Zion Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Zion Wildlife Management Area is 214 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Stearns County, near Lake Henry, inside Deer Permit Area 218. The DNR's WMA data lists pheasants and ducks and geese for it. Hunters registered 3,769 deer in DPA 218 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 areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasZion WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 214 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Stearns County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 218 |
| DNR lists for hunting | pheasants and ducks and geese |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Lake Henry |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Lake Henry (3 mi), Paynesville (3 mi) and Regal (4 mi) |
What is Zion WMA like?
This 220 acre WMA has approximately 80 acres of cool season grassland, 10 acres of smaller scattered wetlands, 5 acres of woody cover, and approximately 120 acres of a large cattail dominated wetland. Future management may include prairie conversion.
This WMA typifies prairie pothole country. Small scattered satellite wetlands are interspersed in lush grasslands adjacent to a large 120 acre type 3 wetland. This is another great WMA to watch spring (and fall) migrations of birds.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Zion WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists pheasants and ducks and geese for Zion WMA. Each follows the statewide season.
What are the rules on Zion WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Zion WMA?
Zion WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 218. The DNR registered 3,769 deer in DPA 218 in 2025, against 3,553 in 2024.
| DPA | Zion WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 218 | 214 | 3,769 | 3,553 | 3,092 |
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 Zion WMA?
3 miles SE of Lake Henry within Section 36, T123N, R33W and Section 31, T123N, R32W.
Nearest towns: Lake Henry (3 miles), Paynesville (3 miles), Regal (4 miles) and Roscoe (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 23, MN 4 and MN 55.
What other public land is near Zion WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Roseville WMA: 64 acres, next to it
- Salem Comm Prairie WMA: 40 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Spirit Prairie WMA: 173 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Regal Flats WMA: 508 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Miller Spring Lea Farm WMA: 73 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Partners WMA: 119 acres, 3.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Zion WMA
Counting Zion WMA itself, 1,302 of the 23,574 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 838 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 464 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Zion WMA?
In Stearns County, near Lake Henry. The DNR's directions: 3 miles SE of Lake Henry within Section 36, T123N, R33W and Section 31, T123N, R32W.
Which deer permit area is Zion WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 218. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Zion WMA?
1,302 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Zion WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Roseville WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Zion 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.