Wambach Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Wambach Wildlife Management Area is 1,287 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Mahnomen County, near Mahnomen, inside Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 224 deer in DPA 297 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 areasWambach WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,287 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Mahnomen County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 297 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Mahnomen |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Bejou (2 mi), Riverland (4 mi) and Mahnomen (4 mi) |
What can you hunt on Wambach WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Wambach WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Wambach WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Wambach WMA?
Wambach WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 297. The DNR registered 224 deer in DPA 297 in 2025, against 204 in 2024.
| DPA | Wambach WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 297 | 1,287 | 224 | 204 | 145 |
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 Wambach WMA?
From Mahnomen, go 5 miles N on US 59 then 1 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
Nearest towns: Bejou (2 miles), Riverland (4 miles), Mahnomen (4 miles) and Beaulieu (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59 and MN 200.
What other public land is near Wambach WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Rush WMA: 813 acres, 1 mile away
- Gregory WMA: 617 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Loncrace WMA: 253 acres, 2 miles away
- Warren WMA: 68 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Bejou WMA: 1,936 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Vanose WMA: 2,497 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wambach WMA
Counting Wambach WMA itself, 4,277 of the 35,491 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,900 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 722 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 655 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wambach WMA?
In Mahnomen County, near Mahnomen. The DNR's directions: From Mahnomen, go 5 miles N on US 59 then 1 1/2 miles E on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is Wambach WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 297. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Wambach WMA?
4,277 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wambach WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Rush WMA (1 mile).
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, Wambach 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.