Home › Minnesota › Public land › Elmo WMA
WMA · DPA 240
Hunting on Elmo Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Otter Tail County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Elmo Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Elmo Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
The record behind Elmo WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Elmo WMA is 1,508 acres, in Otter Tail County. Otter Tail County has 37 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 2nd largest. Deer rules come from DPA 240, a 3-deer limit area in 2026.
Fergus Falls is the DNR wildlife area office for Elmo WMA (fergusfalls.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records Pittman-Robertson funding for Elmo WMA.
The WMA page says: This unit offers excellent opportunities for deer and waterfowl hunting. Because of its relatively larger size, this unit also offers opportunities to find some solitude while hunting remote corners.
Species named: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Elmo Wildlife Management Area
Elmo WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Elmo WMA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Regular seasons |
| Vehicles | Designated roads, lots |
| Target shooting | Not allowed |
| Guns in transit | Cased, unloaded |
| Camping | Designated or permit |
| Portable stands, blinds | Remove daily |
| Overnight stands, northwest | Nov 1-Dec 31 |
| Dogs | Leash Apr 16-Jul 14 |
| Drones | Not allowed |
| Gear left overnight | Not allowed |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
DPA 240 dates for Elmo WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 240 3-deer limit; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Up to 3 deer can come out of DPA 240 this season, using bonus permits for the extra antlerless deer.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
No mandatory CWD sampling in DPA 240; testing is optional. DPA 240 takes in 694 square miles. Part of Otter Tail, Todd and Wadena falls in DPA 240.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Elmo WMA
45 season windows for 20 species reach Elmo WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 240 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 240 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 240 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 240 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota area 45 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring archery-only | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period A | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period B | Statewide | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period C | Statewide | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period D | Statewide | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period E | Statewide | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period F | Statewide | May 19, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| Rabbits, hares | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbit | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal season | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (north) | North furbearer zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Dec 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (south) | South furbearer zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Spring light goose | Statewide | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Elmo WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Elmo WMA, with 2 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmo WMA | 1,508 | Henning | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Elmo WMA: From Henning, go 2 miles S on CSAH 65 then 5 miles E on CO RD 134. There are many access points to Elmo WMA and the adjacent Inman WMA to the north, as well as 5 parking areas. Access from the east side is via 210th St. off of Highway 29, and access from the south on 540th Ave. north of Almora, and north on 555th Ave off of Highway 40,
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Elmo WMA
The closest other public land to Elmo WMA is Baumann WPA, 1.4 mi to the northwest; the table lists 8 neighbors with 3,360 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baumann WPA | WPA | 489 | 240 | 1.4 mi | northwest |
| Almora WMA | WMA | 164 | 240 | 2.0 mi | southwest |
| Inman (Wunderlich) WMA | WMA | 1,352 | 240 | 2.0 mi | north |
| Rokes WPA | WPA | 601 | 240 | 3.2 mi | north |
| Wrightstown WMA | WMA | 221 | 240 | 5.2 mi | east |
| Lake Sixteen WMA | WMA | 119 | 240 | 6.4 mi | west |
| Folden Woods Marsh WMA | WMA | 320 | 240 | 6.8 mi | southwest |
| Starkey WPA | WPA | 94 | 240 | 7.0 mi | south |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Elmo WMA
The town nearest Elmo WMA is Henning at 5.9 mi. Parkers Prairie (1,029 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Henning as the nearest town on its unit page. Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office (Fergus Falls) is the closest DNR office, 35 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henning | Otter Tail | 857 | 5.9 mi | northwest |
| Parkers Prairie | Otter Tail | 1,029 | 8.0 mi | south |
| Deer Creek | Otter Tail | 332 | 8.5 mi | north |
| Vining | Otter Tail | 59 | 9.0 mi | west |
| Urbank | Otter Tail | 48 | 13 mi | southwest |
Towns from the 2024 Census gazetteer and population estimates; offices and businesses from services.json (DNR and business listings, chain stores and license agents left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 28, 2026.
Elmo WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 240 totals, which include all the land around Elmo WMA: 5,068 deer in 2025 against 4,457 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,347 | 2,721 | 5,068 | 7.89 |
| 2024 | 2,360 | 2,097 | 4,457 | 6.94 |
| 2023 | 1,876 | 2,214 | 4,090 | 6.36 |
| 2022 | 1,915 | 2,556 | 4,471 | 6.96 |
| 2021 | 2,463 | 2,560 | 5,023 | 7.82 |
| 2020 | 2,413 | 2,676 | 5,089 | 7.92 |
| 2019 | 2,351 | 2,690 | 5,041 | 7.84 |
| 2018 | 2,071 | 2,579 | 4,650 | 7.24 |
| 2017 | 1,999 | 2,272 | 4,271 | 6.65 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Elmo WMA
Otter Tail County holds 164 public hunting records on this site; Elmo WMA is one of them. Bear permit area 45 covers part of Otter Tail County (45 (700 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 507 and 506. Wildlife office for Otter Tail County: Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Elmo WMA, Gilmore Waterfowl Production Area and Holmstad Creek Aquatic Management Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Elmo WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Elmo WMA, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 7:28 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:12 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:30 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:10 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:40 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:04 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:36 p.m. | 8:06 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
Hours rule from the DNR booklet shooting hours page; sun times calculated for the unit point (NOAA method, Central Time); checked October 28, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Elmo Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Elmo Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Henning Rifle Range, 3 miles off. Sight in elsewhere: the area rules bar target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Elmo WMA and country like it, in photos
Elmo WMA FAQ for 2026-27
What are the CWD rules on Elmo WMA?
CWD status: DPA 240 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Elmo WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:40 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Elmo WMA?
Closest on the map: Baumann WPA (1.4 mi), Almora WMA (2.0 mi) and Inman (Wunderlich) WMA (2.0 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Elmo WMA?
No overnight gear on Elmo WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Elmo WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Elmo WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Elmo WMA a big piece of land?
About 1,508 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Elmo WMA?
Deer permit area 240; the 2026 designation is 3-deer limit. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Elmo WMA?
The record for Elmo WMA lists deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl and wild turkey.
What are the directions to Elmo WMA?
From Henning, go 2 miles S on CSAH 65 then 5 miles E on CO RD 134. 2 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Elmo WMA?
The Fergus Falls office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Elmo WMA.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).