Rabbit Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rabbit Lake Wildlife Management Area is 390 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near Glen, inside Deer Permit Area 155. 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 1,134 deer in DPA 155 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 landRabbit Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 390 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 155 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Glen |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Nearest towns | Aitkin (9 mi), McGregor (16 mi) and Garrison (16 mi) |
What is Rabbit Lake WMA like?
This WMA is mostly rolling upland forest comprised of oak, aspen, birch, red maple, green ash and white pine. There are black ash and low grassy areas along Rabbit Creek which runs through the unit. There are several dug ponds located along the creek.
This WMA is managed for deer, bear, turkey, furbearers, and forest birds. This is a cooperative WMA with Aitkin County. Deer, bear, beaver, otter, gray squirrels, red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, downy woodpeckers, and blue jay may be found on this WMA. Red-shouldered hawks have nested in the surrounding hardwoods.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rabbit Lake 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 Rabbit Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rabbit Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rabbit Lake WMA?
Rabbit Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 in 2025, against 937 in 2024.
| DPA | Rabbit Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 155 | 390 | 1,134 | 937 | 781 |
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 Rabbit Lake WMA?
From Glen go 1.7 miles N. on Hwy. 47 then 1 mile W. on 289th Street. This unit is on both sides of road. There is a parking lot on the N. side of road west of Rabbit Creek.
Wheelchair access limited to access road and parking area.
Nearest towns: Aitkin (9 miles), McGregor (16 miles), Garrison (16 miles) and Deerwood (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 47.
What other public land is near Rabbit Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Ripple River WMA: 5,230 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Swamp Lake WMA: 28 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Jewett WMA: 103 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Aitkin WMA: 3,415 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Newstrom Lake WMA: 796 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Kimberly Marsh WMA: 10,564 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rabbit Lake WMA
Counting Rabbit Lake WMA itself, 1,718 of the 26,125 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,275 |
| State wildlife management areas | 443 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rabbit Lake WMA?
In Aitkin County, near Glen. The DNR's directions: From Glen go 1.7 miles N. on Hwy. 47 then 1 mile W. on 289th Street. This unit is on both sides of road. There is a parking lot on the N. side of road west of Rabbit Creek.
Which deer permit area is Rabbit Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 155. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rabbit Lake WMA?
1,718 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rabbit Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Ripple River WMA (3.2 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, Rabbit 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.