Minnesota Valley WMD
Le Sueur County, MN
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8.7K huntable acres
County guide · Minnesota · MN WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Rice County, MN
Rice County has 3 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 489 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Erin Prairie WPA at 173 acres; the average tract is about 163 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 516 square miles and has roughly 67,097 residents. WPAs make up about 0.1% of its land area.
3named WPAs
489acres of WPA land
173largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Rice 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 Rice County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Prairie WPA | 173 | 32 mi NE of Mankato | 44.42932, -93.45826 |
Map · Directions |
| Wolf Creek WPA | 164 | 35 mi NE of Mankato | 44.36661, -93.33770 |
Map · Directions |
| Hurley WPA | 153 | 34 mi NE of Mankato | 44.37268, -93.36783 |
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 Rice 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 Rice 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, MN37 mi — county center is E of town
- St. Paul, MN43 mi — county center is S of town
- Minneapolis, MN44 mi — county center is S of town
- Rochester, MN46 mi — county center is NW of town
Shooting hours in Rice County
Today at Rice 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 | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:52 PM | 13h 17m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 PM | 12h 36m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:56 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 5:04 PM | 10h 15m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 39m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:36 PM | 9h 08m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:34 PM | 8h 53m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:43 PM | 8h 54m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:57 PM | 9h 12m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:20 PM | 9h 48m |
Computed for 44.337, -93.286 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Rice 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 Rice County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Dakota County, MN 1 WPAs · 74 ac
- Le Sueur County, MN 4 WPAs · 418 ac
- Scott County, MN 1 WPAs · 40 ac
- Steele County, MN 4 WPAs · 881 ac
- Waseca County, MN 3 WPAs · 302 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.