Simon Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Simon Lake Wildlife Management Area is 412 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Pope County, near Sunburg, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasState parksWalk-In AccessSimon Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 412 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Pope County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Sunburg |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Sunburg (5 mi), Brooten (10 mi) and Sedan (11 mi) |
What is Simon Lake WMA like?
This Unit is composed of wetlands and grass. A portion of the WMA borders the east shore of Lake Simon.
Public access to Lake Simon is provided by a primitive access site off the county road.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Simon Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Simon Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Simon Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Simon Lake WMA?
Simon Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Simon Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 412 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Simon Lake WMA?
From Sunberg, go 1 mile W on CR 9, then 4.5 miles N on CR104, then 2 miles W on a 335th Street.
Nearest towns: Sunburg (5 miles), Brooten (10 miles), Sedan (11 miles) and De Graff (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 9 and MN 104. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Simon Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Camp Kerk WMA: 1,110 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Oleander WMA: 403 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Little Jo WMA: 301 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Skarpness WMA: 57 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Monson WMA: 209 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Sunburg WMA: 109 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Simon Lake WMA
Counting Simon Lake WMA itself, 2,283 of the 26,000 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,870 |
| State wildlife management areas | 413 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Simon Lake WMA?
In Pope County, near Sunburg. The DNR's directions: From Sunberg, go 1 mile W on CR 9, then 4.5 miles N on CR104, then 2 miles W on a 335th Street.
Which deer permit area is Simon Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Simon Lake WMA?
2,283 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Simon Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Camp Kerk WMA (3.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Simon 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.