Big Stone WMD
Big Stone County, MN
!1 special
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4.4K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Lyon County, MN
Lyon County has 8 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 2,305 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Black Rush Lake WPA at 963 acres; the average tract is about 288 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Big Stone Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 722 square miles and has roughly 25,269 residents. WPAs make up about 0.5% of its land area.
8named WPAs
2.3Kacres of WPA land
963largest WPA (ac)
2refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Lyon 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 Lyon County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rush Lake WPA | 963 | 9.8 mi SW of Marshall | 44.33285, -95.90204 |
Map · Directions |
| Arends WPA | 319 | 18 mi NW of Marshall | 44.59254, -96.08820 |
Map · Directions |
| Peterson WPA | 239 | 18 mi SW of Marshall | 44.21659, -95.95099 |
Map · Directions |
| Redwood River WPA | 225 | 8.5 mi NE of Marshall | 44.51201, -95.64007 |
Map · Directions |
| Yellow Medicine River WPA 154 deeded ac |
163 | 13 mi W of Marshall | 44.43339, -96.04955 |
Map · Directions |
| Bendix 1 WPA | 151 | 15 mi S of Marshall | 44.22896, -95.80276 |
Map · Directions |
| Bendix II WPA | 125 | 15 mi S of Marshall | 44.22860, -95.78432 |
Map · Directions |
| Sherman WPA | 120 | 15 mi S of Marshall | 44.24147, -95.82963 |
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 Lyon 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 Lyon 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.
- Marshall, MN6.0 mi — county center is SW of town
- Brookings, SD48 mi — county center is E of town
- Windom, MN50 mi — county center is NW of town
- Willmar, MN65 mi — county center is SW of town
Shooting hours in Lyon County
Today at Lyon 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 | 6:15 AM | 6:45 AM | 8:02 PM | 13h 17m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:36 PM | 12h 36m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:49 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:06 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:06 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:41 PM | 11h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 5:14 PM | 10h 15m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 4:57 PM | 9h 39m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:46 PM | 9h 08m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:22 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:44 PM | 8h 53m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:53 PM | 8h 54m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:07 PM | 9h 12m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:30 PM | 9h 48m |
Computed for 44.370, -95.837 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Lyon 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 Lyon County
Refuge hunt units in Lyon County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open | Big Stone WMD | !Special regs | 4,442 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Lincoln County, MN 17 WPAs · 2.3K ac
- Murray County, MN 11 WPAs · 3.1K ac
- Yellow Medicine County, MN 5 WPAs · 1.1K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.