Litchfield WMD
Meeker County, MN
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38.6K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in McLeod County, MN
McLeod County has 10 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 2,085 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Phasianus WPA at 720 acres; the average tract is about 209 acres, and 1 are smaller than 80 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Litchfield Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 506 square miles and has roughly 36,771 residents. WPAs make up about 0.6% of its land area.
10named WPAs
2.1Kacres of WPA land
720largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in McLeod 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 McLeod County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phasianus WPA | 720 | 25 mi SE of Litchfield | 44.80811, -94.27990 |
Map · Directions |
| Barber Lake WPA | 229 | 21 mi S of Litchfield | 44.82892, -94.43056 |
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| McLeod WPA | 198 | 35 mi S of Litchfield | 44.65403, -94.30274 |
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| Brownton WPA | 174 | 29 mi S of Litchfield | 44.72590, -94.39389 |
Map · Directions |
| Bakers Lake WPA | 168 | 32 mi S of Litchfield | 44.68148, -94.35825 |
Map · Directions |
| Barta-Oliva WPA | 159 | 19 mi SE of Litchfield | 44.92708, -94.26357 |
Map · Directions |
| South Silver Lake WPA | 146 | 24 mi SE of Litchfield | 44.87953, -94.19733 |
Map · Directions |
| Eagle Lake WPA | 140 | 22 mi S of Litchfield | 44.80792, -94.47799 |
Map · Directions |
| Frontier WPA | 80 | 30 mi S of Litchfield | 44.70832, -94.40160 |
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| Eagle Lake South WPA | 72 | 24 mi S of Litchfield | 44.78478, -94.47303 |
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 McLeod 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 McLeod 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.
- Litchfield, MN26 mi — county center is SE of town
- Willmar, MN44 mi — county center is SE of town
- Mankato, MN47 mi — county center is N of town
- Minneapolis, MN50 mi — county center is W of town
Shooting hours in McLeod County
Today at McLeod 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 | 7:56 PM | 13h 19m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:30 PM | 12h 36m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:59 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 04m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 5:07 PM | 10h 14m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:50 PM | 9h 37m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:38 PM | 9h 05m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:36 PM | 8h 49m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:24 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:45 PM | 8h 51m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:00 PM | 9h 09m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:23 PM | 9h 46m |
Computed for 44.807, -94.255 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for McLeod 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 McLeod County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Carver County, MN 3 WPAs · 523 ac
- Meeker County, MN 17 WPAs · 5.4K ac
- Renville County, MN 7 WPAs · 1.9K ac
- Sibley County, MN 7 WPAs · 1.7K ac
- Wright County, MN 13 WPAs · 3.4K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.