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 Nobles County, MN
Nobles County has 5 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 744 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Bloom WPA at 257 acres; the average tract is about 149 acres, and 2 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 724 square miles and has roughly 22,290 residents. WPAs make up about 0.2% of its land area.
5named WPAs
744acres of WPA land
257largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Nobles 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 Nobles County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloom WPA | 257 | 34 mi W of Windom | 43.79642, -95.78688 |
Map · Directions |
| Graham Lake WPA | 248 | 22 mi W of Windom | 43.79706, -95.54731 |
Map · Directions |
| Jack Creek WPA | 123 | 22 mi W of Windom | 43.78248, -95.54757 |
Map · Directions |
| Lake Bella WPA | 73 | 35 mi SW of Windom | 43.51988, -95.62147 |
Map · Directions |
| Worthington WPA | 42 | 28 mi SW of Windom | 43.62605, -95.57679 |
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 Nobles 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 Nobles 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.
- Windom, MN35 mi — county center is SW of town
- Spencer, IA48 mi — county center is NW of town
- Sioux Falls, SD49 mi — county center is E of town
- Marshall, MN54 mi — county center is S of town
Shooting hours in Nobles County
Today at Nobles 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 | 8:01 PM | 13h 16m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:35 PM | 12h 35m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:06 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:05 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:41 PM | 11h 06m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:27 AM | 6:57 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 18m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:46 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:59 PM | 9h 43m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:06 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:48 PM | 9h 12m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:46 PM | 8h 58m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:55 PM | 8h 59m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:23 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:09 PM | 9h 16m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:31 PM | 9h 51m |
Computed for 43.673, -95.761 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Nobles 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 Nobles County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Cottonwood County, MN 14 WPAs · 3.8K ac
- Jackson County, MN 26 WPAs · 5.5K ac
- Murray County, MN 11 WPAs · 3.1K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.