Timber Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Timber Lake Wildlife Management Area is 907 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Jackson County, near Wilder, 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 areasWalk-In AccessTimber Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 907 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 250 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Wilder |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Wilder (next to it), Heron Lake (5 mi) and Windom (5 mi) |
What is Timber Lake WMA like?
This WMA consists of 3 separate tracts of land. All three tracts are a grassland/wetland complex with some forested areas. The two largest tracts are along the north and southeast shores of Timber Lake. The third, smaller tract lies to the sw of Wilder.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Timber Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Timber Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Timber Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Timber Lake WMA: Portions of the Timber Lake WMA are closed to all hunting during the waterfowl season including the split portion of the season. Open to all hunting after the conclusion of the waterfowl season.
How many deer are taken around Timber Lake WMA?
Timber Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 250. The DNR registered 505 deer in DPA 250 in 2025, against 479 in 2024.
| DPA | Timber Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 250 | 907 | 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 Timber Lake WMA?
From Wilder, go 1 mile S on Co Rd 86.
There is a concrete ramp water access to Timber Lake on the south tract.
Nearest towns: Wilder (next to it), Heron Lake (5 miles), Windom (5 miles) and Okabena (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60, MN 62, MN 86 and US 71. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Timber Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Teal Lake WMA: 124 acres, 1 mile away
- String Lakes WMA: 588 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Lillegaard WMA: 88 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Heron Lake WMA: 865 acres, 4 miles away
- Pats Pasture WMA: 318 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Caraway WMA: 208 acres, 4.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Timber Lake WMA
Counting Timber Lake WMA itself, 2,383 of the 31,971 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,459 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 924 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Timber Lake WMA?
In Jackson County, near Wilder. The DNR's directions: From Wilder, go 1 mile S on Co Rd 86.
Which deer permit area is Timber Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 250. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Timber Lake WMA?
2,383 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Timber Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Teal Lake WMA (1 mile).
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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, Timber 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.