Wetland Management District · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Morris Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Stevens County, Minnesota, Morris Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 56,818 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: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 56,610 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
56.6Khuntable acres
56.8KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Morris 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 Morris WMD

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Waterfowl hunters have a tremendous variety of public hunting spots in western Minnesota within the 244 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) of the Morris WMD.

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: 56,610 (100%)Closed: 170 (0%)56.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations56,610 ac 100%
  • Closed170 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
56,610 ac
WPA Closed
170 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 56,610 —
WPA Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 170 —

Morris WMD by the numbers

With about 56,610 huntable acres, Morris WMD ranks #3 of 19 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Minnesota and #41 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 (56,610 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 170 acres is closed to hunting (WPA Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 56,818 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 44,122 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 Nordby WPA (76 acres, 0 miles SW).

When to hunt Morris 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.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

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 Morris WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The fishing opportunities on most wetland management districts are marginal but are offered in accordance with state seasons. Available species include northern pike, walleye, crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass and sunfish.

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

How to get to Morris WMD

Navigate

Destination: Morris Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
45.62279, -95.88523
DMS
45°37′22.0″N 95°53′06.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Morris, MN2.6 mi NE of town
  • Alexandria, MN31 mi SW of town
  • Fergus Falls, MN46 mi S of town
  • Willmar, MN54 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • FAR Fargo Hector Intl100 mi
  • ABR Aberdeen Regional123 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 Morris 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, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM8:04 PM13h 21m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM7:37 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:06 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM6:40 PM11h 02m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM5:12 PM10h 10m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM4:54 PM9h 33m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM4:42 PM8h 59m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:26 AM7:56 AM4:40 PM8h 43m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:33 AM8:03 AM4:49 PM8h 45m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:30 AM8:00 AM5:03 PM9h 04m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:15 AM7:45 AM5:27 PM9h 42m

Computed for 45.623, -95.885 (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 Morris WMD

This district manages 251 named WPAs totaling 56,661 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Robin Hood WPATraverse County1,711
Rothi WPABig Stone County1,231
Krantz Lake WPAPope County1,152
Hillman WPABig Stone County1,087
Nelson Lake WPAPope County1,083
Loen WPASwift County1,056
Hastad WPALac qui Parle County984
Pepperton WPAStevens County918
Welsh WPASwift County900
Artichoke WPABig Stone County856
Svor WPASwift County826
Walden WPAPope County814
Artichoke Lake WPASwift County808
Heidebrink WPAPope County790
Lynch Lake WPASwift County767
Mosquito Ranch WPATraverse County758
Kufrin WPABig Stone County738
Dismal Swamp WPABig Stone County642
Barry Lake WPABig Stone County634
Stenerson Lake WPAPope County620
Centennial WPABig Stone County605
Grove Lake WPAPope County593
Appleton WPASwift County556
Edwards WPAStevens County547
Lubenow WPASwift County490

Showing the 25 largest of 251. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Morris 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…

Morris WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Morris WMD?

Yes. Morris Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (56,610 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 Morris WMD?

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

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

Where is Morris WMD located?

Morris Wetland Management District is in Stevens County, Minnesota, about 3 miles NE of Morris, MN (straight-line). GPS: 45.62279, -95.88523.

What are legal shooting hours at Morris 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

Big Stone WMD

Big Stone County, MN · 33 mi SW

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.4K huntable acres

Big Stone NWR

Lac qui Parle County, MN · 35 mi SW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.6K huntable acres

Fergus Falls WMD

Otter Tail County, MN · 43 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

49.4K huntable acres

Waubay WMD

Day County, SD · 71 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

41.1K huntable acres

Waubay NWR

Day County, SD · 72 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🎣

4.6K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 76 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.6K 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 October 28, 2026.