Wetland Management District · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

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

Located in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 8,695 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations, covering about 8,695 huntable acres.

2 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
8.7Khuntable acres
8.7KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

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.

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 Minnesota Valley WMD

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.

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 mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

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)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 8,695 (100%)8.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations8,695 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
8,581 ac
Soberg WPA
114 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Soberg WPA Special regs 114 —
WPA Open Special regs 8,581 —

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 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

Navigate

Destination: Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
44.36668, -93.58050
DMS
44°22′00.0″N 93°34′49.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Mankato, MN25 mi NE of town
  • Minneapolis, MN45 mi S of town
  • St. Paul, MN47 mi SW of town
  • Rochester, MN60 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul40 mi
  • FSD Sioux Falls Regional166 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 Minnesota Valley 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, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM7:53 PM13h 17m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:27 PM12h 36m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM6:57 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:57 AM7:27 AM6:32 PM11h 05m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:05 PM10h 15m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM4:48 PM9h 39m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:59 AM7:29 AM4:37 PM9h 08m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM4:35 PM8h 53m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:20 AM7:50 AM4:44 PM8h 54m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM4:58 PM9h 12m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM5:21 PM9h 48m

Computed for 44.367, -93.581 (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.

Minnesota Valley WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Minnesota Valley WMD?

Yes. Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District offers hunting in 2 units (8,695 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Minnesota Valley WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Minnesota Valley 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 Minnesota Valley WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Minnesota Valley WMD located?

Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District is in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, about 25 miles NE of Mankato, MN (straight-line). GPS: 44.36668, -93.58050.

What are legal shooting hours at Minnesota Valley 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

Minnesota Valley NWR

Hennepin County, MN · 38 mi NE

12 special5 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.6K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 67 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.6K huntable acres

St. Croix WMD

St. Croix County, WI · 70 mi NE

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.9K huntable acres

Sherburne NWR

Sherburne County, MN · 78 mi N

3 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

28K huntable acres

Iowa WMD

Kossuth County, IA · 79 mi S

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

27.5K huntable acres

Windom WMD

Cottonwood County, MN · 83 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

17.8K 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.