Sagaiigan Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Sagaiigan Wildlife Management Area is 178 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Fosston, inside Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 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 areasSagaiigan WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 178 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 210 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fosston |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Lengby (3 mi), Fosston (5 mi) and Ebro (6 mi) |
What is Sagaiigan WMA like?
This WMA is primarily open water and emergent marsh, with smaller amounts of aspen, lowland hardwoods, and brush. The unit was purchased to protect and manage the wetlands for the benefit of waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.
Sagaiigan is the Chippewa word for lake. The WMA is a good waterfowl production area and is used by both puddle ducks and diving ducks. A good variety of other wetland birds use this unit, including sandhill cranes, herons and bitterns. Access may be difficult as parking is not provided and the emergent marsh comes up to the only road boundary. The unit is mostly open water and marsh so dress accordingly.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Sagaiigan WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, bear and small game for Sagaiigan WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Sagaiigan WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Sagaiigan WMA?
Sagaiigan WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 210. The DNR registered 1,487 deer in DPA 210 in 2025, against 1,331 in 2024.
| DPA | Sagaiigan WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 210 | 178 | 1,487 | 1,331 | 1,383 |
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 Sagaiigan WMA?
From Fosston, go 3 1/2 miles E on CSAH 1 then 1 1/2 miles S on TWP RD.
The WMA has access from roads on the east and south sides. Walking access to the north marsh is through the unit.
Nearest towns: Lengby (3 miles), Fosston (5 miles), Ebro (6 miles) and Pine Bend (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2.
What other public land is near Sagaiigan WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lengby WMA: 130 acres, 2 miles away
- Rosebud WMA: 46 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Hovland WMA: 220 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Hasselton WMA: 216 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Mule John WMA: 122 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Carter WMA: 106 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sagaiigan WMA
Counting Sagaiigan WMA itself, 2,298 of the 23,861 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,990 |
| State wildlife management areas | 308 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sagaiigan WMA?
In Polk County, near Fosston. The DNR's directions: From Fosston, go 3 1/2 miles E on CSAH 1 then 1 1/2 miles S on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Sagaiigan WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 210. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Sagaiigan WMA?
2,298 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sagaiigan WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lengby WMA (2 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Sagaiigan 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.