Litchfield WMD
Meeker County, MN
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
38.6K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Aitkin County, MN
Aitkin County has 1 named Waterfowl Production Area covering 73 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land.
WPAs here are managed by the Litchfield Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 1,987 square miles and has roughly 15,697 residents. WPAs make up about 0.0% of its land area.
1named WPAs
73acres of WPA land
73largest WPA (ac)
2refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Aitkin County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Aitkin County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin WPA | 73 | 45 mi E of Brainerd | 46.55059, -93.28896 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Aitkin County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Minnesota regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Aitkin County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Brainerd, MN43 mi — county center is NE of town
- Superior, WI62 mi — county center is W of town
- Duluth, MN63 mi — county center is W of town
- St. Cloud, MN85 mi — county center is NE of town
Shooting hours in Aitkin County
Today at Aitkin County
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:02 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:55 PM | 13h 24m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:28 PM | 12h 38m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:55 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 6:28 PM | 10h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 5:00 PM | 10h 06m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:41 PM | 9h 27m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:28 PM | 8h 52m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:26 PM | 8h 35m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:28 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:35 PM | 8h 37m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:24 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:50 PM | 8h 56m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:14 PM | 9h 36m |
Computed for 46.678, -93.416 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Aitkin County
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Aitkin County
Refuge hunt units in Aitkin County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit A - Open | Rice Lake NWR | !Special regs | 10,377 |
| Closed | Rice Lake NWR | ✕Closed | 3,797 |
| Unit B - Managed Disability Deer Hunt | Rice Lake NWR | ✕Closed | 3,899 |
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.