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WMA in Wadena County
Hunting Yaeger Lake Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Wadena County, 1,147 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Yaeger Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Yaeger Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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.
Yaeger Lake WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,147 acres at Yaeger Lake WMA, which lies in Wadena County. By size it ranks 3rd of the 16 wildlife management areas we list in Wadena County. DPA 246 sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year.
The managing office is Park Rapids (DNR Wildlife), parkrapids.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Yaeger Lake WMA.
Listed game: 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 Yaeger Lake Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Yaeger Lake WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Yaeger Lake WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| 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.
Deer on Yaeger Lake WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Yaeger Lake WMA fall under DPA 246: either-sex, 200 series. No lottery in DPA 246: either sex on the regular license.
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 246: optional. DPA 246 spans 802 square miles. DPA 246 reaches Cass, Wadena, Hubbard and Todd counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Yaeger Lake WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Yaeger Lake WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 246 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 246 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 246 | 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 areas 45, 46 | 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 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Yaeger Lake WMA: access points
4 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Yaeger Lake WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaeger Lake WMA | 1,147 | Menahga | Open | 4 | DNR |
- Yaeger Lake WMA: From Menahga, go 4 miles east on County Road 17 then south on County Road 23 for 3 miles then east on County Road 15 for 3 miles then south on County Road 150 for 1 mile There are 5 miles of hunter walking trails mowed annually on the WMA. There is a small parking area on the north side of the unit, off of CR 15. Also, there is a wheelchair accessible boardwalk, canoe landing and parking area on the east side of Yaeger Lake, accessible from CR 150 (199th Ave).
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Yaeger Lake WMA
When Yaeger Lake WMA is crowded, Menahga WMA sits 2.7 mi away to the west.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menahga WMA | WMA | 353 | 241 | 2.7 mi | west |
| Kitten Creek WMA | WMA | 157 | 241 | 4.4 mi | southwest |
| Burgen Lake Prairie WMA | WMA | 2,322 | 246 | 5.0 mi | east |
| Red Eye WMA | WMA | 144 | 241 | 5.4 mi | west |
| Huntersville State Forest | State forest | 14,994 | 241, 246 | 7.9 mi | northeast |
| Huntersville WMA | WMA | 521 | 246 | 8.1 mi | northeast |
| North Germany WMA | WMA | 278 | 246 | 8.2 mi | south |
| Wood Eye WMA | WMA | 253 | 241 | 8.5 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Yaeger Lake WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Nimrod lies 6.3 mi from Yaeger Lake WMA. For more services, Park Rapids (4,381) is 15 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Menahga. Nearest DNR desk: Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office, 16 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nimrod | Wadena | 82 | 6.3 mi | southeast |
| Menahga | Wadena | 1,366 | 7.2 mi | northwest |
| Sebeka | Wadena | 753 | 7.4 mi | southwest |
| Hubbard | Hubbard | – | 9.6 mi | north |
| Park Rapids | Hubbard | 4,381 | 15 mi | north |
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.
Yaeger Lake WMA: deer taken in DPA 246
3,143 deer were registered in DPA 246 during 2025, 4.01 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,330 | 813 | 3,143 | 4.01 |
| 2024 | 2,044 | 580 | 2,624 | 3.35 |
| 2023 | 1,621 | 773 | 2,394 | 3.05 |
| 2022 | 1,523 | 1,399 | 2,922 | 3.73 |
| 2021 | 2,013 | 1,597 | 3,610 | 4.60 |
| 2020 | 1,825 | 1,706 | 3,531 | 4.50 |
| 2019 | 1,824 | 1,763 | 3,587 | 4.58 |
| 2018 | 1,936 | 1,996 | 3,932 | 4.68 |
| 2017 | 2,293 | 2,593 | 4,886 | 5.82 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Yaeger Lake WMA and the rest of Wadena County
Wadena County has 18 public hunting areas on file, Yaeger Lake WMA among them. Wadena County bear hunting runs through quota area 45 and 46, 45 (700 permits) and 46 (950 permits). The county sits in turkey permit area 507. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office, (218) 732-8452 ext. 235. Not every public place in Wadena County is open: Cat Creek Aquatic Management Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Yaeger Lake WMA
Sun times computed for Yaeger Lake WMA itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 7:26 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:10 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. | 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:10 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 4:58 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:40 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:04 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:36 a.m. | 8:05 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. | 8:35 p.m. | 8:05 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
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.
Ranges a Yaeger Lake Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Yaeger Lake Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Osage Sportsmans Club at 21 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Yaeger Lake WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Yaeger Lake WMA, short answers
Yaeger Lake WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Yaeger Lake WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Park Rapids office.
How do you get to Yaeger Lake WMA?
From Menahga, go 4 miles east on County Road 17 then south on County Road 23 for 3 miles then east on County Road 15 for 3 miles then south on County Road 150 for 1 mile 4 parking spots on the DNR map.
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Yaeger Lake WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:40 a.m. and ends at 5:28 p.m. at the Yaeger Lake WMA point.
Yaeger Lake WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 246 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Yaeger Lake WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Yaeger Lake WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Menahga WMA (2.7 mi), Kitten Creek WMA (4.4 mi) and Burgen Lake Prairie WMA (5.0 mi).
Does Yaeger Lake WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Yaeger Lake WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Yaeger Lake WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
What deer permit area is Yaeger Lake WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 246: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Yaeger Lake WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,147 acres.
What game species does Yaeger Lake WMA list?
The agency names deer, black bear, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl and wild turkey for Yaeger Lake WMA.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).