Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area is 8,867 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Kittson County, near Karlstad, inside Deer Permit Areas 264 and 263. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,995 deer in DPA 264 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasTwin Lakes WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 8,867 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Kittson County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 264, DPA 263 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Karlstad |
| DNR area office | Karlstad |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Karlstad (next to it), Strandquist (6 mi) and Halma (6 mi) |
What is Twin Lakes WMA like?
WMA is a large unit over 8,000 acres in size. Over half of the unit is wetland, along with large and small blocks of aspen timber, oak savanna with dry prairie and some cropland for foodplots. The major management is on waterfowl and big game production.
Distinctive wildflowers include Culver's root, northern gentian, asters, blazing stars, goldenrod, and sunflowers. Moose, sandhill cranes, sharp-tailed grouse, sharp-tailed sparrow, american bittern, short-eared owl, and yellow rail frequent the WMA. Recreation opportunities include hiking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, berry picking, canoeing, and wildlife viewing. Water access is available at several locations adjacent to the marshes.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Twin Lakes WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves, bear and small game for Twin Lakes WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Twin Lakes WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Twin Lakes WMA: Camping is permitted at 7 signed sites. The WMA contains a 1,200 acre waterfowl sanctuary. No trespass or hunting is allowed in the sanctuary during September and October. Access to the unit is good via adjacent roads.
How many deer are taken around Twin Lakes WMA?
Twin Lakes WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 1,995 deer in DPA 264 in 2025, against 2,007 in 2024.
| DPA | Twin Lakes WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 264 | 6,103 | 1,995 | 2,007 | 1,770 |
| DPA 263 | 2,764 | 1,024 | 920 | 1,029 |
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 Twin Lakes WMA?
From Karlstad, go 4 miles NE on SH 11.
Nearest towns: Karlstad (next to it), Strandquist (6 miles), Halma (6 miles) and Greenbush (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 11 and US 59.
What other public land is near Twin Lakes WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Pelan WMA: 3,637 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Devils Playground WMA: 1,459 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Deerwood WMA: 322 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Lind WMA: 653 acres, 2.4 miles away
- East Park WMA: 10,420 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Beaches Lake WMA: 30,601 acres, 4.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Twin Lakes WMA
Counting Twin Lakes WMA itself, 14,204 of the 60,746 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (23.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 12,793 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,190 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 221 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Twin Lakes WMA?
In Kittson County, near Karlstad. The DNR's directions: From Karlstad, go 4 miles NE on SH 11.
Which deer permit area is Twin Lakes WMA in?
DPA 264 (6,103 acres) and DPA 263 (2,764 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Twin Lakes WMA?
14,204 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Twin Lakes WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Pelan WMA (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Twin Lakes 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.