Wetland Management District · South Dakota · FWS Region 6

Madison Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Madison Wetland Management District is located in Lake County, South Dakota, with about 44,242 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Minnesota. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 open with special regulations, covering about 44,033 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
44Khuntable acres
44.2KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

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
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Madison 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.

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)

Acreage by status
Open: 43,871 (100%)Special regulations: 162 (0%)44Khuntable acres
  • Open43,871 ac 100%
  • Special regulations162 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
43,871 ac
Atkins WPA
162 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open Open 43,871 —
Atkins WPA Special regs 162 —

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)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.97593, -97.07138
DMS
43°58′33.3″N 97°04′17.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM8:06 PM13h 16m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM7:41 PM12h 35m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM7:11 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM6:46 PM11h 05m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM5:20 PM10h 17m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM5:03 PM9h 41m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:52 PM9h 10m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:25 AM7:55 AM4:51 PM8h 55m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:32 AM8:02 AM4:59 PM8h 57m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:29 AM7:59 AM5:13 PM9h 14m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:16 AM7:46 AM5:36 PM9h 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.

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

Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR

Lincoln County, MN · 59 mi NE

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

6.7K huntable acres

Huron WMD

Beadle County, SD · 63 mi NW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

17.5K huntable acres

Lake Andes NWR

Charles Mix County, SD · 86 mi SW

1 open3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.2K huntable acres

Lake Andes WMD

Charles Mix County, SD · 89 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

15.1K huntable acres

Big Stone NWR

Lac qui Parle County, MN · 94 mi N

2 special1 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

All refuges in South Dakota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.