Tribute Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Tribute Wildlife Management Area is 232 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Stearns County, near Regal, inside Deer Permit Area 218. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,769 deer in DPA 218 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 areasTribute WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 232 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Stearns County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 218 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Regal |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Regal (3 mi), Belgrade (4 mi) and Lake Henry (5 mi) |
What is Tribute WMA like?
This 233 acre WMA borders the North Fork of the Crow River to the east associated with a wide band of lowland willow/alder that winters good numbers of deer and pheasants. Restored prairie and a few small shallow wetland basins make up the balance.
Of special significance is an approximate 40 acre area of original mesic remnant prairie on the unit. Upland sandpipers and marbled godwits have been seen on the WMA during the nesting season. Note WMA donators on wood routed sign.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Tribute WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Tribute WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Tribute WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Tribute WMA?
Tribute WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 218. The DNR registered 3,769 deer in DPA 218 in 2025, against 3,553 in 2024.
| DPA | Tribute WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 218 | 232 | 3,769 | 3,553 | 3,092 |
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 Tribute WMA?
3 miles NW of Regal within Sections 25 and 26, T123N, R34W.
Nearest towns: Regal (3 miles), Belgrade (4 miles), Lake Henry (5 miles) and Spring Hill (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 55 and US 71.
What other public land is near Tribute WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: 757 acres, next to it
- Follies WMA: 610 acres, 1 mile away
- Regal Meadows WMA: 306 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Crow River WMA: 155 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Regal Flats WMA: 508 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Burbank WMA: 506 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Tribute WMA
Counting Tribute WMA itself, 2,223 of the 23,272 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,080 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 143 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Tribute WMA?
In Stearns County, near Regal. The DNR's directions: 3 miles NW of Regal within Sections 25 and 26, T123N, R34W.
Which deer permit area is Tribute WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 218. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Tribute WMA?
2,223 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Tribute WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA (next to it).
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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, Tribute 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.