National Wildlife Refuge · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Polk County, Minnesota, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 23,252 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: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 17,405 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
17.4Khuntable acres
23.3KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Glacial Ridge 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 Glacial Ridge NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

In 2004, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge was established with a 2,300-acre donation by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Through additional land transfers from TNC and other land acquisitions, the refuge eclipsed 23,000 acres in 2018.

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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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
Special regulations: 17,405 (75%)Closed: 5,846 (25%)17.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations17,405 ac 75%
  • Closed5,846 ac 25%
Units by size (acres)
A
12,960 ac
Closed
5,846 ac
B
4,445 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
A
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 12,960 —
B
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,445 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,846 —

Glacial Ridge NWR by the numbers

With about 17,405 huntable acres, Glacial Ridge NWR ranks #10 of 19 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Minnesota and #127 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 75% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is A (12,960 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, B, covers 4,445 acres.

1 unit totaling 5,846 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is The Nature Conservancy WPA (88 acres, 5 miles SE).

When to hunt Glacial Ridge 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, Feral & Exotic
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
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

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 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 Glacial Ridge NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Glacial Ridge NWR.

How to get to Glacial Ridge NWR

Navigate

Destination: Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
47.71034, -96.29214
DMS
47°42′37.2″N 96°17′31.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Thief River Falls, MN29 mi S of town
  • Grand Forks, ND37 mi SE of town
  • Fargo, ND62 mi N of town
  • Moorhead, MN62 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • GFK Grand Forks Intl44 mi
  • FAR Fargo Hector Intl60 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 Glacial Ridge 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, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM8:08 PM13h 26m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM7:40 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM7:07 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM6:39 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:09 PM10h 01m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM4:50 PM9h 21m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM4:36 PM8h 44m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:36 AM8:06 AM4:33 PM8h 27m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:43 AM8:13 AM4:42 PM8h 29m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:39 AM8:09 AM4:58 PM8h 49m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:23 AM7:53 AM5:23 PM9h 30m

Computed for 47.710, -96.292 (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 Glacial Ridge 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…

Glacial Ridge NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Glacial Ridge NWR?

Yes. Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (17,405 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Glacial Ridge NWR?

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

Where is Glacial Ridge NWR located?

Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is in Polk County, Minnesota, about 29 miles S of Thief River Falls, MN (straight-line). GPS: 47.71034, -96.29214.

What are legal shooting hours at Glacial Ridge 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

Rydell NWR

Polk County, MN · 9.4 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Agassiz NWR

Marshall County, MN · 47 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

58K huntable acres

Kellys Slough NWR

Grand Forks County, ND · 49 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Hamden Slough NWR

Becker County, MN · 53 mi S

3 special
🦌🦆

3.4K huntable acres

Tamarac NWR

Becker County, MN · 59 mi SE

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

42K huntable acres

Detroit Lakes WMD

Becker County, MN · 63 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

50.2K 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.