Windom WMD
Cottonwood County, MN
!1 special✕1 closed
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17.8K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Brown County, MN
Brown County has 2 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 190 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Middle Minnesota River WPA at 110 acres; the average tract is about 95 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Windom Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 618 square miles and has roughly 25,912 residents. WPAs make up about 0.0% of its land area.
2named WPAs
190acres of WPA land
110largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Brown 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 Brown County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Minnesota River WPA | 110 | 28 mi W of Mankato | 44.19770, -94.54502 |
Map · Directions |
| Strom Lake WPA | 80 | 19 mi W of Mankato | 44.14679, -94.37396 |
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 Brown 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 Brown 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.
- Mankato, MN35 mi — county center is W of town
- Windom, MN38 mi — county center is NE of town
- Litchfield, MN57 mi — county center is S of town
- Marshall, MN57 mi — county center is E of town
Shooting hours in Brown County
Today at Brown 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 | 6:10 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:57 PM | 13h 17m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:31 PM | 12h 36m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:01 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:36 PM | 11h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 16m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 40m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:41 PM | 9h 08m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:40 PM | 8h 53m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:24 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:48 PM | 8h 55m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 12m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:25 PM | 9h 48m |
Computed for 44.314, -94.656 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Brown 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 Brown County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Blue Earth County, MN 17 WPAs · 4.2K ac
- Cottonwood County, MN 14 WPAs · 3.8K ac
- Renville County, MN 7 WPAs · 1.9K ac
- Watonwan County, MN 1 WPAs · 55 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.