Ripple River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Ripple River Wildlife Management Area is 5,230 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near Bennettville, inside Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 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 landRipple River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,230 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 155 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Bennettville |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Nearest towns | Aitkin (7 mi), Garrison (8 mi) and Deerwood (9 mi) |
What is Ripple River WMA like?
This subunit contains the public water access for Mallard Lake. Upland alder thickets, black ash and low grassy areas are the dominant vegetation. The lake access is a carry-in type with a wooden dock. This subunit has upland timber types that include aspen, oak, basswood, birch, and Norway pine and lowland timber types such as black ash and cedar mixed in with brush and grass in the lower areas. A ditched Ripple River passes through the unit. This WMA is a prairie/forest complex with grasses and brush dominating expansive areas of low ground and marsh. Pine plantations and aspen are found on the east portions of the unit. Black ash and black spruce comprise the low ground timber on the unit.
Wild rice and waterfowl managed cooperatively with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwa on this subunit. This WMA is partly within the Wealthwood State Forest and adjoins state forestland to the south. Management emphasis on this subunit is for deer, bear and ruffed grouse. WMA rules apply even though the unit is within the State Forest. Aspen on the unit is managed primarily for ruffed grouse, deer and woodcock. While basswood, oak and maple types are managed for red-shouldered hawks. Open lands on this WMA are managed for species such as sharp-tailed grouse, sandhill cranes and short-eared owls. WMA rules apply even though the unit is within the Wealthwood State Forest. Good opportunities for trapping and winter predator hunting exist on this unit. Look for woodcock, deer, snowshoe hares, muskrats, mink, sora rails, brown creepers, chorus frogs, and bald eagles.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Ripple River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Ripple River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Ripple River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Ripple River WMA?
Ripple River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 in 2025, against 937 in 2024.
| DPA | Ripple River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 155 | 5,230 | 1,134 | 937 | 781 |
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 Ripple River WMA?
From Aitkin go 9 miles S. of Aitkin on Hwy. 169, 1 mile E. on 270th Street, 1/4 mile N., turn right at sign. From Glen go 4 miles W. on Co. Rd. 12, 1.5 miles S. on 360th Avenue, 1 mile W. on 270th Lane. From Aitkin; North side: 7 miles S. on Hwy. 169, 3.5 miles E. on Co. Rd. 28, parking on south side of road. East side: 7 miles S. on Hwy. 169, 4.5 miles E. on Co. Rd. 28, S. 2 miles on Co. Rd. 51, W. on trail.
Wheelchair access is limited to the access road and parking area. Wheelchair access is limited to the graveled access road into the unit. Wheelchair access is limited to graveled access roads.
Nearest towns: Aitkin (7 miles), Garrison (8 miles), Deerwood (9 miles) and Cuyuna (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169, MN 18 and MN 47.
What other public land is near Ripple River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Farm Island Lake WMA: 35 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Rabbit Lake WMA: 390 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Cedar Lake WMA: 97 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Round-Rice Bed WMA: 979 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Swamp Lake WMA: 28 acres, 7.4 miles away
- Aitkin WMA: 3,415 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ripple River WMA
Counting Ripple River WMA itself, 10,692 of the 54,882 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 5,349 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 5,343 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ripple River WMA?
In Aitkin County, near Bennettville. The DNR's directions: From Aitkin go 9 miles S. of Aitkin on Hwy. 169, 1 mile E. on 270th Street, 1/4 mile N., turn right at sign. From Glen go 4 miles W. on Co. Rd. 12, 1.5 miles S. on 360th Avenue, 1 mile W. on 270th Lane. From Aitkin; North side: 7 miles S. on Hwy. 169, 3.5 miles E. on Co. Rd. 28, parking on south side of road. East side: 7 miles S. on Hwy. 169, 4.5 miles E. on Co. Rd. 28, S. 2 miles on Co. Rd. 51, W. on trail.
Which deer permit area is Ripple River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 155. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Ripple River WMA?
10,692 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ripple River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Farm Island Lake WMA (2.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Ripple River 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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