Stipa Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Stipa Wildlife Management Area is 161 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Polk County, near Gentilly, inside Deer Permit Area 256. The DNR's WMA data lists sharp-tailed grouse and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,042 deer in DPA 256 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 areasStipa WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 161 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 256 |
| DNR lists for hunting | sharp-tailed grouse and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Gentilly |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Red Lake Falls (6 mi), Crookston (11 mi) and Mentor (14 mi) |
What is Stipa WMA like?
This WMA is remnant tall grass prairie with minor amounts of brush and trees. The major emphasis will be to manage and improve the native prairie habitat found on the unit, mostly through prescribed fire.
Stipa WMA is a nice example of beach ridge prairie, fens and seep zones. It provides grassland habitat for wildlife in a heavily agricultural landscape. Prairie chickens use this unit year-round. A perennial spring booming ground is located on the farm field adjacent to the north boundary.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Stipa WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists sharp-tailed grouse and small game for Stipa WMA. Each follows the statewide season.
What are the rules on Stipa WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Stipa WMA?
Stipa WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 256. The DNR registered 1,042 deer in DPA 256 in 2025, against 1,033 in 2024.
| DPA | Stipa WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 256 | 161 | 1,042 | 1,033 | 867 |
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 Stipa WMA?
From Gentilly, go 3 1/2 miles E and N on CSAH 11 then 1.5 miles E on TWP RD.
Access is good with a township road on the south side.
Nearest towns: Red Lake Falls (6 miles), Crookston (11 miles), Mentor (14 miles) and St. Hilaire (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2.
What other public land is near Stipa WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Huot WMA: 424 acres, 3 miles away
- Moran WMA: 426 acres, 4 miles away
- Kertsonville WMA: 371 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Marcoux WMA: 380 acres, 6.6 miles away
- Tympanuchus WMA: 848 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Dugdale WMA: 960 acres, 9.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Stipa WMA
Counting Stipa WMA itself, 162 of the 22,078 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (0.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 162 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Stipa WMA?
In Polk County, near Gentilly. The DNR's directions: From Gentilly, go 3 1/2 miles E and N on CSAH 11 then 1.5 miles E on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Stipa WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 256. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Stipa WMA?
162 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Stipa WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Huot WMA (3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Stipa 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.