Windom WMD
Cottonwood County, MN
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17.8K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Faribault County, MN
Faribault County has 7 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 1,019 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Pilot Grove Lake WPA at 339 acres; the average tract is about 146 acres, and 1 are smaller than 80 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 721 square miles and has roughly 13,921 residents. WPAs make up about 0.2% of its land area.
7named WPAs
1Kacres of WPA land
339largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Faribault 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 Faribault County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Grove Lake WPA | 339 | 41 mi S of Mankato | 43.57550, -94.15700 |
Map · Directions |
| Maple River WPA | 200 | 23 mi S of Mankato | 43.82773, -93.94013 |
Map · Directions |
| Prescott WPA | 158 | 31 mi S of Mankato | 43.72414, -94.10166 |
Map · Directions |
| Kiester WPA | 137 | 35 mi NW of Mason City | 43.50509, -93.68619 |
Map · Directions |
| Winnebago WPA | 81 | 24 mi S of Mankato | 43.82940, -94.10492 |
Map · Directions |
| Minnesota Lake WPA | 80 | 24 mi S of Mankato | 43.82395, -93.89260 |
Map · Directions |
| Lura Lake WPA | 24 | 22 mi S of Mankato | 43.84295, -94.04935 |
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 Faribault 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 Faribault 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, MN34 mi — county center is S of town
- Mason City, IA52 mi — county center is NW of town
- Windom, MN60 mi — county center is E of town
- Spencer, IA70 mi — county center is NE of town
Shooting hours in Faribault County
Today at Faribault 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 | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:53 PM | 13h 16m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:28 PM | 12h 35m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:41 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:58 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 06m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:08 PM | 10h 18m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 4:52 PM | 9h 43m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:41 PM | 9h 12m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:39 PM | 8h 58m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:48 PM | 8h 59m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:02 PM | 9h 16m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:24 PM | 9h 51m |
Computed for 43.674, -93.950 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Faribault 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 Faribault County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Blue Earth County, MN 17 WPAs · 4.2K ac
- Freeborn County, MN 10 WPAs · 2.8K ac
- Kossuth County, IA 15 WPAs · 3.1K ac
- Martin County, MN 3 WPAs · 544 ac
- Waseca County, MN 3 WPAs · 302 ac
- Winnebago County, IA 7 WPAs · 1.5K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.