Rockwell Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rockwell Wildlife Management Area is 209 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Norman County, near Twin Valley, inside Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 686 deer in DPA 666 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 areasRockwell WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 209 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Norman County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Twin Valley |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Twin Valley (4 mi), Borup (7 mi) and Ada (8 mi) |
What is Rockwell WMA like?
This unit is about 5 miles southwest of Twin Valley in an inter-beach area of the ancient glacial Lake Agassiz. The WMA is mainly shrubland with mesic prairie dominated by native upland.
A greater prairie-chicken booming ground (courting area) is located in an open area of this WMA. Many birds and mammals normally associated with mesic prairies are found here.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rockwell WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Rockwell WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rockwell WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rockwell WMA?
Rockwell WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Rockwell WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 209 | 686 |
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 Rockwell WMA?
From Twin Valley, go 2 m. S on SH #32, 5 m. W on CSAH #27, ½ m. N on a trail.
Nearest towns: Twin Valley (4 miles), Borup (7 miles), Ada (8 miles) and Gary (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 200 and MN 32.
What other public land is near Rockwell WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Dalby WMA: 116 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Ida WMA: 82 acres, 2 miles away
- Neal WMA: 1,851 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Cupido WMA: 1,196 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Twin Valley WMA: 1,627 acres, 4 miles away
- Syre WMA: 510 acres, 5.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rockwell WMA
Counting Rockwell WMA itself, 1,998 of the 29,912 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 928 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 722 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 348 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rockwell WMA?
In Norman County, near Twin Valley. The DNR's directions: From Twin Valley, go 2 m. S on SH #32, 5 m. W on CSAH #27, ½ m. N on a trail.
Which deer permit area is Rockwell WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rockwell WMA?
1,998 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rockwell WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Dalby WMA (1.3 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rockwell 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.