Urness Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Urness Wildlife Management Area is 265 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Douglas County, near Evansville, inside Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 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 areasOther federal landUrness WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 265 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Douglas County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 273 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Evansville |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Brandon (5 mi), Evansville (6 mi) and Hoffman (7 mi) |
What is Urness WMA like?
The north west tract of the Urness WMA has deciduous forest, wetland and restored grassland habitat. The Urness WMA is found in western Douglas County and supports a variety of habitat. The main habitat feature on the South Eastern tract of this WMA is wetland habitat. There is a managed wetland on the eastern side of this tract, with a deeper wetland further west that is not entirely within the WMA. The south east tract of the Urness WMA also has native prairie on the hillsides above the wetlands.
Grasslands on this tract of the Urness WMA have been managed by infrequent prescribed burning. Water levels in the eastern wetland are actively managed to provide good wetland habitat for waterfowl. The native prairie is managed through the use of prescribed burning.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Urness WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Urness WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Urness WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Urness WMA?
Urness WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 in 2025, against 978 in 2024.
| DPA | Urness WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 273 | 265 | 1,013 | 978 | 968 |
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 Urness WMA?
From Evansville, go 7 miles S on CSAH 1.
Nearest towns: Brandon (5 miles), Evansville (6 miles), Hoffman (7 miles) and Garfield (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94 and US 52.
What other public land is near Urness WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lake Venus WMA: 91 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Alvstad WMA: 118 acres, 2 miles away
- Schnepf WMA: 91 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Viking WMA: 198 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Red Rock Lake WMA: 167 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Moe WMA: 39 acres, 2.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Urness WMA
Counting Urness WMA itself, 3,046 of the 28,376 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,238 |
| State wildlife management areas | 808 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Urness WMA?
In Douglas County, near Evansville. The DNR's directions: From Evansville, go 7 miles S on CSAH 1.
Which deer permit area is Urness WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 273. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Urness WMA?
3,046 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Urness WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lake Venus WMA (1.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Urness 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.