy. 12 and Meeker County Road 14 in Darwin, go north on County Road 14 for 2.5 miles, and the WMA is on the right-hand (east) side of the road.
Parking lot on the west end off of County Road 14.
Nearest towns: Darwin (3 miles), Kingston (4 miles), Dassel (5 miles) and Litchfield (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 24, US 12 and MN 15.
What other public land is near Powers Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Knapp WMA: 434 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Madsen WMA: 364 acres, 6 miles away
- Kingston WMA: 624 acres, 6.6 miles away
- Minnie-Man WMA: 41 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Manannah WMA: 320 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Litchfield WMA: 120 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Powers Lake WMA
Counting Powers Lake WMA itself, 608 of the 27,864 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 329 |
| State wildlife management areas | 279 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Powers Lake WMA?
In Meeker County, near Darwin. The DNR's directions: From Darwin, MN travel 4.7 miles north on CSAH 14. Take a right onto CSAH 21 and travel east for 1 mile to Powers Lake WMA, which will be on your left (north). From the intersection of US Hwy. 12 and Meeker County Road 14 in Darwin, go north on County Road 14 for 2.5 miles, and the WMA is on the right-hand (east) side of the road.
Which deer permit area is Powers Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Powers Lake WMA?
608 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Powers Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Knapp WMA (5.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Powers 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.