Free Camping in 1,506 State Wildlife Management Areas - a case by case permission scenario and list of Species of Greatest Concern

There is Free primitive dispersed camping in the national and state forests.... but also in the WMAs (pending permission)....

  you can camp at many state-owned wildlife management areas (WMAs). Some larger and popular areas, such as Mille Lacs WMA, contain designated camping areas.

I always thought camping was prohibited at your run-of-the mill WMAs, which can range from a few hundred acres to several thousand. It is, unless you get permission.

Information on this is tricky to find, but here’s the official state rule: “A person may not camp on or remain in a vehicle overnight in any wildlife management area, except by permit or where posted for this use by the commissioner.”

Said permit isn’t reserved for wildlife researchers or others with some high aims; a bunch of guys hoping to bag some grouse, or deer, or what have you, can seek a permit. The way to do it is to contact the Department of Natural Resources’ wildlife manager for the WMA in question. Contact info is usually listed on the DNR’s website when you look at the details of the WMA. (Rath WMA, which was acquired several years ago, still isn’t listed online; I’ve notified the DNR.)

 https://www.twincities.com/2014/09/12/dave-orrick-minnesota-has-many-places-to-camp-while-hunting/

 I pitched my tent in a parking lot — the most likely place you’ll be allowed to camp in a WMA — but the trampled grass was as good as any tent pad, and the lot overlooked an old farmstead, where several apple trees hung ripe fruit above goldenrod and milkweed. And I saw no one.

 https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/nrplanning/bigpicture/cwcs/chapters_appendix/appendix_e.pdf

List of Species of Greatest Conservation Need per ecological section in the state!

fascinating.  

I have Sedge Wren on the land up north! Wow.

says they are "low" conservation concern but they still make the list!