Ricehaven Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Ricehaven Wildlife Management Area is 656 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Floodwood, inside Deer Permit Area 173. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 528 deer in DPA 173 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 forestRicehaven WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 656 acres |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 173 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Floodwood |
| DNR area office | Cloquet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Floodwood (5 mi), Cromwell (11 mi) and Wright (11 mi) |
What is Ricehaven WMA like?
This WMA consists of a 284 acre wild rice lake (Leeman Lake) surrounded by bog and a mix of lowland and upland forest. The lake and bog mat are managed as a waterfowl refuge. The forested area outside the sanctuary is open to hunting and trapping.
The forested area around the sanctuary consists of conifer bog, hardwood swamp and lowland brush, interspersed with upland islands of aspen-birch and spruce-fir forest. Access to most of the forested areas is challenging requiring walking across areas of lowland grass and brush or along ditch banks. There is a 100 yard long walk-in access to Leeman Lake from the parking area on the main access road. Trapping for fisher, marten, beaver, muskrat and mink would be available outside the sanctuary. Trumpeter swans, timber wolves and the occasional moose may be seen.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Ricehaven WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Ricehaven WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Ricehaven WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Ricehaven WMA: This WMA contains a posted sanctuary which is closed to all trespass from September 15 through November 24. Canoeing, birdwatching, and wild rice harvest (during wild rice season) is allowed from May 1 - September 14. Hunting and trapping for any species for which there is an open season is allowed from November 25 through April 30 in the posted area.
How many deer are taken around Ricehaven WMA?
Ricehaven WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 173. The DNR registered 528 deer in DPA 173 in 2025, against 452 in 2024.
| DPA | Ricehaven WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 173 | 656 | 528 | 452 | 413 |
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 Ricehaven WMA?
From Floodwood, go 5.7 miles S on Hwy 73, then 1 mile West on Ricehaven Road, then S on the WMA access road.
Nearest towns: Floodwood (5 miles), Cromwell (11 miles), Wright (11 miles) and Tamarack (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 73 and US 2.
What other public land is near Ricehaven WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Floodwood WMA: 217 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Red Clover WMA: 323 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Carl Sandell WMA: 40 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ricehaven WMA
Counting Ricehaven WMA itself, 3,677 of the 26,794 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 3,019 |
| State wildlife management areas | 656 |
| National forest | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ricehaven WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Floodwood. The DNR's directions: From Floodwood, go 5.7 miles S on Hwy 73, then 1 mile West on Ricehaven Road, then S on the WMA access road.
Which deer permit area is Ricehaven WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 173. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Ricehaven WMA?
3,677 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ricehaven WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Floodwood WMA (5.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Ricehaven 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.