Ruthton Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Ruthton Wildlife Management Area is 294 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Murray County, near Ruthton, inside Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 472 deer in DPA 294 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 areasWalk-In AccessRuthton WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 294 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 294 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Ruthton |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Ruthton (2 mi), Florence (4 mi) and Tyler (8 mi) |
What is Ruthton WMA like?
The area is a floodplain wetland on the Redwood River with associated upland grassland, willow patches, and food plot. This area has a marsh and associated upland grassland. The area is a small marsh with associated upland grassland, woody cover and food plots.
Roadside wildlife viewing opportunities.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Ruthton WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Ruthton WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Ruthton WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Ruthton WMA: Adjacent private land is protected in conservation easements.
How many deer are taken around Ruthton WMA?
Ruthton WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR registered 472 deer in DPA 294 in 2025, against 462 in 2024.
| DPA | Ruthton WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 294 | 294 | 472 | 462 | 461 |
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 Ruthton WMA?
From Ruthton, go 2 miles east on County Road 89, then 1 mile east on County Road 80. From Ruthton, go 2 miles east on County Road 88, then.5 miles south on township road. From Ruthton, 1.5 miles south on State Highway 23 then 2 miles east on County Road 10 then 2.5 miles east on County Road 18.
Nearest towns: Ruthton (2 miles), Florence (4 miles), Tyler (8 miles) and Balaton (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 23, MN 91 and US 14. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Ruthton WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Van Eck WMA: 77 acres, next to it
- Hjermstad WMA: 266 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Ellsborough WMA: 80 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Lange WMA: 63 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Adolph Lofthus WMA: 106 acres, 2 miles away
- Nelson WMA: 198 acres, 2.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ruthton WMA
Counting Ruthton WMA itself, 1,191 of the 31,953 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,191 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ruthton WMA?
In Murray County, near Ruthton. The DNR's directions: From Ruthton, go 2 miles east on County Road 89, then 1 mile east on County Road 80. From Ruthton, go 2 miles east on County Road 88, then.5 miles south on township road. From Ruthton, 1.5 miles south on State Highway 23 then 2 miles east on County Road 10 then 2.5 miles east on County Road 18.
Which deer permit area is Ruthton WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 294. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Ruthton WMA?
1,191 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ruthton WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Van Eck WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Ruthton 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.