Vangsness Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Vangsness Wildlife Management Area is 325 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Norman County, near Twin Valley, inside Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 686 deer in DPA 666 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 areasVangsness WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 325 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Norman County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Twin Valley |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Twin Valley (2 mi), Ulen (10 mi) and Gary (10 mi) |
What is Vangsness WMA like?
This unit is in an inter-beach area of glacial Lake Agassiz. The 260-acre sub-unit is ¼ mile from the 55-acre sub-unit. Wet prairie with lowland grasses and sedges; the larger sub-unit contains a seepage subtype dominated by shrubs.
Along with the birds and mammals normally associated with wet prairies, both sub-units contain greater prairie-chicken booming grounds (courting areas).
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Vangsness WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese and small game for Vangsness WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Vangsness WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Vangsness WMA?
Vangsness WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Vangsness WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 325 | 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 Vangsness WMA?
From Twin Valley, go 1 m. S on SH #32, 1 m. E on TWP RD/160th Ave., ½ m. S on a trail to the larger sub-unit; 1 m. E on the TWP RD, 1 m. S on CSAH #164, ½ m. W to the smaller sub-unit.
Nearest towns: Twin Valley (2 miles), Ulen (10 miles), Gary (10 miles) and Borup (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32, MN 113 and MN 200.
What other public land is near Vangsness WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Home WMA: 95 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Syre WMA: 510 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Neal WMA: 1,851 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Twin Valley WMA: 1,627 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Cupido WMA: 1,196 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Dalby WMA: 116 acres, 4.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Vangsness WMA
Counting Vangsness WMA itself, 482 of the 27,017 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 434 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 48 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Vangsness WMA?
In Norman County, near Twin Valley. The DNR's directions: From Twin Valley, go 1 m. S on SH #32, 1 m. E on TWP RD/160th Ave., ½ m. S on a trail to the larger sub-unit; 1 m. E on the TWP RD, 1 m. S on CSAH #164, ½ m. W to the smaller sub-unit.
Which deer permit area is Vangsness WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Vangsness WMA?
482 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Vangsness WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Home WMA (0.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Vangsness 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.