Red Rock Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Red Rock Lake Wildlife Management Area is 167 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Douglas County, near Kensington, inside Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 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 areasRed Rock Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 167 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 273 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Kensington |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Hoffman (4 mi), Kensington (7 mi) and Barrett (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on Red Rock Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants and small game for Red Rock Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Red Rock Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Red Rock Lake WMA: This WMA is a Duck Refuge. The WMA is closed to trespass from Sept. 1 through the end of the waterfowl season. Hunting for deer, pheasants, and small game is allowed after the close of the waterfowl season.
How many deer are taken around Red Rock Lake WMA?
Red Rock Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 in 2025, against 978 in 2024.
| DPA | Red Rock Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 273 | 167 | 1,013 | 978 | 968 |
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 Rock Lake WMA?
From Kensington, go 3 miles N on CSAH 1 then 2 miles W on SH 27 then 3 miles N on CSAH 25.
Nearest towns: Hoffman (4 miles), Kensington (7 miles), Barrett (8 miles) and Brandon (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 27 and MN 55.
What other public land is near Red Rock Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Viking WMA: 198 acres, next to it
- Lake Venus WMA: 91 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Schnepf WMA: 91 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Roy L Thompson WMA: 216 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Urness WMA: 265 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Alvstad WMA: 118 acres, 3.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Red Rock Lake WMA
Counting Red Rock Lake WMA itself, 2,824 of the 22,659 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,868 |
| State wildlife management areas | 956 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Red Rock Lake WMA?
In Douglas County, near Kensington. The DNR's directions: From Kensington, go 3 miles N on CSAH 1 then 2 miles W on SH 27 then 3 miles N on CSAH 25.
Which deer permit area is Red Rock Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 273. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Red Rock Lake WMA?
2,824 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Red Rock Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Viking WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Red Rock 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.