Winnebago Creek Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Winnebago Creek Wildlife Management Area is 174 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Houston County, near New Albin, Iowa, inside Deer Permit Area 649. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,806 deer in DPA 649 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 areasWinnebago Creek WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 174 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Houston County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 649 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | New Albin, Iowa |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Nearest towns | Eitzen (7 mi), Caledonia (12 mi) and Brownsville (13 mi) |
What is Winnebago Creek WMA like?
Mixed hardwoods of oak, hickory, maple, basswood and walnut cover the steep hillsides. Bluff prairies dot south facing slopes while a trout stream (Winnebago Creek) dissects the valley floor.
Mangement emphasis to maintain a rich, diverse interspersion of numerous communities throughout area. Timber management, prescribed burning, food plots, nesting cover maintenance practices are utilized. Parking lots exist on adjacent State Forest land.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Winnebago Creek WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Winnebago Creek WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Winnebago Creek WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Winnebago Creek WMA?
Winnebago Creek WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 649. The DNR registered 3,806 deer in DPA 649 in 2025, against 3,455 in 2024.
| DPA | Winnebago Creek WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 649 | 174 | 3,806 | 3,455 | 3,383 |
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 Winnebago Creek WMA?
From New Albin, Iowa, go 1 mile W on CSAH 5.
North off CSAH 5 or south and east through State Forest lands.
Nearest towns: Eitzen (7 miles), Caledonia (12 miles), Brownsville (13 miles) and Spring Grove (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 26.
What other public land is near Winnebago Creek WMA?
Public land within 3 miles of Winnebago Creek WMA
Counting Winnebago Creek WMA itself, 3,995 of the 23,795 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,470 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,351 |
| State wildlife management areas | 174 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Winnebago Creek WMA?
In Houston County, near New Albin, Iowa. The DNR's directions: From New Albin, Iowa, go 1 mile W on CSAH 5.
Which deer permit area is Winnebago Creek WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 649. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Winnebago Creek WMA?
3,995 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Winnebago Creek WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1.
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, Winnebago Creek 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.