Saw-whet Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Saw-whet Wildlife Management Area is 1,286 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Beltrami County, near Fourtown, inside Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 412 deer in DPA 111 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 landSaw-whet WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,286 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Beltrami County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 111 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Fourtown |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (8 mi), Goodridge (18 mi) and Ponemah (28 mi) |
What can you hunt on Saw-whet WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Saw-whet WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Saw-whet WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Saw-whet WMA?
Saw-whet WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 111. The DNR registered 412 deer in DPA 111 in 2025, against 370 in 2024.
| DPA | Saw-whet WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 111 | 1,286 | 412 | 370 | 318 |
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 Saw-whet WMA?
From Fourtown, go 3 miles W on SH 89 then 1 mile S on Co Rd 707 then 1 mile W on Co Rd 700.
Nearest towns: Grygla (8 miles), Goodridge (18 miles) and Ponemah (28 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89.
What other public land is near Saw-whet WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Wolf Trail WMA: 7,792 acres, next to it
- Gun-dog WMA: 1,357 acres, next to it
- Fireweed WMA: 2,266 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Moose River WMA: 21,275 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Lee WMA: 2,245 acres, 2 miles away
- Hamre WMA: 4,530 acres, 2.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Saw-whet WMA
Counting Saw-whet WMA itself, 14,068 of the 34,915 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (40.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 13,624 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 444 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Saw-whet WMA?
In Beltrami County, near Fourtown. The DNR's directions: From Fourtown, go 3 miles W on SH 89 then 1 mile S on Co Rd 707 then 1 mile W on Co Rd 700.
Which deer permit area is Saw-whet WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 111. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Saw-whet WMA?
14,068 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Saw-whet WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Wolf Trail WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Saw-whet 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.