National Wildlife Refuge · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Houston County, Minnesota, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 101,091 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 16 mapped hunt units: 10 open with special regulations and 6 closed, covering about 237,328 huntable acres.

10 with special regs6 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
16hunt units
237Khuntable acres
101KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Upper Mississippi River NWFR 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 Upper Mississippi River NWFR

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 stunning bluffs covered in hardwood forests provide a striking backdrop to the Mississippi River as it meanders. Habitat types include areas of open river water, braided river channels, floodplain forests, backwater marshes and adjacent prairies.

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 (16)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 237,328 (96%)Closed: 9,243 (4%)237Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations237,328 ac 96%
  • Closed9,243 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge - WI
76,152 ac
Refuge - IA
50,830 ac
Refuge - MN
33,536 ac
Refuge - IL
29,043 ac
Waterfowl Closed Area - WI
26,409 ac
Waterfowl Closed Area - IA
11,391 ac
Lost Mound
6,678 ac
Waterfowl Closed Area - MN
5,416 ac
No Entry Sanctuary - IL
3,689 ac
No Hunting Zone - IL
1,184 ac
No Entry Sanctuary - MN
697 ac
No Entry Sanctuary - IA
681 ac
No Hunting Zone - WI
653 ac
Mesquaki Lake
181 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Mesquaki Lake Special regs 181 —
No Entry Sanctuary - IA Special regs 681 —
No Entry Sanctuary - IL Special regs 3,689 —
Refuge - IA Special regs 50,830 —
Refuge - IL Special regs 29,043 —
Refuge - MN Special regs 33,536 —
Refuge - WI Special regs 76,152 —
Waterfowl Closed Area - IA Special regs 11,391 —
Waterfowl Closed Area - MN Special regs 5,416 —
Waterfowl Closed Area - WI Special regs 26,409 —
Lost Mound Closed 6,678 —
No Entry Sanctuary - MN Closed 697 —
No Hunting Zone - IA Closed 27 —
No Hunting Zone - IL Closed 1,184 —
No Hunting Zone - MN Closed 4.0 —
No Hunting Zone - WI Closed 653 —

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 Upper Mississippi River NWFR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing season is year-round for walleye, sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bullhead, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish below the dams, in sloughs and channels between islands.

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

How to get to Upper Mississippi River NWFR

Navigate

Destination: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.55532, -91.25845
DMS
43°33′19.2″N 91°15′30.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • La Crosse, WI17 mi S of town
  • Winona, MN39 mi SE of town
  • Necedah, WI68 mi SW of town
  • Rochester, MN68 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • MSN Madison Dane County101 mi
  • CID Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa118 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 Upper Mississippi River NWFR

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, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM7:43 PM13h 15m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM7:17 PM12h 35m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:48 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM6:23 PM11h 06m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM4:57 PM10h 18m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:41 PM9h 44m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:47 AM7:17 AM4:30 PM9h 13m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM4:29 PM8h 58m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM4:37 PM8h 60m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:05 AM7:35 AM4:52 PM9h 17m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM5:14 PM9h 52m

Computed for 43.555, -91.258 (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.

Upper Mississippi River NWFR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Upper Mississippi River NWFR?

Yes. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge offers hunting in 10 units (237,328 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 Upper Mississippi River NWFR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Upper Mississippi River NWFR. 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 Upper Mississippi River NWFR?

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

Where is Upper Mississippi River NWFR located?

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is in Houston County, Minnesota, about 17 miles S of La Crosse, WI (straight-line). GPS: 43.55532, -91.25845.

What are legal shooting hours at Upper Mississippi River NWFR?

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

Genoa NFH

Vernon County, WI · 3.2 mi SE

1 closed
🎣

Trempealeau NWR

Trempealeau County, WI · 37 mi N

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

6.9K huntable acres

Driftless Area NWR

Clayton County, IA · 42 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

798 huntable acres

Necedah NWR

Juneau County, WI · 67 mi NE

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

39.1K huntable acres

Leopold WMD

Columbia County, WI · 87 mi E

1 open2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

13.8K huntable acres

Fox River NWR

Marquette County, WI · 93 mi E

1 open1 closed
🦌

988 huntable acres

All refuges in Minnesota →

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