Rush Creek Woods Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rush Creek Woods Wildlife Management Area is 367 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Fillmore and Houston counties, near Rushford, inside Deer Permit Area 646. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds 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 landRush Creek Woods WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 367 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Fillmore County and Houston County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 646 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Rushford |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Nearest towns | Rushford (next to it), Rushford Village (2 mi) and Peterson (5 mi) |
What is Rush Creek Woods WMA like?
This WMA is bluff top with planted native grasses on ridge fields, with oak and central hardwood forest on the slopes. Two large bluff prairies exit.
This unit is managed primarily for deer, turkeys and pheasants, with some small game hunting as well. Management activities include use of prescribed fire on native grasses and timber harvest. Primary species on this WMA unit: deer, wild turkey, small game and pheasants.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Rush Creek Woods WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Rush Creek Woods WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rush Creek Woods WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rush Creek Woods WMA?
Rush Creek Woods WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 646. The DNR registered 2,832 deer in DPA 646 in 2025, against 2,504 in 2024.
| DPA | Rush Creek Woods WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 646 | 367 | 2,832 | 2,504 | 2,279 |
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 Rush Creek Woods WMA?
From Rushford take State Highway 43 north for 1 mile, turn right or east onto County Line road for 1 1/2 miles to parking lot in NW corner of WMA.
Access off County Line north on north side of WMA.
Nearest towns: Rushford (next to it), Rushford Village (2 miles), Peterson (5 miles) and Houston (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 43, MN 16, MN 30 and MN 76.
What other public land is near Rush Creek Woods WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Schueler WMA: 896 acres, next to it
- Ferndale Ridge WMA: 658 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Chisholm Valley WMA: 80 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Yucatan WMA: 967 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rush Creek Woods WMA
Counting Rush Creek Woods WMA itself, 2,573 of the 26,274 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,307 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,266 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rush Creek Woods WMA?
In Fillmore and Houston counties, near Rushford. The DNR's directions: From Rushford take State Highway 43 north for 1 mile, turn right or east onto County Line road for 1 1/2 miles to parking lot in NW corner of WMA.
Which deer permit area is Rush Creek Woods WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 646. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rush Creek Woods WMA?
2,573 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rush Creek Woods WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Schueler WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Rush Creek Woods 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.