WMA/AMA Planning for the Laurentian Mixed Forest

Thank you for your interest in the development of landscape-level plans for Minnesota's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs). These plans will guide habitat management, public use, conservation priorities, and long-term stewardship across Minnesota’s diverse landscapes. 

The following questionnaire is specific to WMAs and AMAs that are located within the Laurentian Mixed Forest ecological province. Feedback gathered through this questionnaire will be used to help inform the content of the WMA/AMA plan for the Laurentian Mixed Forest.

The Laurentian Mixed Forest ecological province is located in northern and northeastern Minnesota, extending from roughly the Brainerd Lakes area and Mille Lacs Lake up through the Iron Range and Arrowhead region to the Canadian border. The landscape is defined by its diverse mixture of forest and wetland habitats, making it an important area for the long-term conservation of Minnesota’s northern fish and wildlife communities along with the associated hunting, trapping, angling, birdwatching, and related outdoor activities.

The Laurentian Mixed Forest ecological province contains 266 WMAs and 389 AMAs, covering a total of 640,911 acres and 31,709 acres, respectively. Approximately 54% of this acreage is contained within two major unit WMAs: Red Lake WMA and Mille Lacs WMA.