Detroit Lakes WMD
Becker County, MN
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50.2K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Mahnomen County, MN
Mahnomen County has 25 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 7,165 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Nelson Prairie WPA at 2,082 acres; the average tract is about 287 acres, and 8 are smaller than 80 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 582 square miles and has roughly 5,411 residents. WPAs make up about 1.9% of its land area.
25named WPAs
7.2Kacres of WPA land
2,082largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Mahnomen 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 Mahnomen County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Prairie WPA 2,064 deeded ac |
2,082 | 45 mi S of Thief River Falls | 47.47776, -95.97064 |
Map · Directions |
| Barker WPA | 691 | 38 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.35989, -95.94421 |
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| Squirrel Lake WPA | 605 | 24 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.16852, -95.87898 |
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| Downing WPA | 483 | 25 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.16251, -95.99145 |
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| Chief Lake WPA 415 deeded ac |
421 | 38 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.36814, -95.84807 |
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| Edwin Lake WPA 380 deeded ac |
394 | 37 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.34706, -95.77041 |
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| Beaulieu Lake WPA 316 deeded ac |
350 | 45 mi W of Bemidji | 47.49304, -95.85082 |
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| Waubun WPA | 282 | 24 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.17101, -95.91877 |
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| Paul Sr. WPA | 245 | 29 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.23797, -95.87122 |
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| Haggman WPA | 240 | 29 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.23568, -95.91914 |
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| Mee WPA | 216 | 44 mi W of Bemidji | 47.50156, -95.81733 |
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| Sandy Lake WPA | 161 | 33 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.29233, -95.85270 |
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| Circle Lake WPA | 155 | 38 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.36422, -95.80032 |
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| Wolbeck WPA | 138 | 31 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.25484, -95.99181 |
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| Dropseed WPA | 96 | 28 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.21365, -95.94729 |
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| Krebsbach WPA | 89 | 29 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.23370, -95.78286 |
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| Moore Lake WPA | 80 | 27 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.19687, -95.97038 |
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| Rothschadl WPA | 80 | 29 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.24070, -95.79289 |
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| Paul Jr. WPA | 79 | 28 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.22264, -95.81833 |
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| Stalboerger WPA | 74 | 29 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.23469, -95.94974 |
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| Little Oak Lake WPA 59 deeded ac |
69 | 32 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.28692, -95.82923 |
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| Borgrud WPA | 66 | 28 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.21800, -95.79255 |
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| Erion WPA | 39 | 29 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.24614, -95.85016 |
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| Skoog WPA | 21 | 28 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.22118, -95.95998 |
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| Tiny WPA | 8.8 | 37 mi N of Detroit Lakes | 47.35284, -95.81719 |
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 Mahnomen 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 Mahnomen 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.
- Detroit Lakes, MN35 mi — county center is N of town
- Bemidji, MN45 mi — county center is W of town
- Moorhead, MN55 mi — county center is NE of town
- Fargo, ND55 mi — county center is NE of town
Shooting hours in Mahnomen County
Today at Mahnomen 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 | 8:06 PM | 13h 25m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:38 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:05 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:37 PM | 10h 58m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:08 PM | 10h 03m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:49 PM | 9h 23m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:36 PM | 8h 47m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:33 PM | 8h 30m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:42 PM | 8h 32m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:57 PM | 8h 52m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:22 PM | 9h 33m |
Computed for 47.328, -95.814 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Mahnomen 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 Mahnomen County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Becker County, MN 57 WPAs · 14.4K ac
- Norman County, MN 5 WPAs · 1.6K ac
- Polk County, MN 40 WPAs · 13.4K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.