Rako Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rako Wildlife Management Area is 400 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lake of the Woods County, near Baudette, inside Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 412 deer in DPA 111 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 landRako WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 400 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lake of the Woods County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 111 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Baudette |
| DNR area office | Baudette |
| Nearest towns | Baudette (18 mi) and Williams (27 mi) |
What is Rako WMA like?
This four hundred acre WMA contains lowland forested bog and hardwood swamp communities with extensive shrub swamp, sedge meadow, bog, and fens. Future aspen harvests will promote age class diversity. Burning, shearing, mowing used to maintain openings.
No special restrictions; normal WMA rules apply. Small game hunting include rails, snipe, woodcock, ruffed grouse and snowshoe hare.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rako WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Rako WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rako WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rako WMA?
Rako WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR registered 412 deer in DPA 111 in 2025, against 370 in 2024.
| DPA | Rako WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 111 | 400 | 412 | 370 | 318 |
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 Rako WMA?
From Baudette, go 14.8 miles S on Hwy 72 then 3 miles W on Co 1 then 4 S Co 77 then.5 E TR.
No facilities-vehicle access limited. Ground is wet and ditches make access difficult.
Nearest towns: Baudette (18 miles) and Williams (27 miles).
What other public land is near Rako WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Red Lake WMA: 322,335 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Carp Swamp WMA: 15,272 acres, 6.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rako WMA
Counting Rako WMA itself, 18,925 of the 26,074 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (72.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 18,525 |
| State wildlife management areas | 400 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rako WMA?
In Lake of the Woods County, near Baudette. The DNR's directions: From Baudette, go 14.8 miles S on Hwy 72 then 3 miles W on Co 1 then 4 S Co 77 then.5 E TR.
Which deer permit area is Rako WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 111. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rako WMA?
18,925 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rako WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 2 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Red Lake WMA (3.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rako 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.