Upper Rice Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Upper Rice Wildlife Management Area is 390 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Clearwater County, near Alida, inside Deer Permit Area 684. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,267 deer in DPA 684 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 landState parksUpper Rice WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 390 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clearwater County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 684 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Alida |
| DNR area office | Park Rapids |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Shevlin (8 mi), South End (8 mi) and Bagley (9 mi) |
What is Upper Rice WMA like?
This WMA is mixed grassland, wetland and forest which adjoins Upper Rice Lake, a 1860-acre major migratory waterfowl and wild rice lake. About 40% of this unit is upland and lowland forest, 35%wet meadow, shrub wetland and marsh.
The purpose of this WMA is to provide forest and wetland wildlife habitat. Upland aspen is managed for deer and ruffed grouse habitat with small patch timber sales. Grassland and wetland areas on this unit provide breeding and nesting habitat. Deer, bear, ruffed grouse, goose and duck hunting and wildlife observation opportunities exist on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Upper Rice WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Upper Rice WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Upper Rice WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Upper Rice WMA: No motorized boats allowed on Upper Rice Lake during open waterfowl season (Migratory Waterfowl Feeding and Resting Area).
How many deer are taken around Upper Rice WMA?
Upper Rice WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 684. The DNR registered 3,267 deer in DPA 684 in 2025, against 3,035 in 2024.
| DPA | Upper Rice WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 684 | 390 | 3,267 | 3,035 | 2,686 |
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 Upper Rice WMA?
From Alida, go 5 miles W on CSAH 36.
This WMA is accessible from the south (CSAH 36) and the north (CSAH 30). There are two parking areas and two public carry in boat accesses on this unit.
Nearest towns: Shevlin (8 miles), South End (8 miles), Bagley (9 miles) and Rice Lake (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 92.
What other public land is near Upper Rice WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Mud Lake WMA: 718 acres, 1 mile away
- Mosquito Creek WMA: 747 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Robinson Lake WMA: 40 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Daniel Lake WMA: 24 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Mallard Lake WMA: 45 acres, 6 miles away
- Lower Rice WMA: 441 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Upper Rice WMA
Counting Upper Rice WMA itself, 6,260 of the 31,968 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 5,866 |
| State wildlife management areas | 394 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Upper Rice WMA?
In Clearwater County, near Alida. The DNR's directions: From Alida, go 5 miles W on CSAH 36.
Which deer permit area is Upper Rice WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 684. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Upper Rice WMA?
6,260 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Upper Rice WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Mud Lake WMA (1 mile).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Upper Rice 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.