Woross Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Woross Wildlife Management Area is 620 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Aitkin County, near McGrath, inside Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 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 areasWoross WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 620 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Aitkin County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 155 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | McGrath |
| DNR area office | Aitkin |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | McGregor (10 mi), McGrath (14 mi) and Tamarack (15 mi) |
What is Woross WMA like?
This WMA is old farm fields mixed with upland forest types of aspen, birch and oak. The Rice River runs through this unit. Lower areas on the unit are grassland or brush mixed with pockets of tamarack.
This WMA 's purpose is to provide habitat for deer, bear, ruffed grouse, and woodcock. There are additional state forest and county administered lands to the west of the unit. Deer, bear, woodcock, ruffed grouse, otter, wolves, mink, Canada geese, hooded mergansers, tree swallows, and hairy woodpeckers may use this WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Woross WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Woross WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Woross WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Woross WMA: Please do not park along the narrow township road to the north of the unit, since there is frequent farm equipment traffic along it.
How many deer are taken around Woross WMA?
Woross WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 155. The DNR registered 1,134 deer in DPA 155 in 2025, against 937 in 2024.
| DPA | Woross WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 155 | 620 | 1,134 | 937 | 781 |
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 Woross WMA?
From McGrath go 10 miles N. on Hwy. 65. 1 mile W. on 310th Lane. Unit is on S. side of road.
There are 2 parking lots on the north end of the WMA. Wheelchair access limited to parking areas.
Nearest towns: McGregor (10 miles), McGrath (14 miles), Tamarack (15 miles) and Denham (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 65 and MN 27.
What other public land is near Woross WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Jewett WMA: 103 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Kimberly Marsh WMA: 10,564 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Swamp Lake WMA: 28 acres, 6.6 miles away
- Pliny WMA: 704 acres, 8.8 miles away
- Lawler WMA: 235 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Woross WMA
Counting Woross WMA itself, 6,946 of the 26,907 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (25.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 5,995 |
| State wildlife management areas | 622 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 329 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Woross WMA?
In Aitkin County, near McGrath. The DNR's directions: From McGrath go 10 miles N. on Hwy. 65. 1 mile W. on 310th Lane. Unit is on S. side of road.
Which deer permit area is Woross WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 155. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Woross WMA?
6,946 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Woross WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 5 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Jewett WMA (5.1 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Minnesota are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Woross 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.