National Wildlife Refuge · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is located in Morrison County, Minnesota, with about 2,195 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 2 open with special regulations, covering about 2,195 huntable acres.

1 open unit2 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
2.2Khuntable acres
2.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Crane Meadows NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Crane Meadows NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Hunters with disabilities may apply for a special two-day deer hunt conducted each fall. Contact complex headquarters at 763-389-3323 for details.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Minnesota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 479 (22%)Special regulations: 1,716 (78%)2.2Khuntable acres
  • Open479 ac 22%
  • Special regulations1,716 ac 78%
Units by size (acres)
Open Hunt
1,555 ac
Special Hunt
479 ac
Closed
160 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Special Hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Open 479 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting requires signed brochure
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 160 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting requires signed brochure
Open Hunt
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,555 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunting requires signed brochure

Crane Meadows NWR by the numbers

With about 2,195 huntable acres, Crane Meadows NWR ranks #18 of 19 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Minnesota and #321 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open Hunt (1,555 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Closed, covers 160 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

Besides 2,195 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,389 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Brockway WPA (180 acres, 15 miles S).

When to hunt Crane Meadows NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Minnesota sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunting requires signed brochure

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Minnesota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Crane Meadows NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Crane Meadows NWR.

How to get to Crane Meadows NWR

Navigate

Destination: Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.93310, -94.25010
DMS
45°55′59.2″N 94°15′00.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • St. Cloud, MN26 mi N of town
  • Brainerd, MN30 mi S of town
  • Alexandria, MN54 mi E of town
  • Litchfield, MN57 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul88 mi
  • DLH Duluth Intl116 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Crane Meadows NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:58 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM7:31 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:43 AM7:13 AM6:59 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM6:33 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM5:05 PM10h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM4:47 PM9h 31m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM4:34 PM8h 57m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:21 AM7:51 AM4:32 PM8h 41m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:28 AM7:58 AM4:41 PM8h 43m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:24 AM7:54 AM4:56 PM9h 01m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:10 AM7:40 AM5:20 PM9h 40m

Computed for 45.933, -94.250 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Crane Meadows NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Crane Meadows NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Crane Meadows NWR?

Yes. Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (2,195 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Crane Meadows NWR?

Yes — Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained online through fws or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Crane Meadows NWR located?

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is in Morrison County, Minnesota, about 26 miles N of St. Cloud, MN (straight-line). GPS: 45.93310, -94.25010.

What are legal shooting hours at Crane Meadows NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Mille Lacs NWR

Mille Lacs County, MN · 38 mi NE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Sherburne NWR

Sherburne County, MN · 40 mi SE

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

28K huntable acres

Rice Lake NWR

Aitkin County, MN · 59 mi NE

1 special2 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

10.4K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 61 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.6K huntable acres

Morris WMD

Stevens County, MN · 82 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

56.6K huntable acres

Fergus Falls WMD

Otter Tail County, MN · 88 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

49.4K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Minnesota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.