Round-Rice Bed Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Round-Rice Bed Wildlife Management Area is 979 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Crow Wing County, near Garrison, inside Deer Permit Areas 155 and 249. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 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 landRound-Rice Bed WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 979 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Crow Wing County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 155, DPA 249 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Garrison |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Garrison (next to it), Deerwood (9 mi) and Vineland (10 mi) |
What is Round-Rice Bed WMA like?
The Round-Rice Bed WMA was established in 1986 through a RIM gift donation by Hobart Morris and John Burris. Primary management emphasis for this WMA will be to restore wild rice to the 80 acre shallow lake in the middle of this unit.
WMA primarily consists of a wild rice lake (80 acre) in the middle of the unit surrounded by lowland and upland forest.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Round-Rice Bed WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Round-Rice Bed WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Round-Rice Bed WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Round-Rice Bed WMA: The 80 acres wild rice bed in the middle of this WMA is a State Waterfowl Refuge.
How many deer are taken around Round-Rice Bed WMA?
Round-Rice Bed WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 in 2025, against 937 in 2024.
| DPA | Round-Rice Bed WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 155 | 940 | 1,134 | 937 | 781 |
| DPA 249 | 40 | 3,126 | 2,772 | 2,539 |
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 Round-Rice Bed WMA?
One land and one water access points. Land - From the junction of St. Hwys 169 and 18 in Garrison, E. on St. Hwy. 18 2.75 miles to parking lot on E. side. Water - From the jct of St. Hwys 169 and 18 in Garrison, E. on St. Hwy. 18 1.6 miles to creek.
From the parking area, there is access to the 1.6 mile long Maple Ridge hunter walking trail.
Nearest towns: Garrison (next to it), Deerwood (9 miles), Vineland (10 miles) and Crosby (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 18 and US 169.
What other public land is near Round-Rice Bed WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Hesitation WMA: 370 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Farm Island Lake WMA: 35 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Ripple River WMA: 5,230 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Harold & Marie Deutsch WMA: 314 acres, 6.2 miles away
- White Fish Lake WMA: 58 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Roosevelt WMA: 80 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Round-Rice Bed WMA
Counting Round-Rice Bed WMA itself, 2,303 of the 31,211 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,403 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 900 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Round-Rice Bed WMA?
In Crow Wing County, near Garrison. The DNR's directions: One land and one water access points. Land - From the junction of St. Hwys 169 and 18 in Garrison, E. on St. Hwy. 18 2.75 miles to parking lot on E. side. Water - From the jct of St. Hwys 169 and 18 in Garrison, E. on St. Hwy. 18 1.6 miles to creek.
Which deer permit area is Round-Rice Bed WMA in?
DPA 155 (940 acres) and DPA 249 (40 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Round-Rice Bed WMA?
2,303 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Round-Rice Bed WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Hesitation WMA (1.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Round-Rice Bed 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.