Minnesota Valley NWR
Hennepin County, MN
!12 special✕5 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
12.6K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Dakota County, MN
Dakota County has 1 named Waterfowl Production Area covering 74 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land.
WPAs here are managed by the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 587 square miles and has roughly 439,882 residents. WPAs make up about 0.0% of its land area.
1named WPAs
74acres of WPA land
74largest WPA (ac)
2refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Dakota 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 Dakota County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soberg WPA | 74 | 24 mi S of Minneapolis | 44.63196, -93.31370 |
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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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.
- St. Paul, MN19 mi — county center is S of town
- Minneapolis, MN24 mi — county center is SE of town
- Rochester, MN53 mi — county center is NW of town
- Mankato, MN59 mi — county center is NE of town
Shooting hours in Dakota County
Today at Dakota 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 | 6:03 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:51 PM | 13h 18m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 PM | 12h 36m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:54 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:29 PM | 11h 04m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 5:02 PM | 10h 14m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 4:45 PM | 9h 38m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:34 PM | 9h 06m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:32 PM | 8h 50m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:41 PM | 8h 52m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:55 PM | 9h 10m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:18 PM | 9h 46m |
Computed for 44.673, -93.030 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Dakota 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 Dakota County
Refuge hunt units in Dakota County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Dog | Minnesota Valley NWR | ✕Closed | 1,502 |
| Soberg WPA | Minnesota Valley WMD | !Special regs | 114 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Rice County, MN 3 WPAs · 489 ac
- Scott County, MN 1 WPAs · 40 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.