River Valley Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
River Valley Wildlife Management Area is 272 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Brown County, near New Ulm, inside Deer Permit Area 290. 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 1,202 deer in DPA 290 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 parksCounty, city and regional landWalk-In AccessRiver Valley WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 272 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Brown County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 290 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | New Ulm |
| DNR area office | New Ulm |
| Nearest towns | New Ulm (4 mi), Essig (4 mi) and Lafayette (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on River Valley 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 River Valley WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on River Valley WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around River Valley WMA?
River Valley WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 290. The DNR registered 1,202 deer in DPA 290 in 2025, against 1,206 in 2024.
| DPA | River Valley WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 290 | 272 | 1,202 | 1,206 | 1,018 |
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 River Valley WMA?
From New Ulm, go 2 miles W on CSAH 29, 1 mile N on Twp Rd. From New Ulm, go 2 miles W on CSAH 29, 1 mile N on township Rd.
Nearest towns: New Ulm (4 miles), Essig (4 miles), Lafayette (8 miles) and Searles (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 68, US 14 and MN 15. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near River Valley WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Boesch WMA: 225 acres, next to it
- Rosenau-Lambrecht WMA: 569 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Somsen WMA: 49 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Fritsche Creek WMA: 386 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Swan Lake WMA: 3,396 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Minnriver WMA: 91 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of River Valley WMA
Counting River Valley WMA itself, 1,282 of the 26,346 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,254 |
| County, city and regional land | 28 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is River Valley WMA?
In Brown County, near New Ulm. The DNR's directions: From New Ulm, go 2 miles W on CSAH 29, 1 mile N on Twp Rd. From New Ulm, go 2 miles W on CSAH 29, 1 mile N on township Rd.
Which deer permit area is River Valley WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 290. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around River Valley WMA?
1,282 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, River Valley WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Boesch WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, River Valley 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.