Valley Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Valley Wildlife Management Area is 656 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Marshall County, near Grygla, inside Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 759 deer in DPA 101 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 landValley WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 656 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marshall County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 101 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Grygla |
| DNR area office | Thief River Falls |
| Nearest towns | Grygla (3 mi), Goodridge (13 mi) and Middle River (22 mi) |
What can you hunt on Valley WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, sharp-tailed grouse, bear and small game for Valley WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Valley WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Valley WMA?
Valley WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 101. The DNR registered 759 deer in DPA 101 in 2025, against 688 in 2024.
| DPA | Valley WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 101 | 656 | 759 | 688 | 594 |
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 Valley WMA?
From Grygla, go 2 1/2 miles W on SH 89 then 2 1/2 miles N on Co Rd 53 then 1 mile W on Twp Rd.
Nearest towns: Grygla (3 miles), Goodridge (13 miles), Middle River (22 miles) and Holt (22 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 89 and MN 219.
What other public land is near Valley WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Espelie WMA: 3,644 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Eckvoll WMA: 6,491 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Grygla WMA: 3,444 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Moylan WMA: 1,715 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Wapiti WMA: 31,755 acres, 5 miles away
- Willow-Run WMA: 3,564 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Valley WMA
Counting Valley WMA itself, 2,793 of the 29,462 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,793 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Valley WMA?
In Marshall County, near Grygla. The DNR's directions: From Grygla, go 2 1/2 miles W on SH 89 then 2 1/2 miles N on Co Rd 53 then 1 mile W on Twp Rd.
Which deer permit area is Valley WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 101. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Valley WMA?
2,793 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Valley WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Espelie WMA (1.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Valley 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.