Rock River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rock River Wildlife Management Area is 413 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Rock County, near Luverne, inside Deer Permit Area 234. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 288 deer in DPA 234 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasState parksCounty, city and regional landWalk-In AccessRock River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 413 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Rock County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 234 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Luverne |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Luverne (2 mi), Magnolia (5 mi) and Hardwick (6 mi) |
What is Rock River WMA like?
This WMA is flood plain forest with some grasslands and food plots.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rock River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Rock River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rock River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rock River WMA?
Rock River WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 234. The DNR registered 288 deer in DPA 234 in 2025, against 257 in 2024.
| DPA | Rock River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 234 | 413 | 288 | 257 | 283 |
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 Rock River WMA?
From Luverne, go 1.5 miles east on County Road 4, then 0.5 miles north on County Road 9.
Nearest towns: Luverne (2 miles), Magnolia (5 miles), Hardwick (6 miles) and Kenneth (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-90 and US 75. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Rock River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Stephen WMA: 20 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Russ Blanford WMA: 154 acres, 1.6 miles away
- P.F. Mulder WMA: 88 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Little Beaver Creek WMA: 55 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Sherwood WMA: 82 acres, 8.9 miles away
- Springwater WMA: 152 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rock River WMA
Counting Rock River WMA itself, 2,303 of the 26,674 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks | 1,587 |
| State wildlife management areas | 621 |
| County, city and regional land | 60 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 35 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rock River WMA?
In Rock County, near Luverne. The DNR's directions: From Luverne, go 1.5 miles east on County Road 4, then 0.5 miles north on County Road 9.
Which deer permit area is Rock River WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 234. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rock River WMA?
2,303 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rock River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Stephen WMA (1.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rock 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).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.