County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs

Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Becker County, MN

Becker County has 57 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 14,416 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Hellicksen Prairie WPA at 1,385 acres; the average tract is about 253 acres, and 11 are smaller than 80 acres.

WPAs here are managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).

The county covers about 1,448 square miles and has roughly 35,183 residents. WPAs make up about 1.6% of its land area.

County map All 57 WPAs Download KML

57named WPAs

14.4Kacres of WPA land

1,385largest WPA (ac)

5refuges & districts

Map of WPAs in Becker 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

Take every tract with you:KML (Google Earth / onX)GPX waypoints

All Waterfowl Production Areas in Becker County

Largest WPAs (acres)

Hellicksen Prairie WPA

1,385 ac

949 ac

642 ac

628 ac

584 ac

575 ac

537 ac

480 ac

476 ac

473 ac

424 ac

386 ac

How big are the tracts? (number of WPAs by acres)

WPA	Acres	Nearest town	GPS	Go
Hellicksen Prairie WPA 1,375 deeded ac	1,385	21 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.08989, -96.07227`	Map · Directions
Bay Lake WPA 965 deeded ac	949	12 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.95986, -95.99570`	Map · Directions
Donley/Tillman WPA	642	15 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.02936, -95.95432`	Map · Directions
Kruger WPA 633 deeded ac	628	14 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.02466, -95.86486`	Map · Directions
Anderson WPA	584	5.7 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.88185, -95.93064`	Map · Directions
Buchl WPA 570 deeded ac	575	17 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.04637, -95.99527`	Map · Directions
Seter WPA	537	13 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.91419, -96.08726`	Map · Directions
Lee Marshes WPA 450 deeded ac	480	11 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.91987, -96.03956`	Map · Directions
Matter WPA	476	15 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.02095, -95.98175`	Map · Directions
Boyer Lake WPA	473	10 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.88381, -96.04047`	Map · Directions
Lake Park WPA	424	12 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.86637, -96.10144`	Map · Directions
Balke Lake WPA 261 deeded ac	386	17 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.00273, -96.08071`	Map · Directions
Read WPA	370	18 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.05917, -96.02224`	Map · Directions
Audubon WPA	364	6.0 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.85058, -95.96986`	Map · Directions
Marks WPA	319	16 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.94588, -96.14319`	Map · Directions
Warling Lake WPA	283	11 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.89460, -96.06001`	Map · Directions
Brandy Lake WPA 291 deeded ac	281	2.9 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.84952, -95.89486`	Map · Directions
Haverkamp WPA 251 deeded ac	258	16 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.04829, -95.90618`	Map · Directions
Pederson WPA	253	19 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.08422, -95.91676`	Map · Directions
Plum Grove Lake WPA	250	14 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.99744, -96.00572`	Map · Directions
Seter/Davis WPA	241	12 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.90742, -96.07968`	Map · Directions
Severson Lake WPA	230	11 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.79927, -96.07360`	Map · Directions
Axberg Lake WPA	223	15 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.83919, -96.16174`	Map · Directions
Kent WPA	200	21 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.12721, -95.88442`	Map · Directions
Ulich WPA	200	9.5 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`46.95488, -95.88439`	Map · Directions
Schouviller WPA	196	16 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.04773, -95.88317`	Map · Directions
Larson WPA	187	15 mi SW of Detroit Lakes	`46.72159, -96.13782`	Map · Directions
Bakken WPA	180	6.5 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.81246, -95.98665`	Map · Directions
Headquarters WPA	167	2.2 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`46.85149, -95.84820`	Map · Directions
Shay WPA	164	23 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.10435, -96.09383`	Map · Directions
Johnson WPA	161	5.1 mi SW of Detroit Lakes	`46.76795, -95.92767`	Map · Directions
Tessman WPA	160	4.1 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.86236, -95.91026`	Map · Directions
Arneson WPA 143 deeded ac	150	5.0 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.85232, -95.94475`	Map · Directions
Erickson WPA	147	12 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.80971, -96.10307`	Map · Directions
Lindsey Lake WPA	141	19 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.07103, -96.00055`	Map · Directions
Quick WPA	122	10 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.92539, -95.99638`	Map · Directions
Jacobson WPA	118	5.4 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.84951, -95.95564`	Map · Directions
Westbury WPA 109 deeded ac	116	7.5 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.92023, -95.91349`	Map · Directions
Stumbo WPA 104 deeded ac	113	27 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.14162, -96.17884`	Map · Directions
Lyman Lakes WPA	103	14 mi E of Detroit Lakes	`46.88008, -95.56003`	Map · Directions
Stinking Lake WPA	101	16 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.90449, -96.16914`	Map · Directions
Clark WPA	100	16 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.04497, -95.82198`	Map · Directions
Struss WPA	97	2.9 mi E of Detroit Lakes	`46.82867, -95.78897`	Map · Directions
Dunham WPA	91	12 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.77760, -96.09081`	Map · Directions
Lage WPA	82	15 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.74168, -96.13849`	Map · Directions
Detroit Mountain WPA	81	2.5 mi E of Detroit Lakes	`46.81447, -95.79837`	Map · Directions
Sullivan WPA	78	12 mi SW of Detroit Lakes	`46.71962, -96.05867`	Map · Directions
Downing WPA	78	24 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.14978, -95.98086`	Map · Directions
Lethenstrum WPA	78	5.9 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.86946, -95.95090`	Map · Directions
Syverson WPA	72	24 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`47.11971, -96.09612`	Map · Directions
Spring Creek WPA	71	21 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.10990, -95.95630`	Map · Directions
Haugrud WPA	60	11 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.85400, -96.07326`	Map · Directions
Dibley WPA	57	8.4 mi NW of Detroit Lakes	`46.90433, -95.97781`	Map · Directions
Scheelk WPA	43	4.3 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.80249, -95.93817`	Map · Directions
Shodean WPA	40	4.7 mi W of Detroit Lakes	`46.83861, -95.94622`	Map · Directions
White Earth WPA	40	17 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`47.06581, -95.85111`	Map · Directions
Bristlin Partnership WPA	9.0	2.1 mi N of Detroit Lakes	`46.85011, -95.84133`	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 Becker 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 Becker 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.

Detroit Lakes, MN9.7 mi — county center is NE of town
Fergus Falls, MN46 mi — county center is NE of town
Moorhead, MN52 mi — county center is E of town
Fargo, ND53 mi — county center is E of town

Shooting hours in Becker County

Today at Becker County

Legal light*–

Sunrise–

Sunset–

Pick a date

*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	6:10 AM	6:40 AM	8:05 PM	13h 24m
Tue, Sep 15, 2026	6:28 AM	6:58 AM	7:37 PM	12h 38m
Thu, Oct 1, 2026	6:49 AM	7:19 AM	7:04 PM	11h 45m
Thu, Oct 15, 2026	7:08 AM	7:38 AM	6:37 PM	10h 59m
Sun, Nov 1, 2026	6:33 AM	7:03 AM	5:08 PM	10h 05m
Sun, Nov 15, 2026	6:54 AM	7:24 AM	4:50 PM	9h 25m
Tue, Dec 1, 2026	7:16 AM	7:46 AM	4:37 PM	8h 50m
Tue, Dec 15, 2026	7:30 AM	8:00 AM	4:34 PM	8h 34m
Fri, Jan 1, 2027	7:37 AM	8:07 AM	4:43 PM	8h 35m
Fri, Jan 15, 2027	7:33 AM	8:03 AM	4:58 PM	8h 55m
Mon, Feb 1, 2027	7:18 AM	7:48 AM	5:23 PM	9h 35m

Computed for 46.890, -95.671 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day forecast for Becker County

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Refuges & districts with land in Becker County

Detroit Lakes WMD

Becker County, MN

1 special1 closed

🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

50.2K huntable acres

Fergus Falls WMD

Otter Tail County, MN

1 special1 closed

🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

49.4K huntable acres

Hamden Slough NWR

Becker County, MN

3 special

🦌🦆

3.4K huntable acres

Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR

Lincoln County, MN

1 open3 special1 closed

🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

6.7K huntable acres

Tamarac NWR

Becker County, MN

6 special1 closed

🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

42K huntable acres

Refuge hunt units in Becker County

Unit	Refuge	Status	Acres
WPA Closed	Detroit Lakes WMD	Closed	387
Audubon	Hamden Slough NWR	Special regs	825
Hamden	Hamden Slough NWR	Special regs	1,886
Riceville	Hamden Slough NWR	Special regs	697
A	Tamarac NWR	Special regs	21,104
B	Tamarac NWR	Special regs	2,392
C	Tamarac NWR	Special regs	5,614
D	Tamarac NWR	Special regs	11,539
E	Tamarac NWR	Special regs	282
F	Tamarac NWR	Special regs	1,077
Closed	Tamarac NWR	Closed	1,331

Neighboring counties with WPAs

Clay County, MN 59 WPAs · 13.5K ac
Mahnomen County, MN 25 WPAs · 7.2K ac
Norman County, MN 5 WPAs · 1.6K ac
Otter Tail County, MN 107 WPAs · 24.3K ac

Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.