Home › Minnesota › Public land › Thielke Lake WMA
Public hunting · WMA
Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area hunting, season by season
1,257 acres of public land open to hunters in Big Stone County, with DPA 274 deer dates.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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.
Thielke Lake WMA in brief, from the agency file
1,257 acres of Big Stone County belong to Thielke Lake WMA. Size rank in Big Stone County: 2nd of 22 wildlife management areas. DNR splits it into 2 subunits: Thielke Lake WMA (357 ac) and Thielke Lake WMA (900 ac).
For deer it falls in DPA 274, set at antlerless permit lottery for 2026. Questions go to the Appleton DNR wildlife office at appleton.wildlife@state.mn.us.
Game listed: deer, pheasant, waterfowl, small game, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Wild Turkey
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area
Subunits and parking at Thielke Lake WMA
Each subunit of Thielke Lake WMA has its own DNR page; the map below pins 3 parking spots.
| Subunit | Acreage | Near | Open? | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thielke Lake WMA | 357 | Clinton | Open | 3 | DNR |
| Thielke Lake WMA | 900 | Clinton | Open | – | DNR |
- Thielke Lake WMA: From Clinton, go 4.5 miles S on US 75
- Thielke Lake WMA: 2.5 miles south on Hwy 75. WMA is on the east side of Hwy 75. There are multiple locations to park and access this WMA, including Hwy 75 (west side of WMA), CR 8 (north side of WMA), and CR 65 (east side of WMA).
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Thielke Lake WMA pinned among nearby tracts
Almond WPA lies 1.7 mi northeast of Thielke Lake WMA, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almond WPA | WPA | 61 | 274 | 1.7 mi | northeast |
| Goldsmith WPA | WPA | 40 | 274 | 1.8 mi | east |
| Moulton Lake WPA | WPA | 122 | 274 | 2.2 mi | west |
| Stegner WPA | WPA | 220 | 274 | 2.5 mi | southwest |
| David H. Steen WMA | WMA | 184 | 274 | 3.3 mi | west |
| Bentson Lake WPA | WPA | 72 | 274 | 3.6 mi | southeast |
| Bauman WPA | WPA | 81 | 274 | 3.6 mi | northwest |
| Clinton WPA | WPA | 46 | 274 | 3.9 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Thielke Lake WMA
Site rules for Thielke Lake WMA, condensed from the record.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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.
Thielke Lake WMA season dates
This table covers Thielke Lake WMA only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from its game species list.
| Species | Type | Zone or DPA | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 274 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 274 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 274 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 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 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 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 |
Wear blaze orange or pink in the firearms deer season; waterfowl hunters on water are exempt under DNR rules.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Deer seasons on Thielke Lake WMA
200-series DPA 274 carries the antlerless permit lottery designation this year (400 lottery permits for antlerless deer). To shoot an antlerless deer with a firearm in DPA 274, declare the area in the lottery by Sept. 10.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Adult deer shot Nov. 7-8 here must be sampled. Size of DPA 274: 381 square miles. Big Stone and Traverse share DPA 274.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Thielke Lake WMA (DPA 274)
The whole of DPA 274 gave up 495 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Thielke Lake WMA itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 361 | 134 | 495 | 1.40 |
| 2024 | 333 | 120 | 453 | 1.28 |
| 2023 | 265 | 137 | 402 | 1.13 |
| 2022 | 301 | 139 | 440 | 1.24 |
| 2021 | 329 | 103 | 432 | 1.22 |
| 2020 | 330 | 121 | 451 | 1.27 |
| 2019 | 300 | 115 | 415 | 1.17 |
| 2018 | 232 | 139 | 371 | 1.05 |
| 2017 | 293 | 148 | 441 | 1.24 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Thielke Lake WMA nearby towns
Clinton is the closest town to Thielke Lake WMA, about 4.2 mi away. The largest nearby is Ortonville (1,970 people). The DNR detail page starts its directions from Clinton. For questions, the Watson DNR office is 36 mi from Thielke Lake WMA.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | Big Stone | 371 | 4.2 mi | north |
| Ortonville | Big Stone | 1,970 | 7.7 mi | south |
| Odessa | Big Stone | 103 | 11 mi | south |
| Graceville | Big Stone | 511 | 11 mi | north |
| Johnson | Big Stone | 24 | 12 mi | northeast |
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.
Thielke Lake WMA: Big Stone County facts
Counting Thielke Lake WMA, Big Stone County has 86 listed public areas. The no-quota bear area covers Big Stone County. Big Stone County turkey hunters declare area 505 and 506. County questions go to Appleton Area Wildlife Office, Watson. 3 places in Big Stone County are closed to hunting, such as Bonanza Prairie Scientific and Natural Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Range time on the drive to Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area
Three ranges near Thielke Lake Wildlife Management Area follow, starting with Big Stone Area Rifle Club at 7 miles. No target practice on the property, per its rules.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
A look at the landscape around Thielke Lake WMA
Thielke Lake WMA shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Thielke Lake WMA map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Open | Big game close | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:34 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:51 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:12 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:41 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:05 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 7:35 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 4:51 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:44 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 8:09 p.m. |
Times are rounded to the minute.
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.
Straight answers on hunting Thielke Lake WMA
Is CWD sampling required at Thielke Lake WMA?
DNR lists DPA 274 as in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Who do I call about Thielke Lake WMA?
Thielke Lake WMA falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Appleton office).
Which public ground lies closest to Thielke Lake WMA?
Next-closest public land: Almond WPA (1.7 mi), Goldsmith WPA (1.8 mi) and Moulton Lake WPA (2.2 mi).
How early does shooting start at Thielke Lake WMA on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:42 a.m., done by 5:37 p.m..
Can I camp on Thielke Lake WMA during the season?
Generally no: designated areas or a permit only.
Can I leave a stand on Thielke Lake WMA overnight?
Daily removal applies on Thielke Lake WMA, so plan on a climber or a hang-on you carry out.
Roughly how large is the Thielke Lake WMA unit?
The mapped size is 1,257 acres in 2 subunits.
Can you hunt on Thielke Lake WMA this season?
Yes. Hunting and trapping are open on state WMAs during regular seasons unless DNR posts an exception, and Thielke Lake WMA shows open hunting status.
Which species does Thielke Lake WMA hold?
Game on the agency list for Thielke Lake WMA: deer, pheasant, waterfowl, small game, wild turkey and mourning dove.
Which deer permit area holds Thielke Lake WMA?
Thielke Lake WMA falls in DPA 274, antlerless permit lottery. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Where is the access for Thielke Lake WMA?
From Clinton, go 4.5 miles S on US 75 The map above shows 3 parking pins.
Thielke Lake WMA: three things to confirm first
Carry your license, validate a deer or turkey at the kill site and register it (48 hours for deer and bear, 24 for turkey).
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); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).