National Wildlife Refuge · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located in Becker County, Minnesota, with about 3,408 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: 3 open with special regulations, covering about 3,408 huntable acres.

3 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
3.4Khuntable acres
3.4KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Hamden Slough 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 Hamden Slough NWR

Hunters can pursue big game and waterfowl here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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: 3,408 (100%)3.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations3,408 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Hamden
1,886 ac
Audubon
825 ac
Riceville
697 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Audubon
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 825 —
Hamden
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,886 —
Riceville
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 697 —

Hamden Slough NWR by the numbers

With about 3,408 huntable acres, Hamden Slough NWR ranks #17 of 19 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Minnesota and #289 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 Hamden (1,886 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Riceville, covers 697 acres.

Besides 3,408 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 73 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 Bay Lake WPA (949 acres, 2 miles SW).

When to hunt Hamden Slough 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
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

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 Hamden Slough NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Hamden Slough NWR.

How to get to Hamden Slough NWR

Navigate

Destination: Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
46.98017, -95.98173
DMS
46°58′48.6″N 95°58′54.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Detroit Lakes, MN13 mi NW of town
  • Moorhead, MN38 mi E of town
  • Fargo, ND39 mi E of town
  • Fergus Falls, MN49 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • FAR Fargo Hector Intl40 mi
  • GFK Grand Forks Intl87 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 Hamden Slough 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 AM8:06 PM13h 24m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM7:38 PM12h 39m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:06 PM11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM6:38 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM5:09 PM10h 05m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM4:51 PM9h 25m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM4:38 PM8h 50m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:32 AM8:02 AM4:35 PM8h 33m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:39 AM8:09 AM4:44 PM8h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:35 AM8:05 AM4:59 PM8h 54m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:19 AM7:49 AM5:24 PM9h 34m

Computed for 46.980, -95.982 (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 Hamden Slough 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…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Hamden Slough NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hamden Slough NWR?

Yes. Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (3,408 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Hamden Slough NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Hamden Slough 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 Hamden Slough NWR located?

Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge is in Becker County, Minnesota, about 13 miles NW of Detroit Lakes, MN (straight-line). GPS: 46.98017, -95.98173.

What are legal shooting hours at Hamden Slough 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

Detroit Lakes WMD

Becker County, MN · 11 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

50.2K huntable acres

Tamarac NWR

Becker County, MN · 17 mi E

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

42K huntable acres

Rydell NWR

Polk County, MN · 47 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

1.8K huntable acres

Fergus Falls WMD

Otter Tail County, MN · 51 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

49.4K huntable acres

Glacial Ridge NWR

Polk County, MN · 53 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

17.4K huntable acres

Kellys Slough NWR

Grand Forks County, ND · 92 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

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.