Rice-Skunk Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rice-Skunk Wildlife Management Area is 665 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Morrison County, near Little Falls, inside Deer Permit Area 221. 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 4,908 deer in DPA 221 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasRice-Skunk WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 665 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Morrison County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 221 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Little Falls |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Genola (5 mi), Buckman (6 mi) and Little Falls (6 mi) |
What is Rice-Skunk WMA like?
This WMA is on the west side of Platte River and is oak hardwoods with lowland brush and swamp. Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the forest habitat for a diversity of forest dependent wildlife, and also is the source for water level monitoring and manipulations (if needed) for the Rice-Skunk-Mud wetland complex. This WMA is oak woods, lowland aspen and brush, cattails, and lowland grass. Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for forest-dependent wildlife, and provides primitive public access to Skunk and Mud Lakes. This WMA is a willow and alder lowland swamp on the west edge of Skunk Lake. Management of this unit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of wetland wildlife dependent on these habitats. This WMA is low land brush and grass.
Public Water Access to Platte River, Rice Lake and Skunk Lake from Sept. 1 through end of November. Access road is closed to motor vehicle access outside of this time frame due to history of significant vandalism, road damage, dumping and other illegal activity. Walk-in access to south end of Skunk Lake. Primitive walk-in only water access to Skunk Lake. Only access is carry-in access to Platte River off of public road-right-of-way, no parking areas. Recreational opportunities exist throughout the year, including hunting, trapping, hiking, and wildlife watching/photography.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rice-Skunk 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-Skunk WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rice-Skunk WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Rice-Skunk WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles and motorized watercraft are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Rice-Skunk WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles, all terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Rice-Skunk WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. Off-highway vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and motorized watercraft are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Rice-Skunk WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. OHVs, ATVs, snowmobiles and motorized watercraft are prohibited anywhere on the WMA.
How many deer are taken around Rice-Skunk WMA?
Rice-Skunk WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 221. The DNR registered 4,908 deer in DPA 221 in 2025, against 4,438 in 2024.
| DPA | Rice-Skunk WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 221 | 665 | 4,908 | 4,438 | 4,050 |
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-Skunk WMA?
From Little Falls, go 2 miles south on highway 10, then 5 miles east on county road 35. From Buckman, go 4 miles west on county road 34, then 1 mile north on county road 36, then 1 mile west on township road. From Little Falls, go 2 miles south on highway 10, then 4 miles east on county road 35, then 1 mile north on county road 256. From Little Falls, go 2 miles south on Hwy 10, then 4 miles east on County Road 35, then 1/2 mile south on township road.
Disabled access is limited to the DNR access road throughout the year, as well as the parking lot on the SE side of the tract from Sept. 1 through the end of November. The east end of the road and parking lot by the public access is only open to motor vehicles from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30 each year. The minimum maintenance access road on this tract is only open during fall hunting season, and should only be accessed with 4-wheel drive vehicles. There may be low, wet spots along the road, which worsen during exceptionally wet years. This road may be closed during fall if road conditions warrant. Only access is carry-in access to Platte River off of public road-right-of-way, no parking areas.
Nearest towns: Genola (5 miles), Buckman (6 miles), Little Falls (6 miles) and Pierz (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 10, MN 27 and MN 25.
What other public land is near Rice-Skunk WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Crane Meadows WMA: 189 acres, next to it
- Rice Area Sportsmens Club WMA: 580 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Ereaux WMA: 731 acres, 4 miles away
- Coon Lake Marsh WMA: 54 acres, 5.4 miles away
- McDougall WMA: 472 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Sartell WMA: 368 acres, 8.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rice-Skunk WMA
Counting Rice-Skunk WMA itself, 3,199 of the 36,885 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,120 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,038 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 41 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rice-Skunk WMA?
In Morrison County, near Little Falls. The DNR's directions: From Little Falls, go 2 miles south on highway 10, then 5 miles east on county road 35. From Buckman, go 4 miles west on county road 34, then 1 mile north on county road 36, then 1 mile west on township road. From Little Falls, go 2 miles south on highway 10, then 4 miles east on county road 35, then 1 mile north on county road 256. From Little Falls, go 2 miles south on Hwy 10, then 4 miles east on County Road 35, then 1/2 mile south on township road.
Which deer permit area is Rice-Skunk WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 221. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rice-Skunk WMA?
3,199 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rice-Skunk WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Crane Meadows WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rice-Skunk 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).
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