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WMA · 2026-27
Moylan Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Marshall County.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Moylan Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Moylan Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 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.
Moylan WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Moylan WMA spreads over 1,716 acres of Marshall County. Of 28 wildlife management areas in Marshall County, Moylan WMA is number 12 by acreage. Hunters on Moylan WMA follow DPA 208, which DNR made either-sex for 2026.
The DNR Thief River Falls area wildlife office manages it (thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Moylan WMA record names FmHA federal aid.
Game species: deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse.
- White-tailed Deer
- Black Bear
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Moylan Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Moylan WMA
Moylan WMA has 1 DNR parking point; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moylan WMA | 1,716 | Grygla | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Moylan WMA: From Grygla, go 5 1/2 miles W on SH 89 then 1/2 mile S 2 miles W on SH 219 then 3/4 mile S on Twp Rd
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Moylan WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Moylan WMA, adding 93,448 acres; Sharp WMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp WMA | WMA | 159 | 208 | 1.7 mi | west |
| Eckvoll WMA | WMA | 6,490 | 203 | 6.0 mi | north |
| Espelie WMA | WMA | 3,644 | 111, 208 | 6.2 mi | east |
| Sem WMA | WMA | 2,838 | 111, 208 | 6.6 mi | southeast |
| Valley WMA | WMA | 656 | 101 | 7.2 mi | northeast |
| Elm Lake WMA | WMA | 15,740 | 203 | 8.2 mi | west |
| Reiner WMA | WMA | 121 | 208 | 10 mi | southeast |
| Agassiz NWR | Wildlife refuge | 63,799 | 203 | 10 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Moylan WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Moylan WMA; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| 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.
When you can hunt Moylan WMA
Every dated hunting window for Moylan WMA: 14 species, 23 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 208 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 208 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 208 | 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 12 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Northwest zone | Northwest zone | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Pheasant shooting starts at 9 a.m.; ducks, geese and small game stop at sunset.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Moylan WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 208 (200 series) is either-sex in 2026. Either-sex rules let you take a doe in DPA 208 without a permit.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Testing for CWD is optional in DPA 208. Special WMA rules apply in DPA 208. Area of DPA 208: 378 sq mi. Counties in DPA 208: Marshall and Pennington.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 208 gives up around Moylan WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 208 registered 465 deer in 2025, 14% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 338 | 127 | 465 | 1.23 |
| 2024 | 303 | 106 | 409 | 1.08 |
| 2023 | 228 | 150 | 378 | 1.00 |
| 2022 | 268 | 216 | 484 | 1.28 |
| 2021 | 323 | 227 | 550 | 1.45 |
| 2020 | 328 | 240 | 568 | 1.50 |
| 2019 | 271 | 126 | 397 | 1.05 |
| 2018 | 276 | 157 | 433 | 1.14 |
| 2017 | 250 | 168 | 418 | 1.10 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Moylan WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Moylan WMA is 6.5 mi from Goodridge, the nearest community. Thief River Falls is the bigger town nearby at 8,779 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Grygla. Middle River has the nearest DNR office to Moylan WMA, 19 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodridge | Pennington | 107 | 6.5 mi | south |
| Grygla | Marshall | 171 | 8.7 mi | northeast |
| Holt | Marshall | 87 | 19 mi | west |
| Thief River Falls | Pennington | 8,779 | 20 mi | southwest |
| Middle River | Marshall | 294 | 22 mi | northwest |
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.
County rules that reach Moylan WMA
Our Marshall County list runs to 36 public areas, including Moylan WMA. Bear licenses here come from quota area 12 (12 (100 permits)). Turkey permit area here: 509. Elk zone 10 overlaps Marshall County. The county's nearest wildlife office is Karlstad Area Wildlife Office in Karlstad.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Shooting lines in reach of Moylan Wildlife Management Area
Thief River Rifle Club sits 21 miles from Moylan Wildlife Management Area, closer than any public range on file. Target shooting is off limits here.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Moylan WMA country, seen through a lens
Moylan WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Moylan WMA hours use the NOAA solar formula for the unit's coordinates.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Opens | Deer, bear end | Birds end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:14 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:17 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:48 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:14 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:37 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. | 8:40 p.m. | 8:10 p.m. |
Clock times include Daylight Saving Time until Nov. 1.
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.
Moylan WMA: what hunters usually ask
What size is the Moylan WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,716 acres.
Moylan WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 208, either-sex for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Moylan WMA?
On the Moylan WMA record the game list reads deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and sharp-tailed grouse.
Where do you park at Moylan WMA?
From Grygla, go 5 1/2 miles W on SH 89 then 1/2 mile S 2 miles W on SH 219 then 3/4 mile S on Twp Rd DNR maps 1 parking point.
Who should I contact about Moylan WMA?
Moylan WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Thief River Falls office looks after it.
Is Moylan WMA inside a CWD zone?
Moylan WMA sits in DPA 208, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Moylan WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:47 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:17 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Moylan WMA?
Moylan WMA neighbors on our list: Sharp WMA (1.7 mi), Eckvoll WMA (6.0 mi) and Espelie WMA (6.2 mi).
Moylan WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Moylan WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Moylan WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Moylan WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Moylan WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
Moylan WMA trip checklist from this page
No paper tags in Minnesota: validate the electronic license where the animal falls, then register it on time.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).