Wambach WMA

Minnesota DNR

Wambach Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a 1,288-acre reserve in northwestern Minnesota. It consists of two units separated by Santee Prairie SNA. The large 1,209-acre West Unit is a mosaic of mesic prairie, shallow lakes, ponds, large areas of cattail marsh, and various wetlands. The 79-acre East Unit is mostly mesic prairie with some wet prairie and wetlands.

Deer, small game, forest game birds, pheasants, and waterfowl can be hunted here. Small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum), a species of special concern, is found here. A survey in 1994 found 12 Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek), a federally endangered butterfly, on this site. This small butterfly has not been seen in the last 10 years in Minnesota.

There is no wood routed or other sign displaying the name of this Wildlife Management Area.

East Unit: 79 acres

West Unit: 1,209 acres

There is a gate near the intersection of Township Road 184 (170th St.) and Township Road 45 (150th Ave.) that blocks access to the DNR public road and the WMA parking lot. On visits in August and September of 2011 the gate was locked. On visits in August 2013 and August 2016 the gate was unlocked. If the gate is locked, park on the south side of the DNR road near the gate, being careful to avoid blocking the gate.

Gate
N47 23.882, W95 57.287

Parking Lots
N47 23.881, W95 56.569
N47 23.516, W95 56.383

To access the East Unit park on the west shoulder of 170th Ave (Township Road 37).

No maintained trails

Deer, small game, forest game birds, pheasants, and waterfowl. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.

West Unit Entrance

DNR Public Road

Parking Lot

Prairie

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List