Skandia Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Skandia Wildlife Management Area is 498 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Murray County, near Balaton, inside Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, 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 areasWalk-In AccessSkandia WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 498 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Murray County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 295 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Balaton |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Garvin (5 mi), Balaton (6 mi) and The Lakes (7 mi) |
What is Skandia WMA like?
This WMA has an emergent marsh with irregular boundaries.
New tracts (622 acres) were added to this unit in 2018. Habitat restoration has been completed. This WMA provides a good wildlife wintering area.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Skandia WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Skandia WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Skandia WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Skandia WMA?
Skandia WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 295. The DNR registered 904 deer in DPA 295 in 2025, against 835 in 2024.
| DPA | Skandia WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 295 | 498 | 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 Skandia WMA?
From Balaton, go 5 miles south on County Road 29 and 2 ½ miles east on County Road 69.
There is a carry-in water access to the marsh on this unit.
Nearest towns: Garvin (5 miles), Balaton (6 miles), The Lakes (7 miles) and Currie (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59.
What other public land is near Skandia WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lake Maria WMA: 951 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Sarah-Mason WMA: 121 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Iron Lake WMA: 67 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Lowville WMA: 194 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Great Oasis WMA: 319 acres, 3 miles away
- Giese WMA: 37 acres, 3.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Skandia WMA
Counting Skandia WMA itself, 1,703 of the 27,699 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,703 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Skandia WMA?
In Murray County, near Balaton. The DNR's directions: From Balaton, go 5 miles south on County Road 29 and 2 ½ miles east on County Road 69.
Which deer permit area is Skandia WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 295. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Skandia WMA?
1,703 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Skandia WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lake Maria WMA (0.5 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Skandia 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.