Waldbillig Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Waldbillig Wildlife Management Area is 198 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Koochiching County, near Pelland, inside Deer Permit Areas 107 and 104. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 795 deer in DPA 107 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 landOther federal landWaldbillig WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 198 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Koochiching County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 107, DPA 104 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Pelland |
| DNR area office | Grand Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Littlefork (9 mi), International Falls (18 mi) and Big Falls (18 mi) |
What is Waldbillig WMA like?
This 190 acre WMA adjoins the Big Fork River and is primarily comprised of various forest types. Most of the hardwoods are young while the conifers are nearing maturity. The management objective is to maintain forest habitat diversity.
The land for this WMA was donated by Waldbillig family. Access is good from the county road and the area is posted. Koochiching County has thousands of acres of public land which is open to hunting and other recreational activities.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Waldbillig WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Waldbillig WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Waldbillig WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Waldbillig WMA?
Waldbillig WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 795 deer in DPA 107 in 2025, against 761 in 2024.
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 Waldbillig WMA?
From Pelland, go 7 1/2 miles west on state highway 11, then 4 1/2 miles south on CSAH 1.
Nearest towns: Littlefork (9 miles), International Falls (18 miles), Big Falls (18 miles) and Ranier (20 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 11.
What other public land is near Waldbillig WMA?
Public land within 3 miles of Waldbillig WMA
Counting Waldbillig WMA itself, 12,109 of the 23,148 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (52.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 11,910 |
| State wildlife management areas | 199 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Waldbillig WMA?
In Koochiching County, near Pelland. The DNR's directions: From Pelland, go 7 1/2 miles west on state highway 11, then 4 1/2 miles south on CSAH 1.
Which deer permit area is Waldbillig WMA in?
DPA 107 (132 acres) and DPA 104 (65 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Waldbillig WMA?
12,109 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Waldbillig WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1.
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Waldbillig 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.