Swan River Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Swan River Deer Yard Wildlife Management Area is 909 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Itasca County, near Swan River, inside Deer Permit Areas 173 and 679. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 528 deer in DPA 173 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 landOther federal landSwan River Deer Yard WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 909 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Itasca County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 173, DPA 679 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Swan River |
| DNR area office | Grand Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Warba (4 mi), Goodland (6 mi) and La Prairie (16 mi) |
What is Swan River Deer Yard WMA like?
This WMA is a deeryard extending east and west along Hwy 65. The lowlands provide cedar and tamarack winter cover for deer while the upland aspen and balsam fir stands provide additional cover and browse plus habitat for grouse and other upland game.
Purchased with deer license fees in 1976. Management calls for periodic timber harvest to rejuvenate the upland forest and shearing of lowland brush. When possible, upland conifers are retained for winter cover. There is a parking area on the gated road west of State Highway 65. A grant in aid snowmobile trail crosses the WMA east of Highway 65, within the pipeline right of way. Expect to see gray jays, warblers and signs of wolves and deer. Hunter walking trails.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Swan River Deer Yard WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
Swan River Deer Yard WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 528 deer in DPA 173 in 2025, against 452 in 2024.
| DPA | Swan River Deer Yard WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 173 | 545 | 528 | 452 | 413 |
| DPA 679 | 365 | 2,146 | 1,929 | 2,046 |
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 Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
From Swan River, go 1.5 miles southwest on State Highway 65.
Nearest towns: Warba (4 miles), Goodland (6 miles), La Prairie (16 miles) and Coleraine (17 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 65, US 2 and MN 200.
What other public land is near Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
Public land within 3 miles of Swan River Deer Yard WMA
Counting Swan River Deer Yard WMA itself, 5,062 of the 31,690 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 4,125 |
| State wildlife management areas | 937 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
In Itasca County, near Swan River. The DNR's directions: From Swan River, go 1.5 miles southwest on State Highway 65.
Which deer permit area is Swan River Deer Yard WMA in?
DPA 173 (545 acres) and DPA 679 (365 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Swan River Deer Yard WMA?
5,062 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Swan River Deer Yard WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Swan River Deer Yard 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.