Woodland Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Woodland Wildlife Management Area is 723 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Wright County, near Montrose, inside Deer Permit Area 685. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it.
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 areasCounty, city and regional landWoodland WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 723 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Wright County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 685 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Montrose |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Montrose (next to it), Waverly (3 mi) and Delano (5 mi) |
What is Woodland WMA like?
This WMA consists of a 500 acre open water cattail dominated wetland surrounded by upland cool season grasses with some brushy components. This area is of high importance as a spring and fall waterfowl use area.
Water control capabilities allow for water level management of the wetland. This is an excellent area to view spring and fall bird migrations. Water access is limited to a NE parking lot and an east parking lot where a longer boat carry/drag is necessary.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Woodland WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Woodland WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Woodland WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Woodland WMA?
Woodland WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 685.
| DPA | Woodland WMA acres in it |
|---|---|
| DPA 685 | 723 |
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 Woodland WMA?
1 mile SE of Montrose within Sections 1 and 12, T118N, R26W.
Nearest towns: Montrose (next to it), Waverly (3 miles), Delano (5 miles) and Watertown (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 25 and US 12.
What other public land is near Woodland WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Malardi Lake WMA: 125 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Robina Lake WMA: 197 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Grass Lake WMA: 478 acres, 10 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Woodland WMA
Counting Woodland WMA itself, 967 of the 27,601 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 870 |
| County, city and regional land | 97 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Woodland WMA?
In Wright County, near Montrose. The DNR's directions: 1 mile SE of Montrose within Sections 1 and 12, T118N, R26W.
Which deer permit area is Woodland WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 685. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Woodland WMA?
967 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Woodland WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 3 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Malardi Lake WMA (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Woodland 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.