Sheas Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Sheas Lake Wildlife Management Area is 321 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Le Sueur County, near Heidelberg, inside Deer Permit Area 292. 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 1,197 deer in DPA 292 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 areasSheas Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 321 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Le Sueur County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 292 |
| 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) | Heidelberg |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Nearest towns | Heidelberg (4 mi), Le Center (5 mi) and Montgomery (7 mi) |
What is Sheas Lake WMA like?
The Sheas Lake WMA is mainly comprised of: Upland and wetland forest types with a restored oak savanna component.
A parking area is available to the South tract on the North side of 340th Street 1.2 miles West of 221st Ave. The parking area is at the end of an unmarked township cartway which is aprox. 0.25 miles North from 340th street.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Sheas 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 Sheas Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Sheas Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Sheas Lake WMA?
Sheas Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 292. The DNR registered 1,197 deer in DPA 292 in 2025, against 1,149 in 2024.
| DPA | Sheas Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 292 | 321 | 1,197 | 1,149 | 1,088 |
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 Sheas Lake WMA?
From Heidelberg, go 4 miles W on CSAH 28 then 1/2 mile S and 1/2 mile W on Twp Rd.
Wheelchair access is limited to two primitive access lanes and parking lots.
Nearest towns: Heidelberg (4 miles), Le Center (5 miles), Montgomery (7 miles) and Le Sueur (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 19.
What other public land is near Sheas Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- St. Thomas Lake WMA: 320 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Bardel's Marsh WMA: 78 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Raven WMA: 72 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Cordova WMA: 222 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Michel Marsh WMA: 139 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Mahoney's Marsh WMA: 324 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sheas Lake WMA
Counting Sheas Lake WMA itself, 800 of the 26,354 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 727 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 73 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sheas Lake WMA?
In Le Sueur County, near Heidelberg. The DNR's directions: From Heidelberg, go 4 miles W on CSAH 28 then 1/2 mile S and 1/2 mile W on Twp Rd.
Which deer permit area is Sheas Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 292. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Sheas Lake WMA?
800 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sheas Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest St. Thomas Lake WMA (1.8 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, Sheas 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.