Shelburne Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Shelburne Wildlife Management Area is 162 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Lyon and Murray counties, near Balaton, inside Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, mourning doves 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 AccessShelburne WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 162 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Lyon County and Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 294 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Balaton |
| DNR area office | Marshall |
| Nearest towns | Florence (4 mi), Ruthton (6 mi) and Balaton (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Shelburne WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, mourning doves and small game for Shelburne WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Shelburne WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Shelburne WMA?
Shelburne WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR registered 472 deer in DPA 294 in 2025, against 462 in 2024.
| DPA | Shelburne WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 294 | 162 | 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 Shelburne WMA?
From Balaton, go 5 miles W on US 14 then 3 miles S on 160th Ave then 1/2 mile W on CR 12/241st St.
Nearest towns: Florence (4 miles), Ruthton (6 miles), Balaton (6 miles) and Russell (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 91, US 14 and MN 23. 1 Walk-In Access site within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Shelburne WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Nelson WMA: 198 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Hjermstad WMA: 266 acres, 1 mile away
- Bergman WMA: 33 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Ellsborough WMA: 80 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Ruthton WMA: 294 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Nyroca Flats WMA: 42 acres, 2.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shelburne WMA
Counting Shelburne WMA itself, 1,151 of the 22,096 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 911 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 240 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shelburne WMA?
In Lyon and Murray counties, near Balaton. The DNR's directions: From Balaton, go 5 miles W on US 14 then 3 miles S on 160th Ave then 1/2 mile W on CR 12/241st St.
Which deer permit area is Shelburne WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 294. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Shelburne WMA?
1,151 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shelburne WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Nelson WMA (0.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Shelburne 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.