Wold Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Wold Wildlife Management Area is 425 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near McGregor, inside Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and bear for it. Hunters registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 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 landWold WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 425 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 171 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and bear |
| Nearest town (DNR) | McGregor |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Nearest towns | Palisade (6 mi), McGregor (10 mi) and Tamarack (13 mi) |
What is Wold WMA like?
This WMA is a mix of upland and lowland timber types. Tamarack, black spruce, cedar and black ash types make up the lowland areas. While the uplands are aspen, birch, and balsam fir. There are beaver ponds on west portion of the unit.
The purpose of this WMA is to provide wintering areas for deer. Wolves, fisher, mink, bear, deer, great horned owl, raven and black-capped chickadee may use this WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Wold WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and bear for Wold WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Wold WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Wold WMA?
Wold WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 171. The DNR registered 1,165 deer in DPA 171 in 2025, against 1,068 in 2024.
| DPA | Wold WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 171 | 425 | 1,165 | 1,068 | 819 |
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 Wold WMA?
From McGregor go 10 miles N. on Hwy. 65, 2 miles W. on Grouse Street. Most of the unit is on N. side of road.
Nearest towns: Palisade (6 miles), McGregor (10 miles), Tamarack (13 miles) and Wright (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 65 and MN 232.
What other public land is near Wold WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sandy Lake Resevoir WMA: 24 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Roberts-Wickstrom WMA: 786 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Willowsippi WMA: 1,693 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Grayling Marsh WMA: 9,960 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Gun Lake WMA: 830 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Mcgregor WMA: 651 acres, 8.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wold WMA
Counting Wold WMA itself, 2,109 of the 26,423 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,682 |
| State wildlife management areas | 426 |
| State parks | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wold WMA?
In Aitkin County, near McGregor. The DNR's directions: From McGregor go 10 miles N. on Hwy. 65, 2 miles W. on Grouse Street. Most of the unit is on N. side of road.
Which deer permit area is Wold WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 171. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Wold WMA?
2,109 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wold WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sandy Lake Resevoir WMA (2.9 miles).
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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, Wold 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.