Whitewater Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Whitewater Wildlife Management Area is 27,469 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Winona, Wabasha and Olmsted counties, near Elba, inside Deer Permit Area 644. 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 1,086 deer in DPA 644 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 areasState parksCounty, city and regional landWhitewater WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 27,469 acres in 13 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Winona County, Wabasha County and Olmsted County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 644 |
| 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) | Elba |
| DNR area office | Whitewater WMA |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Elba (next to it), Altura (next to it) and Utica (2 mi) |
What is Whitewater WMA like?
Mixed hardwoods of oak, hickory, maple, basswood and walnut cover the steep hillsides of this wildlife area. Bluff prairies dot south-facing slopes while trout streams dissect the valley floor. Seventeen man-made and natural wetlands dapple the valley.
Management emphasis is to maintain a rich, diverse interspersion of numerous communities throughout the wildlife area. Commercial timber sales, prescribed burning, water level manipulation, food plot and nesting cover development practices are utilized. Recreation is dominated by hunting and fishing while wetlands, forest and grassland communities grant wildlife watchers the chance to see sandhill cranes, ducks, geese, swans, black terns, eagles and otter.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Whitewater 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 Whitewater WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Whitewater WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Whitewater WMA: There is a 2,300 acre State Game Refuge inside the Whitewater WMA. It is closed to deer hunting and waterfowl hunting. It is however, open to small game hunting, wild turkey hunting, and trapping. A permit, issued by the Wildlife Manager, is needed for trapping, but not for small game or turkey hunting.
Whitewater WMA is one of the WMAs where every trapper needs a permit from the area wildlife manager.
Whitewater WMA has accessible duck or goose hunting blinds for hunters with mobility issues.
How many deer are taken around Whitewater WMA?
Whitewater WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 644. The DNR registered 1,086 deer in DPA 644 in 2025, against 1,014 in 2024.
| DPA | Whitewater WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 644 | 27,469 | 1,086 | 1,014 | 977 |
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 Whitewater WMA?
The Whitewater Wildlife Management Area office is located 2 miles north of Elba, Minnesota, on State Highway 74.
Nearest towns: Elba (next to it), Altura (next to it), Utica (2 miles) and Minneiska (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61, MN 74, US 14, MN 248 and I-90.
What other public land is near Whitewater WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Mc Carthy Lake WMA: 3,264 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Thorpe WMA: 143 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Vermilya WMA: 198 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Pool 4 WMA: 142 acres, 9 miles away
- Haverhill WMA: 398 acres, 9.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Whitewater WMA
Counting Whitewater WMA itself, 37,345 of the 157,235 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (23.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 28,601 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 5,408 |
| State parks | 1,948 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,387 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Whitewater WMA?
In Winona, Wabasha and Olmsted counties, near Elba. The DNR's directions: The Whitewater Wildlife Management Area office is located 2 miles north of Elba, Minnesota, on State Highway 74.
Which deer permit area is Whitewater WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 644. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Whitewater WMA?
37,345 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Whitewater WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Mc Carthy Lake WMA (1.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Whitewater 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.
Minnesota hunting Winona County Wabasha County Olmsted County DPA 644