Root River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Root River Wildlife Management Area is 949 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Houston County, near Hokah, inside Deer Permit Areas 646 and 649. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 2,832 deer in DPA 646 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 areasCounty, city and regional landRoot River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 949 acres in 10 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Houston County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 646, DPA 649 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Hokah |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Nearest towns | Hokah (next to it), La Crescent (4 mi) and Brownsville (5 mi) |
What is Root River WMA like?
Mixed hardwoods of oak, basswood, ash, cottonwood, elm and willow. Upland fields consists of native warm season grasses. Scattered wetlands exist on unit. The Root River dissects the south boundary of this wildlife area.
Management emphasis is to maintain a rich, diverse interspersion of several communities. Timber management, prescribed burning, food plots, nesting cover development and maintenance are utilized.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Root River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Root River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Root River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Root River WMA?
Root River WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 2,832 deer in DPA 646 in 2025, against 2,504 in 2024.
| DPA | Root River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 646 | 611 | 2,832 | 2,504 | 2,279 |
| DPA 649 | 338 | 3,806 | 3,455 | 3,383 |
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 Root River WMA?
From Hokah, go 1/4 mile N on SH 16.
Access off State Hwy 16. Walk in access, Walcker road has been abandoned by Township and gates installed.
Nearest towns: Hokah (next to it), La Crescent (4 miles), Brownsville (5 miles) and Houston (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 16, MN 44, MN 26, US 14 and US 61.
What other public land is near Root River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Mound Prairie WMA: 437 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of Root River WMA
Counting Root River WMA itself, 3,563 of the 45,364 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,507 |
| State wildlife management areas | 1,442 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 613 |
| County, city and regional land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Root River WMA?
In Houston County, near Hokah. The DNR's directions: From Hokah, go 1/4 mile N on SH 16.
Which deer permit area is Root River WMA in?
DPA 646 (611 acres) and DPA 649 (338 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Root River WMA?
3,563 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Root River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. One other WMA is within 10 miles, the closest Mound Prairie WMA (next to it).
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, Root 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.