Winter Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Winter Wildlife Management Area is 975 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Pipestone County, near Pipestone, inside Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and small game for it. Hunters registered 472 deer in DPA 294 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 AccessWinter WMACounty lineHighway
| Size | 975 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Pipestone County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 294 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Pipestone |
| DNR area office | Slayton-Talcot Lake |
| Nearest towns | Holland (8 mi), Lake Benton (8 mi) and Pipestone (10 mi) |
What is Winter WMA like?
This East subunit is a small grassland. This West subunit is a large grassland with some native prairie remnants, woody cover plantings, and food plots.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Winter WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants and small game for Winter WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Winter WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Winter WMA?
Winter WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 294. The DNR registered 472 deer in DPA 294 in 2025, against 462 in 2024.
| DPA | Winter WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 294 | 975 | 472 | 462 | 461 |
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 Winter WMA?
From Pipestone, go 8 miles north on State Highway 75, then 2 miles west on township road, then 0.9 miles north on County Road 76. From Pipestone, go 8 miles north on State Highway 75, then 2 miles west on township road, then 0.5 miles north on County Road 76. From Pipestone travel 11 miles north on US HWY 75 and three miles west on CSAH 10.
Nearest towns: Holland (8 miles), Lake Benton (8 miles), Pipestone (10 miles) and Ruthton (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 75.
What other public land is near Winter WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Troy WMA: 55 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Altona WMA: 636 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Hole-In-Mountain WMA: 638 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Schindel WMA: 156 acres, 5 miles away
- Coteau Pit WMA: 81 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Holland WMA: 39 acres, 9.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Winter WMA
Counting Winter WMA itself, 1,154 of the 31,631 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,154 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Winter WMA?
In Pipestone County, near Pipestone. The DNR's directions: From Pipestone, go 8 miles north on State Highway 75, then 2 miles west on township road, then 0.9 miles north on County Road 76. From Pipestone, go 8 miles north on State Highway 75, then 2 miles west on township road, then 0.5 miles north on County Road 76. From Pipestone travel 11 miles north on US HWY 75 and three miles west on CSAH 10.
Which deer permit area is Winter WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 294. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Winter WMA?
1,154 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Winter WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Troy WMA (1.6 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Winter 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.