Rush Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rush Wildlife Management Area is 813 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Mahnomen County, near Mahnomen, inside Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 224 deer in DPA 297 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 areasRush WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 813 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Mahnomen County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 297 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Mahnomen |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Beaulieu (3 mi), Riverland (4 mi) and Mahnomen (4 mi) |
What can you hunt on Rush WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Rush WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Rush WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Rush WMA?
Rush WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR registered 224 deer in DPA 297 in 2025, against 204 in 2024.
| DPA | Rush WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 297 | 813 | 224 | 204 | 145 |
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 WMA?
From Mahnomen, go 4 1/2 miles E on SH 200 then 2 miles N on CSAH 2 then 1/2 mile W on CO RD 133.
Nearest towns: Beaulieu (3 miles), Riverland (4 miles), Mahnomen (4 miles) and Bejou (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59 and MN 200.
What other public land is near Rush WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wambach WMA: 1,287 acres, 1 mile away
- Warren WMA: 68 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Gregory WMA: 617 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Vanose WMA: 2,497 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Loncrace WMA: 253 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Beaulieu WMA: 280 acres, 4.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rush WMA
Counting Rush WMA itself, 4,183 of the 30,460 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,432 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,136 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 615 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rush WMA?
In Mahnomen County, near Mahnomen. The DNR's directions: From Mahnomen, go 4 1/2 miles E on SH 200 then 2 miles N on CSAH 2 then 1/2 mile W on CO RD 133.
Which deer permit area is Rush WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 297. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Rush WMA?
4,183 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rush WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wambach WMA (1 mile).
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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, Rush 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.