Hamden Slough NWR
Becker County, MN · 12 mi S
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3.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Becker County, Minnesota
Downing Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Downing Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 78 acres located 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.
78GIS acres
78deeded acres
Becker Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Downing 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 Downing 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 Downing WPA
Navigate
Destination: Downing Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
47.14978, -95.98086- DMS
47°08′59.2″N 95°58′51.1″W
Nearest towns
- Detroit Lakes, MN24 mi N of town
- Moorhead, MN42 mi NE of town
- Fargo, ND42 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl43 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Downing WPA
Today at Downing 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 | 6:11 AM | 6:41 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 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:38 PM | 10h 58m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:09 PM | 10h 04m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:50 PM | 9h 24m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:37 PM | 8h 48m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:34 PM | 8h 32m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:43 PM | 8h 33m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:59 PM | 8h 53m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:23 PM | 9h 34m |
Computed for 47.150, -95.981 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downing WPA | 483 | 1.0 mi NW | Mahnomen County |
| Spring Creek WPA | 71 | 3.0 mi SE | Becker County |
| Waubun WPA | 282 | 3.3 mi NE | Mahnomen County |
| Moore Lake WPA | 80 | 3.3 mi N | Mahnomen County |
| Dropseed WPA | 96 | 4.7 mi N | Mahnomen County |
| Kent WPA | 200 | 4.8 mi E | Becker County |
| Squirrel Lake WPA | 605 | 5.0 mi E | Mahnomen County |
| Skoog WPA | 21 | 5.0 mi N | Mahnomen 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.