Prairie Marshes Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Prairie Marshes Wildlife Management Area is 493 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lyon County, near Russell, inside Deer Permit Area 288. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 731 deer in DPA 288 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 areasState parksWalk-In AccessPrairie Marshes WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 493 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lyon County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 288 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Russell |
| DNR area office | Marshall |
| Nearest towns | Russell (3 mi), Lynd (4 mi) and Florence (9 mi) |
What is Prairie Marshes WMA like?
This WMA is a wetland/grassland complex with some native prairie.
Camden State Park is 1.5 miles due east of this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Prairie Marshes WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Prairie Marshes WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Prairie Marshes WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Prairie Marshes WMA?
Prairie Marshes WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 288. The DNR registered 731 deer in DPA 288 in 2025, against 634 in 2024.
| DPA | Prairie Marshes WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 288 | 493 | 731 | 634 | 556 |
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 Prairie Marshes WMA?
From Russell, go 3 miles N on CSAH 15/170th Ave then 1/2 mile W on Twp Rd.
Nearest towns: Russell (3 miles), Lynd (4 miles), Florence (9 miles) and Marshall (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 23, MN 19 and MN 91. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Prairie Marshes WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lyndwood WMA: 168 acres, 2 miles away
- Russell WMA: 35 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Brawner Lake WMA: 258 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Redwood WMA: 40 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Coon Creek WMA: 1,102 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Elmer Weltz WMA: 161 acres, 3.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Prairie Marshes WMA
Counting Prairie Marshes WMA itself, 2,605 of the 25,867 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 1,724 |
| State wildlife management areas | 881 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Prairie Marshes WMA?
In Lyon County, near Russell. The DNR's directions: From Russell, go 3 miles N on CSAH 15/170th Ave then 1/2 mile W on Twp Rd.
Which deer permit area is Prairie Marshes WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 288. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Prairie Marshes WMA?
2,605 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Prairie Marshes WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lyndwood WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Prairie Marshes 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.