Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area is 198 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Faribault County, near Winnebago, inside Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 854 deer in DPA 253 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 areasRice Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 198 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Faribault County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 253 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Winnebago |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Nearest towns | Winnebago (3 mi), Delavan (3 mi) and Amboy (8 mi) |
What is Rice Lake WMA like?
The Rice Lake WMA is mainly comprised of a restored prairie wetland complex with an upland forest component.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rice Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Rice Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rice Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rice Lake WMA?
Rice Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR registered 854 deer in DPA 253 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | Rice Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 253 | 198 | 854 | 785 | 845 |
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 Rice Lake WMA?
From Winnebago, go 2 miles east on County Road 105 and township road to the southwest corner of the WMA.
An unimproved boat launch is located in the south-east corner of the unit.
Nearest towns: Winnebago (3 miles), Delavan (3 miles), Amboy (8 miles) and Blue Earth (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169 and MN 109.
What other public land is near Rice Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Charlotte Hynes WMA: 72 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Smith WMA: 337 acres, 2 miles away
- Lane WMA: 60 acres, 6.8 miles away
- George & Elizabeth Lang WMA: 134 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Lake Guckeen WMA: 341 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rice Lake WMA
Counting Rice Lake WMA itself, 750 of the 32,825 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 557 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 193 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rice Lake WMA?
In Faribault County, near Winnebago. The DNR's directions: From Winnebago, go 2 miles east on County Road 105 and township road to the southwest corner of the WMA.
Which deer permit area is Rice Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 253. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rice Lake WMA?
750 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rice Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Charlotte Hynes WMA (0.8 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, Rice 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.