Roy L Thompson Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Roy L Thompson Wildlife Management Area is 216 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Douglas County, near Kensington, inside Deer Permit Area 273. 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 1,013 deer in DPA 273 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasRoy L Thompson WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 216 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 273 |
| 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) | Kensington |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Hoffman (4 mi), Kensington (4 mi) and Farwell (7 mi) |
What can you hunt on Roy L Thompson 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 Roy L Thompson WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Roy L Thompson WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Roy L Thompson WMA?
Roy L Thompson WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 in 2025, against 978 in 2024.
| DPA | Roy L Thompson WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 273 | 216 | 1,013 | 978 | 968 |
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 Roy L Thompson WMA?
From Kensington, go 4.6 miles N on CSAH 1.
Nearest towns: Hoffman (4 miles), Kensington (4 miles), Farwell (7 miles) and Brandon (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 27 and MN 55.
What other public land is near Roy L Thompson WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Viking WMA: 198 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Eng Lake WMA: 23 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Schnepf WMA: 91 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Red Rock Lake WMA: 167 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Lake Venus WMA: 91 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Hegg Lake WMA: 380 acres, 3.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Roy L Thompson WMA
Counting Roy L Thompson WMA itself, 2,168 of the 23,775 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,381 |
| State wildlife management areas | 787 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Roy L Thompson WMA?
In Douglas County, near Kensington. The DNR's directions: From Kensington, go 4.6 miles N on CSAH 1.
Which deer permit area is Roy L Thompson WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 273. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Roy L Thompson WMA?
2,168 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Roy L Thompson WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Viking WMA (0.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Roy L Thompson 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.