Spring Lake Islands Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Spring Lake Islands Wildlife Management Area is 766 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Dakota County, near Rosemount, inside Deer Permit Area 601. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 2,588 deer in DPA 601 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 landU.S. Army Corps of Engineers landNational park landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landSpring Lake Islands WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 766 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Dakota County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 601 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Rosemount |
| DNR area office | South Metro |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Rosemount (3 mi), Coates (4 mi) and Cottage Grove (4 mi) |
What is Spring Lake Islands WMA like?
This WMA is part of a backwater area off the main channel of the Mississippi River known as Spring Lake.
It consists of a series of islands surrounded by shallow water channels. Large stump fields make navigation a challenge and due to yearly flooding events it is an ever changing system. Hunting, fishing, trapping, bird watching and nature photography.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Spring Lake Islands WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Spring Lake Islands WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Spring Lake Islands WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Spring Lake Islands WMA: There is a 300 foot No Firearms Discharge Zone located along the southern boundary of this WMA, adjacent to Spring Lake Park Reserve (Dakota County Regional Park).
How many deer are taken around Spring Lake Islands WMA?
Spring Lake Islands WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 601. The DNR registered 2,588 deer in DPA 601 in 2025.
| DPA | Spring Lake Islands WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 601 | 766 | 2,588 |
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 Spring Lake Islands WMA?
From Rosemount, take US-52 to MN-55, then take MN-55 east for 4.5 miles, then turn left (north) on Mississippi Trail/CSAH 42 for 1 mile, then left on Hilary Path for 0.7 miles to public access.
There is a small boat launch at the end of Hilary Path located off of County Rd. 42. This access is very shallow.
Nearest towns: Rosemount (3 miles), Coates (4 miles), Cottage Grove (4 miles) and St. Paul Park (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 55, US 52, US 61, US 10 and MN 56.
What other public land is near Spring Lake Islands WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA: 2,841 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Vermillion River WMA: 1,494 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Gores Pool #3 WMA: 7,109 acres, 7.3 miles away
- Hastings WMA: 40 acres, 7.5 miles away
- Hampton Woods WMA: 208 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Spring Lake Islands WMA
Counting Spring Lake Islands WMA itself, 1,783 of the 27,981 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 766 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 613 |
| County, city and regional land | 369 |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land | 35 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Spring Lake Islands WMA?
In Dakota County, near Rosemount. The DNR's directions: From Rosemount, take US-52 to MN-55, then take MN-55 east for 4.5 miles, then turn left (north) on Mississippi Trail/CSAH 42 for 1 mile, then left on Hilary Path for 0.7 miles to public access.
Which deer permit area is Spring Lake Islands WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 601. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Spring Lake Islands WMA?
1,783 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Spring Lake Islands WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA (4.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Spring Lake Islands 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.