National Wildlife Refuge · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 0.6 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
1FWS-owned acres
0game categories

Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 0.6 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed0.6 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 0.6 —

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
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Mille Lacs NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Mille Lacs NWR.

How to get to Mille Lacs NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
46.17928, -93.53150
DMS
46°10′45.4″N 93°31′53.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Brainerd, MN34 mi E of town
  • St. Cloud, MN52 mi NE of town
  • Superior, WI78 mi SW of town
  • Duluth, MN80 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • DLH Duluth Intl78 mi
  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul91 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 Mille Lacs 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, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM7:55 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:28 PM12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:56 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM6:30 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:01 PM10h 08m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:43 PM9h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:05 AM7:35 AM4:31 PM8h 55m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:19 AM7:49 AM4:28 PM8h 39m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM4:37 PM8h 41m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:22 AM7:52 AM4:52 PM8h 60m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM5:16 PM9h 39m

Computed for 46.179, -93.531 (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.

Mille Lacs NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mille Lacs NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Mille Lacs NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs NWR located?

Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, about 34 miles E of Brainerd, MN (straight-line). GPS: 46.17928, -93.53150.

What are legal shooting hours at Mille Lacs 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

Rice Lake NWR

Aitkin County, MN · 26 mi N

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Crane Meadows NWR

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Sherburne NWR

Sherburne County, MN · 48 mi S

3 special3 closed
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St. Croix WMD

St. Croix County, WI · 86 mi SE

1 open1 special
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8.9K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 91 mi SW

1 special1 closed
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Minnesota Valley NWR

Hennepin County, MN · 92 mi S

12 special5 closed
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12.6K 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 September 29, 2026.