Whispering Ridge Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Whispering Ridge Wildlife Management Area is 269 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Renville County, near Delhi, inside Deer Permit Area 281. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,343 deer in DPA 281 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 landWalk-In AccessWhispering Ridge WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 269 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Renville County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 281 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Delhi |
| DNR area office | New Ulm |
| Nearest towns | Delhi (4 mi), Belview (6 mi) and Renville (9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Whispering Ridge WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Whispering Ridge WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Whispering Ridge WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Whispering Ridge WMA?
Whispering Ridge WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 281. The DNR registered 1,343 deer in DPA 281 in 2025, against 1,227 in 2024.
| DPA | Whispering Ridge WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 281 | 269 | 1,343 | 1,227 | 1,156 |
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 Whispering Ridge WMA?
From Delhi travel north on Redwood County Highway 6 for 3.7 miles, at which point the highway crosses the Minnesota River and becomes Renville County Highway 6. After crossing the Minnesota River continue for.35 miles on Renville County Highway 6, after which point the WMA will be on the east (right hand) side of the highway.
Nearest towns: Delhi (4 miles), Belview (6 miles), Renville (9 miles) and Redwood Falls (9 miles).
What other public land is near Whispering Ridge WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Cedar Rock WMA: 947 acres, 2 miles away
- Sacred Heart WMA: 141 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Cold Springs WMA: 259 acres, 4 miles away
- Granite Prairie WMA: 192 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Waukon Rim WMA: 385 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Delhi WMA: 147 acres, 7.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Whispering Ridge WMA
Counting Whispering Ridge WMA itself, 835 of the 24,906 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 835 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Whispering Ridge WMA?
In Renville County, near Delhi. The DNR's directions: From Delhi travel north on Redwood County Highway 6 for 3.7 miles, at which point the highway crosses the Minnesota River and becomes Renville County Highway 6. After crossing the Minnesota River continue for.35 miles on Renville County Highway 6, after which point the WMA will be on the east (right hand) side of the highway.
Which deer permit area is Whispering Ridge WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 281. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Whispering Ridge WMA?
835 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Whispering Ridge WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Cedar Rock WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Whispering Ridge 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.