Red River of the North Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Red River of the North Wildlife Management Area is 533 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Marshall County, near Stephen, inside Deer Permit Area 260. The DNR's WMA data lists deer and small game for it. Hunters registered 421 deer in DPA 260 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 areasRed River of the North WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 533 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marshall County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 260 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Stephen |
| DNR area office | Karlstad |
| Nearest towns | Stephen (10 mi), Argyle (14 mi) and Donaldson (14 mi) |
What can you hunt on Red River of the North WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer and small game for Red River of the North WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Red River of the North WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Red River of the North WMA?
Red River of the North WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 260. The DNR registered 421 deer in DPA 260 in 2025, against 421 in 2024.
| DPA | Red River of the North WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 260 | 533 | 421 | 421 | 458 |
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 Red River of the North WMA?
From Stephen, go 10.5 miles west on County Highway 5 then go 2 miles south on State Highway 220.
Nearest towns: Stephen (10 miles), Argyle (14 miles), Donaldson (14 miles) and Oslo (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 220 and MN 317.
What other public land is near Red River of the North WMA?
Public land within 3 miles of Red River of the North WMA
Counting Red River of the North WMA itself, 643 of the 28,695 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 |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 643 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Red River of the North WMA?
In Marshall County, near Stephen. The DNR's directions: From Stephen, go 10.5 miles west on County Highway 5 then go 2 miles south on State Highway 220.
Which deer permit area is Red River of the North WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 260. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Red River of the North WMA?
643 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Red River of the North WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Red River of the North 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.