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
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 181 —
No Entry Sanctuary - IA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 681 —
No Entry Sanctuary - IL
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,689 —
Refuge - IA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 50,830 —
Refuge - IL
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 29,043 —
Refuge - MN
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 33,536 —
Refuge - WI
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 76,152 —
Waterfowl Closed Area - IA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 11,391 —
Waterfowl Closed Area - MN
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,416 —
Waterfowl Closed Area - WI
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 26,409 —
Lost Mound
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 6,678 —
No Entry Sanctuary - MN
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 697 —
No Hunting Zone - IA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 27 —
No Hunting Zone - IL
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,184 —
No Hunting Zone - MN
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 4.0 —
No Hunting Zone - WI
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 653 —

Upper Mississippi River NWFR by the numbers

With about 237,328 huntable acres, Upper Mississippi River NWFR ranks #1 of 19 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Minnesota and #23 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 96% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge - WI (76,152 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Mesquaki Lake, covers 181 acres.

6 units totaling 9,243 acres are closed to hunting (Lost Mound, No Entry Sanctuary - MN, No Hunting Zone - IA, No Hunting Zone - IL, and No Hunting Zone - MN, …). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 101,091 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 579 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Upper Mississippi River NWFR

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 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.

Guides for hunting Upper Mississippi River NWFR

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…

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 October 28, 2026.