Wetland Management District · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Devils Lake Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Ramsey County, North Dakota, Devils Lake Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 53,310 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 52,728 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
52.7Khuntable acres
53.3KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Devils Lake WMD 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 Devils Lake WMD

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Hunters in northeastern North Dakota don't have to search hard for public hunting areas, thanks to the 209 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) open to hunting in Devils Lake Wetland Management District.

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 North Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 52,728 (99%)Closed: 618 (1%)52.7Khuntable acres
  • Open52,728 ac 99%
  • Closed618 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
52,728 ac
WPA Closed
618 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 52,728 —
WPA Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 618 —

Devils Lake WMD by the numbers

With about 52,728 huntable acres, Devils Lake WMD ranks #2 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #47 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (52,728 acres).

1 unit totaling 618 acres is closed to hunting (WPA Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 53,310 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 193,071 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 Ziegler WPA (157 acres, 4 miles N).

When to hunt Devils Lake WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota 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

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota Game and Fish Department
  • 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 Devils Lake WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing is permitted on waterfowl production areas in accordance with state seasons. Vehicle access is limited to designated trails, parking areas and non-vegetated ice areas as conditions allow.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Devils Lake WMD

Navigate

Destination: Devils Lake Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.11014, -98.86760
DMS
48°06′36.5″N 98°52′03.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Devils Lake, ND0.1 mi E of town
  • Carrington, ND47 mi N of town
  • Rugby, ND55 mi E of town
  • Jamestown, ND83 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • GFK Grand Forks Intl79 mi
  • MOT Minot Intl112 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 Devils Lake WMD

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, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM8:19 PM13h 28m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM7:50 PM12h 40m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM7:17 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:23 AM7:53 AM6:49 PM10h 56m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM5:18 PM9h 60m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM4:59 PM9h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:34 AM8:04 AM4:45 PM8h 41m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:48 AM8:18 AM4:42 PM8h 24m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:55 AM8:25 AM4:51 PM8h 26m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:51 AM8:21 AM5:07 PM8h 46m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:34 AM8:04 AM5:32 PM9h 28m

Computed for 48.110, -98.868 (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.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Devils Lake WMD

This district manages 223 named WPAs totaling 53,114 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Nikolaisen WPATowner County2,657
Stewart Lake WPAGrand Forks County1,491
Martinson WPARamsey County1,276
Pembina Prarie WPAPembina County1,074
Hofstrand WPABenson County1,045
Turtle River WPAGrand Forks County1,019
Billings Lake WPACavalier County992
Wengeler WPACavalier County936
Pender WPAGrand Forks County859
Mud Lake WPABenson County837
McDonald Slough WPACavalier County808
Amoth WPACavalier County799
Kellys Slough WPAGrand Forks County764
Agnes Marsh WPAGrand Forks County739
Pelican Lake WPARamsey County656
Avocet Island WPARamsey County643
Stephens Memorial WPATowner County641
Towner WPATowner County639
Twin Lakes WPABenson County639
Phil Aus WPARamsey County630
Edwards WPACavalier County619
Moscow Lake WPACavalier County611
Jeglum WPAGrand Forks County588
Lokemoen WPACavalier County584
Mekinock WPAGrand Forks County560

Showing the 25 largest of 223. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Devils Lake WMD

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…

Devils Lake WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Devils Lake WMD?

Yes. Devils Lake Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (52,728 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 Devils Lake WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Devils Lake WMD. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Devils Lake WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Devils Lake WMD located?

Devils Lake Wetland Management District is in Ramsey County, North Dakota, about 0 miles E of Devils Lake, ND (straight-line). GPS: 48.11014, -98.86760.

What are legal shooting hours at Devils Lake WMD?

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

White Horse Hill National Game Preserve

Benson County, ND · 9.6 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Lake Alice NWR

Ramsey County, ND · 19 mi NW

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.1K huntable acres

Arrowwood WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 58 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.3K huntable acres

Arrowwood NWR

Stutsman County, ND · 65 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

12.7K huntable acres

Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD

Stutsman County, ND · 70 mi S

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

40K huntable acres

Kellys Slough NWR

Grand Forks County, ND · 74 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

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