Rockwood Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rockwood Wildlife Management Area is 194 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Wadena and Hubbard counties, near Sebeka, inside Deer Permit Areas 241 and 684. 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 7,163 deer in DPA 241 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 forestNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther federal landState parksCounty, city and regional landRockwood WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 194 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Wadena County and Hubbard County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 241, DPA 684 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Sebeka |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Sebeka (2 mi), Bluffton (10 mi) and Wadena (10 mi) |
What is Rockwood WMA like?
This WMA is emergent wetland and lowland shrub. The upland in the NE corner of each tract is jack pine forest with a grass understory and scattered sweet fern. Jack and white pine seedlings have been planted in the open field adjacent to the county road.
This unit was part of a proposed 600 acre WMA in the 1960s; most adjacent land is still in public ownership. A beaver dam on the creek was reinforced to create a wildlife impoundment adjacent to the WMA, on land currently owned by Potlatch Corporation. Deer, bear, ruffed grouse and waterfowl hunting and wildlife observation opportunities exist on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rockwood WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Rockwood WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rockwood WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rockwood WMA?
Rockwood WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 7,163 deer in DPA 241 in 2025, against 6,563 in 2024.
| DPA | Rockwood WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 241 | 112 | 7,163 | 6,563 | 6,052 |
| DPA 684 | 81 | 3,267 | 3,035 | 2,686 |
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 Rockwood WMA?
From Sebeka, go 1 mile south on U.S. Highway 71 then west on County Road 132 for 1.5 miles. From Bemidji, go 14 miles S on US 71 then 5 miles SW on Co Rd 118 then 1 mile N on township rd.
Nearest towns: Sebeka (2 miles), Bluffton (10 miles), Wadena (10 miles) and Menahga (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 71.
What other public land is near Rockwood WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wood Eye WMA: 253 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Sebeka WMA: 150 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Kitten Creek WMA: 156 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Red Eye WMA: 144 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Birch Creek WMA: 52 acres, 7 miles away
- Bemidji Slough WMA: 49 acres, 7.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rockwood WMA
Counting Rockwood WMA itself, 3,680 of the 43,300 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 3,486 |
| State wildlife management areas | 194 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rockwood WMA?
In Wadena and Hubbard counties, near Sebeka. The DNR's directions: From Sebeka, go 1 mile south on U.S. Highway 71 then west on County Road 132 for 1.5 miles. From Bemidji, go 14 miles S on US 71 then 5 miles SW on Co Rd 118 then 1 mile N on township rd.
Which deer permit area is Rockwood WMA in?
DPA 241 (112 acres) and DPA 684 (81 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Rockwood WMA?
3,680 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rockwood WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wood Eye WMA (3.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rockwood 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.
Minnesota hunting Wadena County Hubbard County DPA 241 DPA 684