Ringo-Nest Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Ringo-Nest Wildlife Management Area is 821 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kandiyohi County, near Spicer, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 areasState parksCounty, city and regional landRingo-Nest WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 821 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Kandiyohi County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Spicer |
| DNR area office | New London |
| Nearest towns | Spicer (3 mi), New London (3 mi) and Kandiyohi (8 mi) |
What is Ringo-Nest WMA like?
This is a fairly large unit for this part of the state and consists of large cattail wetlands, woody cover plantings, lowland brush, old farm grove, native prairie remnants, and several small food plots. Unit lies between Ringo Lake and Nest Lake.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Ringo-Nest WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Ringo-Nest WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Ringo-Nest WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Ringo-Nest WMA?
Ringo-Nest WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Ringo-Nest WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 821 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Ringo-Nest WMA?
Travel west on CR 10 from its junction with MN 23 in Spicer for a distance of 2.5 miles to C.R. #9 and then go north on 9 a distance of 1.5 miles to the unit which is on the west side of the roadway.
Access via roads on north, east, and SW sides of the unit.
Nearest towns: Spicer (3 miles), New London (3 miles), Kandiyohi (8 miles) and Willmar (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 23, US 71 and MN 9.
What other public land is near Ringo-Nest WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- New London WMA: 46 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Eagle WMA: 50 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Willmar WMA: 127 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Burbank WMA: 506 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Dietrich Lange WMA: 943 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Kandi WMA: 127 acres, 6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ringo-Nest WMA
Counting Ringo-Nest WMA itself, 1,790 of the 29,802 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 850 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 585 |
| State parks | 323 |
| County, city and regional land | 32 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ringo-Nest WMA?
In Kandiyohi County, near Spicer. The DNR's directions: Travel west on CR 10 from its junction with MN 23 in Spicer for a distance of 2.5 miles to C.R. #9 and then go north on 9 a distance of 1.5 miles to the unit which is on the west side of the roadway.
Which deer permit area is Ringo-Nest WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Ringo-Nest WMA?
1,790 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ringo-Nest WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest New London WMA (4.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Ringo-Nest 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.