Younger Brothers Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Younger Brothers Wildlife Management Area is 349 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Watonwan County, near Madelia, inside Deer Permit Area 296. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 607 deer in DPA 296 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 areasYounger Brothers WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 349 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Watonwan County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 296 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Madelia |
| DNR area office | Windom |
| Nearest towns | La Salle (2 mi), Madelia (4 mi) and Hanska (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Younger Brothers WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Younger Brothers WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Younger Brothers WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Younger Brothers WMA?
Younger Brothers WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 296. The DNR registered 607 deer in DPA 296 in 2025, against 642 in 2024.
| DPA | Younger Brothers WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 296 | 349 | 607 | 642 | 642 |
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 Younger Brothers WMA?
From Madelia, go 1.4 miles S and W on CSAH 24, then 2.5 miles W on CR 116, then 0.5 miles N and 0.25 miles W on Township Road. From La Salle Head east 2.5 miles on County Highway 3. Your destination will be on the south side of the road.
Access to the unit is good. Two field approaches are located on the unit.
Nearest towns: La Salle (2 miles), Madelia (4 miles), Hanska (6 miles) and St. James (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 60, MN 15 and MN 30.
What other public land is near Younger Brothers WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Tierney WMA: 55 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Southeast Hanska WMA: 125 acres, 4.4 miles away
- W. R. Taylor Memorial WMA: 218 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Lewisville WMA: 94 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Bergdahl WMA: 181 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Emerson WMA: 119 acres, 6.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Younger Brothers WMA
Counting Younger Brothers WMA itself, 352 of the 28,175 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 352 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Younger Brothers WMA?
In Watonwan County, near Madelia. The DNR's directions: From Madelia, go 1.4 miles S and W on CSAH 24, then 2.5 miles W on CR 116, then 0.5 miles N and 0.25 miles W on Township Road. From La Salle Head east 2.5 miles on County Highway 3. Your destination will be on the south side of the road.
Which deer permit area is Younger Brothers WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 296. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Younger Brothers WMA?
352 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Younger Brothers WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Tierney WMA (4.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Younger Brothers 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.