Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR
Lincoln County, MN · 59 mi NE
✓1 open!3 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
6.7K huntable acres
Madison 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
Hunting at Madison WMD
- Big Game
- Waterfowl
- Wild Turkey
- Upland Birds
- Migratory Birds
- Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic - Fishing
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.
South Dakota has long been known as the pheasant capital of the nation, but waterfowl and deer hunting opportunities also abound on the 38,500 acres of uplands and wetlands in the Madison 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 South Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.
Hunt units (2)
- Open43,871 ac 100%
- Special regulations162 ac 0%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 43,871 | — | |
| Atkins WPA Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 162 | — |
Madison WMD by the numbers
With about 44,033 huntable acres, Madison WMD ranks #2 of 11 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in South Dakota and #62 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 WPA Open (43,871 acres), while the smallest, Atkins WPA, covers 162 acres.
Besides 44,242 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 166,977 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 Payne WPA (55 acres, 0 miles S).
When to hunt Madison WMD
Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. South 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🦆 Waterfowl
🦃 Wild Turkey
🐦 Upland Birds
🕊️ Migratory Birds
🐇 Small Game
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 South Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
- 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 Madison WMD
- 🐟 Freshwater fishing
Fishing season is in accordance with state regulations. Available species include walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and, smallmouth bass and panfish.
State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.
How to get to Madison WMD
Navigate
Destination: Madison Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
43.97593, -97.07138- DMS
43°58′33.3″N 97°04′17.0″W
Nearest towns
- Madison, SD3.0 mi SE of town
- Brookings, SD27 mi SW of town
- Sioux Falls, SD35 mi NW of town
- Mitchell, SD51 mi E of town
Closest airports
- FSD Sioux Falls Regional32 mi
- SUX Sioux Gateway114 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 Madison 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:06 PM | 13h 16m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:41 PM | 12h 35m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:11 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:46 PM | 11h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:20 PM | 10h 17m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 41m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:52 PM | 9h 10m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:25 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:51 PM | 8h 55m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:59 PM | 8h 57m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:13 PM | 9h 14m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:36 PM | 9h 50m |
Computed for 43.976, -97.071 (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 Madison WMD
This district manages 248 named WPAs totaling 44,242 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.
| WPA | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Lake WPA | Brookings County | 1,443 |
| Buffalo Lake WPA | Minnehaha County | 1,116 |
| Brush Lake WPA | Brookings County | 686 |
| Lake Henry WPA | Lake County | 639 |
| Long Lake WPA | Lake County | 600 |
| Silver Lake WPA | Kingsbury County | 593 |
| Errington WPA | Brookings County | 568 |
| Bjornlie WPA | Brookings County | 540 |
| Holland WPA | Kingsbury County | 532 |
| Miller WPA | Turner County | 500 |
| Kindt/Munce WPA | Minnehaha County | 495 |
| Boggs WPA | Hanson County | 475 |
| Halverson WPA | Kingsbury County | 456 |
| Preston WPA | Hamlin County | 447 |
| Hansen WPA | Lake County | 446 |
| Cox WPA | Hamlin County | 442 |
| Ratfield WPA | Kingsbury County | 441 |
| Anderson WPA | Moody County | 437 |
| Alquire WPA | Lake County | 424 |
| Murfield WPA | Lake County | 394 |
| Madison WPA | Lake County | 390 |
| Bothwell WPA | Moody County | 387 |
| Scheffel WPA | Bon Homme County | 365 |
| Pickering WPA | Kingsbury County | 364 |
| Lake Marsh WPA | Hamlin County | 360 |
Showing the 25 largest of 248. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.
Guides for hunting Madison 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…
Madison WMD FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Madison WMD?
Yes. Madison Wetland Management District offers hunting in 2 units (44,033 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 Madison WMD?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Madison 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 Madison WMD?
Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.
Where is Madison WMD located?
Madison Wetland Management District is in Lake County, South Dakota, about 3 miles SE of Madison, SD (straight-line). GPS: 43.97593, -97.07138.
What are legal shooting hours at Madison 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
Huron WMD
Beadle County, SD · 63 mi NW
✓1 open✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
17.5K huntable acres
Lake Andes NWR
Charles Mix County, SD · 86 mi SW
✓1 open✕3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
2.2K huntable acres
Lake Andes WMD
Charles Mix County, SD · 89 mi SW
✓1 open✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
15.1K huntable acres
Big Stone NWR
Lac qui Parle County, MN · 94 mi N
!2 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
9.6K huntable acres
Big Stone WMD
Big Stone County, MN · 96 mi N
!1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
4.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles
- Payne WPA 55 ac · 0.1 mi S
- Madison WPA 390 ac · 0.6 mi SW
- Wolf WPA 100 ac · 1.0 mi SW
- Long Lake WPA 600 ac · 3.1 mi SE
- Hansen WPA 446 ac · 3.4 mi NE
- Hart WPA 138 ac · 4.4 mi N
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.