Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area is 7,444 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kittson County, near Lancaster, inside Deer Permit Area 263. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning doves, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,024 deer in DPA 263 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 areasSkull Lake WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 7,444 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Kittson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 263 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning doves, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lancaster |
| DNR area office | Karlstad |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Lancaster (5 mi), Lake Bronson (11 mi) and Hallock (14 mi) |
What is Skull Lake WMA like?
This large WMA is 770 acres of dry native prairie, oak savanna and brushlands, 3800 acres of wetlands, and 2500 acres of aspen. This unit has unique elements of topography for the area, containing uneven sand dunes.
Elk, moose, sharp-tailed grouse, yellow rail, upland sandpiper, american bittern, sandhill cranes, and a variety of waterfowl can be seen on this unit. Elk frequent this WMA. Winter opportunities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling & cross-country skiing. Spring crane watching can be quite good. Summer brings wildflowers blooming. Expect to see wetland/prairie species. A groomed snowmobile trail runs through the unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Skull Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning doves, bear and small game for Skull Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Skull Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Skull Lake WMA: Three camping areas are identified with "Camping Permitted" signs.
How many deer are taken around Skull Lake WMA?
Skull Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 263. The DNR registered 1,024 deer in DPA 263 in 2025, against 920 in 2024.
| DPA | Skull Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 263 | 7,444 | 1,024 | 920 | 1,029 |
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 Skull Lake WMA?
From Lancaster, go 6 miles E and 4 miles N on CSAH 4.
Access is good although most of the access trails are minimum maintenance.
Nearest towns: Lancaster (5 miles), Lake Bronson (11 miles), Hallock (14 miles) and Humboldt (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59.
What other public land is near Skull Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Cannon WMA: 78 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Beaches Lake WMA: 30,601 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Caribou WMA: 14,128 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Percy WMA: 1,874 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Skull Lake WMA
Counting Skull Lake WMA itself, 11,684 of the 58,619 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 11,684 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Skull Lake WMA?
In Kittson County, near Lancaster. The DNR's directions: From Lancaster, go 6 miles E and 4 miles N on CSAH 4.
Which deer permit area is Skull Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 263. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Skull Lake WMA?
11,684 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Skull Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Cannon WMA (0.5 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Skull 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.