Wild Rose Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Wild Rose Wildlife Management Area is 199 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Chisago County, near Rush City, inside Deer Permit Area 225. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 5,598 deer in DPA 225 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 landState parksWild Rose WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 199 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Chisago County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 225 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Rush City |
| DNR area office | Cambridge |
| Nearest towns | Harris (2 mi), Rush City (4 mi) and North Branch (8 mi) |
What can you hunt on Wild Rose WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Wild Rose WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Wild Rose WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Wild Rose WMA?
Wild Rose WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 225. The DNR registered 5,598 deer in DPA 225 in 2025, against 5,038 in 2024.
| DPA | Wild Rose WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 225 | 199 | 5,598 | 5,038 | 4,326 |
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 Wild Rose WMA?
From Rush City, go 4 miles S on CSAH 30.
Nearest towns: Harris (2 miles), Rush City (4 miles), North Branch (8 miles) and Rock Creek (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35 and US 61.
What other public land is near Wild Rose WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Rush Lake WMA: 676 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Janet Johnson Memorial WMA: 787 acres, 8.3 miles away
- Nessel WMA: 72 acres, 8.8 miles away
- Rock Marsh WMA: 1,159 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wild Rose WMA
Counting Wild Rose WMA itself, 740 of the 22,967 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 |
|---|---|
| State parks | 487 |
| State wildlife management areas | 202 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 51 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wild Rose WMA?
In Chisago County, near Rush City. The DNR's directions: From Rush City, go 4 miles S on CSAH 30.
Which deer permit area is Wild Rose WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 225. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Wild Rose WMA?
740 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wild Rose WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Rush Lake WMA (3.2 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, Wild Rose 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.