Severance Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Severance Lake Wildlife Management Area is 294 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Sibley County, near Arlington, inside Deer Permit Area 284. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 714 deer in DPA 284 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 AccessSeverance Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 294 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Sibley County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 284 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Arlington |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Green Isle (4 mi), Arlington (5 mi) and New Auburn (5 mi) |
What is Severance Lake WMA like?
The Severance Lake WMA is mainly comprised of: A restored prairie / savanna wetland complex with a shallow lake or large wetland component. This unit of the Severance Lake Wildlife Management area is comprised of multiple small and medium-sized wetland restorations, restored upland prairie, and bur oak savanna.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Severance Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Severance Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Severance Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Severance Lake WMA: Vehicles are allowed to drive past the gate only during the open waterfowl season as posted, North of the parking area on South Side of Severance Lake to access the carry in water access site.
How many deer are taken around Severance Lake WMA?
Severance Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 284. The DNR registered 714 deer in DPA 284 in 2025, against 675 in 2024.
| DPA | Severance Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 284 | 294 | 714 | 675 | 605 |
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 Severance Lake WMA?
From Arlington, go 4 miles N on CSAH 9 then 2 miles W on Co Rd 15. From Arlington, go 6 miles N on CSAH 9 then 0.3 miles W on Co Rd 59. From the south side of Green Isle, take CR 15 west approximately 4.25 miles. A parking lot is available for users on the southeast side of the unit.
Wheelchair access is limited to primitive parking lot.
Nearest towns: Green Isle (4 miles), Arlington (5 miles), New Auburn (5 miles) and Glencoe (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 212, MN 5, MN 25 and MN 22. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Severance Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Proehl's Woods WMA: 134 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Arlington WMA: 124 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Oak Isle WMA: 91 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Boerner WMA: 27 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Revanche WMA: 114 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Altnow Marsh WMA: 147 acres, 5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Severance Lake WMA
Counting Severance Lake WMA itself, 482 of the 32,801 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 481 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Severance Lake WMA?
In Sibley County, near Arlington. The DNR's directions: From Arlington, go 4 miles N on CSAH 9 then 2 miles W on Co Rd 15. From Arlington, go 6 miles N on CSAH 9 then 0.3 miles W on Co Rd 59. From the south side of Green Isle, take CR 15 west approximately 4.25 miles. A parking lot is available for users on the southeast side of the unit.
Which deer permit area is Severance Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 284. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Severance Lake WMA?
482 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Severance Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Proehl's Woods WMA (1.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Severance Lake 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.