Detroit Lakes WMD
Becker County, MN
!1 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
50.2K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Clay County, MN
Clay County has 59 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 13,546 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Flickertail Prairie WPA at 978 acres; the average tract is about 230 acres, and 14 are smaller than 80 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District and Fergus Falls Wetland Management District, which set any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 1,052 square miles and has roughly 65,318 residents. WPAs make up about 2.0% of its land area.
59named WPAs
13.5Kacres of WPA land
978largest WPA (ac)
3refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Clay 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.
Loading interactive map…
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 Clay County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flickertail Prairie WPA 993 deeded ac |
978 | 24 mi NE of Moorhead | 47.06760, -96.36397 |
Map · Directions |
| Kenyon WPA | 779 | 22 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.78437, -96.31222 |
Map · Directions |
| Korell WPA | 763 | 23 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 47.02434, -96.23382 |
Map · Directions |
| Haugtvedt WPA 742 deeded ac |
731 | 22 mi SW of Detroit Lakes | 46.65215, -96.25423 |
Map · Directions |
| Rushfeldt WPA | 650 | 18 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.84674, -96.23582 |
Map · Directions |
| Fuglie WPA | 631 | 26 mi NE of Moorhead | 47.07339, -96.31681 |
Map · Directions |
| Anfinson Lake WPA | 504 | 20 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.79980, -96.27172 |
Map · Directions |
| Noreen WPA | 493 | 20 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.84224, -96.27589 |
Map · Directions |
| Hoykens WPA 498 deeded ac |
484 | 21 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.93007, -96.26437 |
Map · Directions |
| Hay Creek WPA | 448 | 15 mi E of Moorhead | 46.79468, -96.46825 |
Map · Directions |
| Rustad Lake WPA 402 deeded ac |
414 | 20 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 46.97919, -96.20431 |
Map · Directions |
| Julsrud WPA 373 deeded ac |
381 | 23 mi SW of Detroit Lakes | 46.63424, -96.24602 |
Map · Directions |
| Doran Lake WPA 321 deeded ac |
329 | 22 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.81973, -96.30550 |
Map · Directions |
| Whiskey Lake WPA 320 deeded ac |
309 | 20 mi SW of Detroit Lakes | 46.64419, -96.18562 |
Map · Directions |
| Lofgren WPA | 263 | 19 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.92458, -96.22981 |
Map · Directions |
| Downer Prairie WPA 256 deeded ac |
263 | 14 mi SE of Moorhead | 46.78294, -96.50759 |
Map · Directions |
| Tatlie Lake WPA | 247 | 22 mi E of Moorhead | 46.98322, -96.32512 |
Map · Directions |
| Nelson WPA | 241 | 22 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.83969, -96.30762 |
Map · Directions |
| Manitoba Junction WPA | 240 | 20 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.92819, -96.24301 |
Map · Directions |
| Christianson WPA | 237 | 18 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.78574, -96.23692 |
Map · Directions |
| Flora Lake WPA | 229 | 21 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 46.96971, -96.24203 |
Map · Directions |
| Goose Lake WPA | 217 | 25 mi NE of Moorhead | 47.02252, -96.29464 |
Map · Directions |
| Anderson WPA | 206 | 22 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.94138, -96.29046 |
Map · Directions |
| Kasin WPA | 195 | 21 mi E of Moorhead | 46.81530, -96.34199 |
Map · Directions |
| Stangeland WPA | 170 | 16 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.82838, -96.18126 |
Map · Directions |
| Tatlie Exchange WPA | 169 | 21 mi E of Moorhead | 46.97174, -96.34515 |
Map · Directions |
| Hoe Lake WPA | 169 | 17 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.86010, -96.19579 |
Map · Directions |
| Three/Jetvig Lakes WPA 180 deeded ac |
168 | 18 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.80756, -96.23511 |
Map · Directions |
| Sieh WPA 160 deeded ac |
165 | 22 mi SW of Detroit Lakes | 46.69573, -96.27328 |
Map · Directions |
| Hitterdal WPA 169 deeded ac |
161 | 22 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 46.97365, -96.26970 |
Map · Directions |
| Moe WPA | 161 | 24 mi E of Moorhead | 46.98156, -96.29464 |
Map · Directions |
| Ashmore WPA | 157 | 24 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 47.03897, -96.25250 |
Map · Directions |
| Kronbeck WPA | 157 | 20 mi E of Moorhead | 46.93868, -96.35904 |
Map · Directions |
| Flowing WPA | 147 | 17 mi NE of Moorhead | 47.01482, -96.48995 |
Map · Directions |
| Jarvis WPA | 124 | 19 mi E of Moorhead | 46.96756, -96.40194 |
Map · Directions |
| Bjornson WPA | 116 | 19 mi E of Moorhead | 46.77892, -96.38051 |
Map · Directions |
| Hawley WPA | 109 | 22 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.86672, -96.30449 |
Map · Directions |
| Eide WPA | 107 | 23 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 47.00449, -96.26747 |
Map · Directions |
| Ness WPA | 102 | 23 mi SW of Detroit Lakes | 46.64348, -96.25033 |
Map · Directions |
| Hatchet Lake WPA | 94 | 18 mi NE of Moorhead | 46.97375, -96.41195 |
Map · Directions |
| Lee Lake WPA | 89 | 18 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.85989, -96.23392 |
Map · Directions |
| Melby WPA | 88 | 22 mi NE of Moorhead | 47.00336, -96.35697 |
Map · Directions |
| Nord WPA | 83 | 19 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 46.96980, -96.19881 |
Map · Directions |
| Hillestad WPA | 81 | 20 mi E of Moorhead | 46.94550, -96.35626 |
Map · Directions |
| Rollag WPA | 80 | 20 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.72326, -96.24034 |
Map · Directions |
| Holte WPA | 72 | 21 mi NE of Moorhead | 46.98973, -96.36651 |
Map · Directions |
| Rosell WPA | 65 | 17 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.88922, -96.18768 |
Map · Directions |
| Carlson WPA | 64 | 22 mi E of Moorhead | 46.85111, -96.31011 |
Map · Directions |
| Olson WPA | 61 | 18 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.86739, -96.21415 |
Map · Directions |
| Sagebraaten WPA | 54 | 19 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.79617, -96.25815 |
Map · Directions |
| Shulstad-Blankenship WPA | 46 | 26 mi SE of Moorhead | 46.62899, -96.34554 |
Map · Directions |
| Stinking Lake WPA | 41 | 16 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.90427, -96.17672 |
Map · Directions |
| Bjorndahl WPA | 41 | 22 mi E of Moorhead | 46.84669, -96.31010 |
Map · Directions |
| McDonald WPA | 40 | 21 mi SE of Moorhead | 46.73379, -96.36193 |
Map · Directions |
| Malakowsky WPA | 40 | 22 mi W of Detroit Lakes | 46.92664, -96.28276 |
Map · Directions |
| Gjerve WPA | 36 | 25 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 47.04798, -96.26098 |
Map · Directions |
| Swede Grove Lake WPA | 32 | 19 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 46.94034, -96.21727 |
Map · Directions |
| Hitterdahl WPA | 14 | 22 mi NW of Detroit Lakes | 46.98008, -96.26081 |
Map · Directions |
| Zilmer Prairie WPA | 11 | 20 mi NE of Moorhead | 47.05153, -96.43755 |
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 Clay 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 Clay 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.
- Moorhead, MN14 mi — county center is E of town
- Fargo, ND15 mi — county center is E of town
- Detroit Lakes, MN30 mi — county center is W of town
- Wahpeton, ND44 mi — county center is N of town
Shooting hours in Clay County
Today at Clay 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 | 6:14 AM | 6:44 AM | 8:08 PM | 13h 24m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:40 PM | 12h 38m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:08 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:40 PM | 10h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:12 PM | 10h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 25m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:40 PM | 8h 50m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:37 PM | 8h 34m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:41 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:46 PM | 8h 35m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:37 AM | 8:07 AM | 5:01 PM | 8h 55m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:26 PM | 9h 35m |
Computed for 46.895, -96.471 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Clay 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 Clay County
Refuge hunt units in Clay County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open | Detroit Lakes WMD | !Special regs | 50,199 |
| State Game Refuge - Spieker | Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR | !Special regs | 160 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Becker County, MN 57 WPAs · 14.4K ac
- Cass County, ND 4 WPAs · 3.4K ac
- Norman County, MN 5 WPAs · 1.6K ac
- Otter Tail County, MN 107 WPAs · 24.3K ac
- Richland County, ND 22 WPAs · 6.5K ac
- Wilkin County, MN 6 WPAs · 2.5K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.