Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area

The Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area is located 1.5 miles west of the city of Madison Lake on County Highway 26.

In 1992, Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. – Blue Earth County Chapter purchased 20 acres known as the “Simonds” tract.  The cost of the purchase was $40,000 including a $20,000 RIM match from the MN Department of Natural Resources.  The Gilfillan Lake WMA now contains approximately 564 acres.

In 2020, Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. applied for and was awarded an Enhanced Public Land restoration grant to perform volunteer tree removal  on approximately 800-acres on several Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Areas & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Waterfowl Production Units in Blue Earth County. Gilfillan Lake WMA was included in this grant and received approximately 40 acres of tree removal. The unit will receive on-going maintenance.