Shetek Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Shetek Wildlife Management Area is 731 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Murray County, near Tracy, inside Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 904 deer in DPA 295 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 areasState parksWalk-In AccessShetek WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 731 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 295 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Tracy |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | The Lakes (2 mi), Currie (5 mi) and Tracy (6 mi) |
What is Shetek WMA like?
This East subunit contains a large marsh with associated upland grassland, woody cover plantings and food plots. This West subunit contains small marshes with oak woods, upland grassland, food plots and a native prairie remnant.
County Road 38 offers good waterfowl viewing on this subunit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Shetek WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Shetek WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Shetek WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Shetek WMA?
Shetek WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR registered 904 deer in DPA 295 in 2025, against 835 in 2024.
| DPA | Shetek WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 295 | 731 | 904 | 835 | 827 |
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 Shetek WMA?
From Tracy, go 5.5 miles south on County Road 38. From Tracey, go 4 miles south on County Road 38, then 1.5 miles west on County Road 21, then 1 mile south on township road.
There is a carry-in water access to Clear Lake on this subunit.
Nearest towns: The Lakes (2 miles), Currie (5 miles), Tracy (6 miles) and Garvin (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59 and MN 30.
What other public land is near Shetek WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Buttermilk Run WMA: 56 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Shetek Inlet WMA: 542 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Buffalo Lake WMA: 568 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Beaver Creek WMA: 1,294 acres, 4 miles away
- Rupp WMA: 83 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Dovray WMA: 998 acres, 4.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shetek WMA
Counting Shetek WMA itself, 1,459 of the 31,608 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 816 |
| State parks | 505 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 138 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shetek WMA?
In Murray County, near Tracy. The DNR's directions: From Tracy, go 5.5 miles south on County Road 38. From Tracey, go 4 miles south on County Road 38, then 1.5 miles west on County Road 21, then 1 mile south on township road.
Which deer permit area is Shetek WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 295. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Shetek WMA?
1,459 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shetek WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Buttermilk Run WMA (1.7 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Shetek 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.