Hamden Slough NWR
Becker County, MN · 4.9 mi E
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3.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Becker County, Minnesota
Balke Lake Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Balke Lake Waterfowl Production Area is a 386-acre tract of federally owned wetland and grassland habitat in Becker County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District as part of the Becker County Waterfowl Production Area group of WPAs. Waterfowl Production Areas are purchased largely with Federal Duck Stamp dollars and are generally open to hunting, trapping and fishing under state regulations, with some federal restrictions.
386GIS acres
261deeded acres
Becker Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Balke Lake WPA satellite map
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — public land. Everything outside is typically private; always look for boundary signs.
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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
Hunting on Balke Lake WPA
What you can typically do
- Hunt waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Minnesota regulations
- Walk in from roads or designated parking areas — vehicles generally stay off the tract
- Fish and trap where state rules and district regulations allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and hiking
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most WPAs
- Motorized vehicles only on designated roads/parking
- Temporary blinds and stands usually must be removed daily
- Non-toxic shot required for waterfowl — many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas or special regulations — check signs
How to get to Balke Lake WPA
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Destination: Balke Lake Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
47.00273, -96.08071- DMS
47°00′09.8″N 96°04′50.6″W
Nearest towns
- Detroit Lakes, MN17 mi NW of town
- Moorhead, MN34 mi E of town
- Fargo, ND35 mi E of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl35 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Balke Lake WPA
Today at Balke Lake WPA
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 | 6:12 AM | 6:42 AM | 8:06 PM | 13h 24m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:38 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:06 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:39 PM | 10h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:51 PM | 9h 25m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:38 PM | 8h 50m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:35 PM | 8h 33m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:39 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:44 PM | 8h 35m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:35 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:59 PM | 8h 54m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:24 PM | 9h 34m |
Computed for 47.003, -96.081 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Nearby Waterfowl Production Areas
| WPA | Acres | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plum Grove Lake WPA | 250 | 3.6 mi E | Becker County |
| Read WPA | 370 | 4.8 mi NE | Becker County |
| Matter WPA | 476 | 4.8 mi E | Becker County |
| Marks WPA | 319 | 4.9 mi SW | Becker County |
| Bay Lake WPA | 949 | 5.0 mi SE | Becker County |
| Buchl WPA | 575 | 5.0 mi NE | Becker County |
| Nord WPA | 83 | 6.0 mi W | Clay County |
| Hellicksen Prairie WPA | 1,385 | 6.0 mi N | Becker County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Becker County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.