Vale Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Vale Wildlife Management Area is 299 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Sibley County, near Henderson, inside Deer Permit Area 291. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,896 deer in DPA 291 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 areasVale WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 299 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Sibley County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 291 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Henderson |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Nearest towns | Henderson (2 mi), Le Sueur (6 mi) and Arlington (7 mi) |
What is Vale WMA like?
The Vale WMA is mainly comprised of: Upland and lowland forest types. The north part of this unit is cut off by High Island Creek.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Vale WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, mourning doves and small game for Vale WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Vale WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Vale WMA?
Vale WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 291. The DNR registered 1,896 deer in DPA 291 in 2025, against 1,513 in 2024.
| DPA | Vale WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 291 | 299 | 1,896 | 1,513 | 1,504 |
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 Vale WMA?
From Henderson, go 3/4 mile N on CSAH 6 then 1 1/2 mille NW on Twp Rd.
Wheelchair access is available at the gravel parking lot.
Nearest towns: Henderson (2 miles), Le Sueur (6 miles), Arlington (7 miles) and Green Isle (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 19, US 169 and MN 93.
What other public land is near Vale WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Ney WMA: 613 acres, 2 miles away
- Clark Lake WMA: 33 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Spannaus WMA: 30 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Sigler WMA: 73 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Oak Isle WMA: 91 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Revanche WMA: 114 acres, 7.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Vale WMA
Counting Vale WMA itself, 913 of the 25,045 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 913 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Vale WMA?
In Sibley County, near Henderson. The DNR's directions: From Henderson, go 3/4 mile N on CSAH 6 then 1 1/2 mille NW on Twp Rd.
Which deer permit area is Vale WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 291. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Vale WMA?
913 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Vale WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Ney WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Vale 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.