Walnut Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Walnut Lake Wildlife Management Area is 2,913 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Faribault County, near Wells, inside Deer Permit Area 253. 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 854 deer in DPA 253 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 areasWalnut Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,913 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Faribault County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 253 |
| 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) | Wells |
| DNR area office | Nicollet |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Walters (5 mi), Bricelyn (5 mi) and Wells (5 mi) |
What is Walnut Lake WMA like?
A restored prairie wetland complex with an upland and lowland forest component.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Walnut Lake 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 Walnut Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Walnut Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Walnut Lake WMA: South Walnut Lake has a posted limit of 10 HP or less motor usage. A posted restricted shooting zone is found on the Walnut Lake WMA "Zieman Tract" in the South Portion of the WMA in the SE of the SE, Brush Creek Township Section 14-T102-R25. A posted restricted shooting zone is found on the Walnut Lake WMA Johnson Tract in the West Portion of the WMA in Brush Creek Township in the NW of the SE Section 3-T102-R25.
How many deer are taken around Walnut Lake WMA?
Walnut Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 253. The DNR registered 854 deer in DPA 253 in 2025, against 785 in 2024.
| DPA | Walnut Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 253 | 2,913 | 854 | 785 | 845 |
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 Walnut Lake WMA?
From Wells, go 5 1/2 miles S on SH 22 then 2 miles W on US 16.
Nearest towns: Walters (5 miles), Bricelyn (5 miles), Wells (5 miles) and Frost (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-90, MN 22 and MN 109.
What other public land is near Walnut Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Save the Wetlands WMA: 124 acres, 3 miles away
- Wells WMA: 27 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Mansfield WMA: 77 acres, 7.6 miles away
- Brush Creek WMA: 155 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Walnut Lake WMA
Counting Walnut Lake WMA itself, 2,964 of the 43,883 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,964 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Walnut Lake WMA?
In Faribault County, near Wells. The DNR's directions: From Wells, go 5 1/2 miles S on SH 22 then 2 miles W on US 16.
Which deer permit area is Walnut Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 253. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Walnut Lake WMA?
2,964 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Walnut Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Save the Wetlands WMA (3 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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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, Walnut Lake 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.