Zim Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Zim Wildlife Management Area is 910 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in St. Louis County, near Cotton, inside Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 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 landOther federal landZim WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 910 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | St. Louis County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 178 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Cotton |
| DNR area office | Tower |
| Nearest towns | Meadowlands (9 mi), Iron Junction (13 mi) and Leonidas (17 mi) |
What is Zim WMA like?
Lowland brush & grassland mixed with aspen islands.
Sharp-tailed grouse management is emphasized on this unit.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Zim WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Zim WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Zim WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Zim WMA?
Zim WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 178. The DNR registered 1,521 deer in DPA 178 in 2025, against 1,392 in 2024.
| DPA | Zim WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 178 | 910 | 1,521 | 1,392 | 1,272 |
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 Zim WMA?
5 miles west of Cotton on St Louis Co 52 then 4 miles North on Co 7. Parking lot on East side of highway. 5 miles west of Cotton on St Louis Co 52 then.3 miles North on Co 7. No parking lot.
Nearest towns: Meadowlands (9 miles), Iron Junction (13 miles), Leonidas (17 miles) and Eveleth (17 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 53.
What other public land is near Zim WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sax WMA: 944 acres, next to it
- Fermoy WMA: 503 acres, next to it
- Little Whiteface River WMA: 441 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Anchor Lake WMA: 216 acres, 7.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Zim WMA
Counting Zim WMA itself, 11,344 of the 39,484 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (28.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 8,946 |
| State wildlife management areas | 2,398 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Zim WMA?
In St. Louis County, near Cotton. The DNR's directions: 5 miles west of Cotton on St Louis Co 52 then 4 miles North on Co 7. Parking lot on East side of highway. 5 miles west of Cotton on St Louis Co 52 then.3 miles North on Co 7. No parking lot.
Which deer permit area is Zim WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 178. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Zim WMA?
11,344 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Zim WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sax WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Zim 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.