Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Minnesota Valley 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.

Hunting at Minnesota Valley WMD

• 🦌 Big Game
• 🦆 Waterfowl
• 🦃 Wild Turkey
• 🐦 Upland Birds
• 🕊️ Migratory Birds
• 🐇 Small Game
• 🐗 Feral & Exotic
• 🎣 Fishing

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

The Minnesota Valley WMD offers public hunting on 28 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) located in a 14-county area of east-central Minnesota. The district includes portions of the Minnesota, Cannon and Mississippi river watersheds.

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Minnesota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

When to hunt Minnesota Valley WMD

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.

Permits & licenses

Fishing at Minnesota Valley WMD

• 🐟 Freshwater fishing

State seasons apply. No motors are allowed on district waters. Major species include crappie, bullhead and northern pike.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Minnesota Valley WMD

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

7-day hunting weather

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Minnesota Valley WMD

This district manages 43 named WPAs totaling 8,616 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

Showing the 25 largest of 43. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Minnesota Valley WMD

Minnesota Valley WMD FAQ

Nearby refuges & public land

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

• Delehanty WPA 162 ac · 0.1 mi N
• Rice Lake WPA 53 ac · 5.5 mi N
• Erin Prairie WPA 173 ac · 7.4 mi NE
• Preuss WPA 115 ac · 8.5 mi S
• Fickling WPA 88 ac · 9.8 mi NW
• Hurley WPA 153 ac · 11 mi E

All refuges in Minnesota →