The 10,432-acre Kimberly Wildlife Management Area consists of three sub-units, which are also included in the McGregor Important Bird Area. The water impoundments on the southwest side of the main unit are the easiest to access. The main unit contains two impoundments of about 300 acres each, along with upland timber forest types that are mainly aspen, oak, some pine. The Rice River runs through the south side of this unit with old growth quality lowland hardwoods along side it. Bald Eagle and Sandhill Crane nest here and can be seen from the dikes. The open water has a variety of waterfowl during migration, with several species staying to nest. Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Yellowthroat nest along the waters edge. Yellow Rails and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow nest on the east side of this unit. A good spot to look for Short-eared Owl is on the east side of the unit. The east side is close to the McGregor Marsh SNA. This main unit is adjacent to the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The north side of this unit is a cooperative WMA with Aitkin County.

The north unit of the Kimberly Wildlife Management Acres, 80 acres in size consists of a low ground mix of grass, brush and Jack Pine growing on muskeg bog. There is an island of aspen in the northeast corner of the sub unit. Deer, bear, Common Yellowthroat, and Gray Catbirds use this portion of the WMA. Limited wildlife watching opportunities are available from the township road. The third sub-unit of the WMA has no easy public access and is located near the north unit.

This WMA is mainly managed for deer, bear, Ruffed Grouse, waterfowl, and open land wildlife. No Wild Rice harvesting allowed. Respect private property on adjacent lands.

The county roads leading into the WMA consist of woodlands, farms and open fields. Sparrows, Bobolink, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Harrier, Pileated Woodpecker and Great Horned Owls can be found along the drive. From the 257th Avenue impoundment access, turn south and west into the town of Kimberly, jog through the small town to County Road 56. This nine-mile section of road from Kimberly to State Highway 210 passes the Rice River with Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck, Hairy Woodpecker and Brown Creeper in the lowland river bottoms. Fields and pastures are home to Song, Savannah and Clay-colored Sparrows. Northern Harrier and American Kestrel hunt in the open areas. A series of flooded commercial rice paddies are a haven for many species of migrating waterfowl, Tundra Swan and Sandhill Crane. Shorebirds may be seen in the paddies during spring migration. At the junction of County Road 56 and State Highway 210/ US Highway 169 there is an Osprey nest, where the birds are easily seen from the roadside. From Kimberly north on County Road 5 there is another Osprey nest platform on the west side of the road about half way to the junction with State Highway 210.

Directions: From McGregor to the main unit: Impoundment access is located four miles west on State Highway 210, 4 miles south on 257th Avenue, signed access road to east. North access: From McGregor, two miles west on State Highway 210, south .5 miles on 240th Place.

Contact Information: Minnesota DNR, Area Wildlife Office, 1200 Minnesota Ave S, Aitkin, MN 56431, Phone: 218-927-6915.