Skunk Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Skunk Lake Wildlife Management Area is 238 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Jackson County, near Sioux Valley, inside Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 505 deer in DPA 250 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 areasSkunk Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 238 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 250 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Sioux Valley |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | Round Lake (10 mi), Lakefield (11 mi) and Okabena (15 mi) |
What is Skunk Lake WMA like?
This WMA is mostly emergent wetlands on the south shore of Skunk Lake.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Skunk Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Skunk Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Skunk Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Skunk Lake WMA?
Skunk Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR registered 505 deer in DPA 250 in 2025, against 479 in 2024.
| DPA | Skunk Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 250 | 238 | 505 | 479 | 497 |
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 Skunk Lake WMA?
From Sioux Valley, go 2 1/2 miles E on CSAH 4 then 1 1/2 miles S on Township Road.
There is a concrete ramp water access to Skunk Lake on this unit.
Nearest towns: Round Lake (10 miles), Lakefield (11 miles), Okabena (15 miles) and Jackson (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 86.
What other public land is near Skunk Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sioux Valley WMA: 608 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Minneota WMA: 214 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Little Sioux WMA: 307 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Sangl WMA: 342 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Pletz Slough WMA: 118 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Pavelko WMA: 58 acres, 5.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Skunk Lake WMA
Counting Skunk Lake WMA itself, 2,589 of the 23,421 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,661 |
| State wildlife management areas | 928 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Skunk Lake WMA?
In Jackson County, near Sioux Valley. The DNR's directions: From Sioux Valley, go 2 1/2 miles E on CSAH 4 then 1 1/2 miles S on Township Road.
Which deer permit area is Skunk Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 250. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Skunk Lake WMA?
2,589 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Skunk Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sioux Valley WMA (0.5 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Skunk 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.