Roseau River Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Roseau River Wildlife Management Area is 75,170 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Roseau County, near Pinecreek, inside Deer Permit Areas 201, 263 and 267. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 270 deer in DPA 201 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 areasState parksRoseau River WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 75,170 acres in 14 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Roseau County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 201, DPA 263, DPA 267 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Pinecreek |
| DNR area office | Roseau River WMA |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Greenbush (9 mi), Badger (10 mi) and Roseau (13 mi) |
What is Roseau River WMA like?
Roseau River Wildlife Management Area (RRWMA) is large and includes three wetland impoundments (Pool 1 east and west, Pool 2, and Pool 3). Vegetation/cover types include lowland brush, floating bog, sedge meadows, shallow wetlands, grasslands, cropland, and smaller inclusions of deciduous and coniferous forests. The Roseau River flows west from Roseau Lake WMA and for fourteen miles through Roseau River WMA before entering Canada.
RRWMA is part of the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail. Camping is permitted at 18 locations across RRWMA, see visitor map for location information. Hunter walking trails are available for use throughout the WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Roseau River WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Roseau River WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Roseau River WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Roseau River WMA: There are three sanctuaries on Roseau River Wildlife Management Area: Pool 1, Pool 2, and Pool 3.
Roseau River WMA is one of the WMAs where every trapper needs a permit from the area wildlife manager.
Highway-licensed vehicles may drive the established roads on Roseau River WMA; on most WMAs vehicles are kept to designated routes.
Roseau River WMA has accessible duck or goose hunting blinds for hunters with mobility issues.
Roseau River WMA has a wheelchair-accessible deer blind; the DNR says to call ahead (reservations required).
How many deer are taken around Roseau River WMA?
Roseau River WMA lies in 3 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 270 deer in DPA 201 in 2025, against 224 in 2024.
| DPA | Roseau River WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 201 | 71,099 | 270 | 224 | 205 |
| DPA 263 | 4,059 | 1,024 | 920 | 1,029 |
| DPA 267 | 6 | 772 | 733 | 700 |
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 Roseau River WMA?
From Pinecreek, go 3 miles west on County Highway 3.
There are 5 boat launches available for public use. Two are located on the east and west ends of Pool 1 west, one at the northwest corner of Pool 2, one at the west end of Pool 3, and one along the Roseau River (see visitor map).
Nearest towns: Greenbush (9 miles), Badger (10 miles), Roseau (13 miles) and Lake Bronson (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89.
What other public land is near Roseau River WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Beaches Lake WMA: 30,601 acres, next to it
- Caribou WMA: 14,128 acres, next to it
- Bonasa WMA: 847 acres, next to it
- Taxidae WMA: 121 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Ondatra WMA: 122 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Polonia WMA: 357 acres, 2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Roseau River WMA
Counting Roseau River WMA itself, 83,679 of the 224,101 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (37.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 83,679 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Roseau River WMA?
In Roseau County, near Pinecreek. The DNR's directions: From Pinecreek, go 3 miles west on County Highway 3.
Which deer permit area is Roseau River WMA in?
DPA 201 (71,099 acres), DPA 263 (4,059 acres) and DPA 267 (6 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Roseau River WMA?
83,679 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Roseau River WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Beaches Lake WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Roseau 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.