Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area is 1,256 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Big Stone County, near Clinton, inside Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 495 deer in DPA 274 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 areasState parksThielke Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,256 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Big Stone County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 274 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Clinton |
| DNR area office | Appleton |
| Nearest towns | Clinton (3 mi), Ortonville (6 mi) and Odessa (9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Thielke Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Thielke Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Thielke Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Thielke Lake WMA?
Thielke Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR registered 495 deer in DPA 274 in 2025, against 453 in 2024.
| DPA | Thielke Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 274 | 1,256 | 495 | 453 | 402 |
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 Thielke Lake WMA?
From Clinton, go 4.5 miles S on US 75. 2.5 miles south on Hwy 75. WMA is on the east side of Hwy 75.
There are multiple locations to park and access this WMA, including Hwy 75 (west side of WMA), CR 8 (north side of WMA), and CR 65 (east side of WMA).
Nearest towns: Clinton (3 miles), Ortonville (6 miles), Odessa (9 miles) and Graceville (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75 and MN 7.
What other public land is near Thielke Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- David H. Steen WMA: 184 acres, 2 miles away
- Reisdorph WMA: 214 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Big Stone WMA: 390 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Thomson WMA: 119 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Prairie WMA: 186 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Victory WMA: 811 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Thielke Lake WMA
Counting Thielke Lake WMA itself, 3,060 of the 37,989 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,082 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 978 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Thielke Lake WMA?
In Big Stone County, near Clinton. The DNR's directions: From Clinton, go 4.5 miles S on US 75. 2.5 miles south on Hwy 75. WMA is on the east side of Hwy 75.
Which deer permit area is Thielke Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 274. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Thielke Lake WMA?
3,060 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Thielke Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest David H. Steen WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Thielke 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.