Wesley E. Olson Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Wesley E. Olson Wildlife Management Area is 198 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Big Stone County, near Clinton, inside Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and ducks and geese for it. Hunters registered 495 deer in DPA 274 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasWesley E. Olson WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 198 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Big Stone County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 274 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants and ducks and geese |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Clinton |
| DNR area office | Appleton |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Clinton (2 mi), Graceville (5 mi) and Johnson (7 mi) |
What can you hunt on Wesley E. Olson WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and ducks and geese for Wesley E. Olson WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Wesley E. Olson WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Wesley E. Olson WMA: A majority of this WMA (as posted) is sanctuary and closed to all trespass. Click on the link for the Visitor Map on the upper left-hand side of this page for details.
How many deer are taken around Wesley E. Olson WMA?
Wesley E. Olson WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 274. The DNR registered 495 deer in DPA 274 in 2025, against 453 in 2024.
| DPA | Wesley E. Olson WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 274 | 198 | 495 | 453 | 402 |
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 Wesley E. Olson WMA?
From Clinton, go 1.75 miles N on US 75.
Nearest towns: Clinton (2 miles), Graceville (5 miles), Johnson (7 miles) and Barry (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75.
What other public land is near Wesley E. Olson WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Malta WMA: 64 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Thielke Lake WMA: 1,256 acres, 4.1 miles away
- West Toqua WMA: 44 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Freed WMA: 40 acres, 5.3 miles away
- David H. Steen WMA: 184 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Skoog WMA: 189 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wesley E. Olson WMA
Counting Wesley E. Olson WMA itself, 732 of the 22,556 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 534 |
| State wildlife management areas | 198 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wesley E. Olson WMA?
In Big Stone County, near Clinton. The DNR's directions: From Clinton, go 1.75 miles N on US 75.
Which deer permit area is Wesley E. Olson WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 274. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Wesley E. Olson WMA?
732 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wesley E. Olson WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Malta WMA (3.3 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Wesley E. Olson 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.