Big Stone WMD
Big Stone County, MN · 15 mi S
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4.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Big Stone County, Minnesota
Dismal Swamp Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Covering about 642 acres, Dismal Swamp Waterfowl Production Area protects prairie wetlands and uplands in Big Stone County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Morris Wetland Management District as part of the Big Stone 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.
642GIS acres
640deeded acres
Big Stone Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Dismal Swamp 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 Dismal Swamp 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 Dismal Swamp WPA
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Destination: Dismal Swamp Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
45.46686, -96.27202- DMS
45°28′00.7″N 96°16′19.3″W
Nearest towns
- Morris, MN19 mi SW of town
- Alexandria, MN52 mi SW of town
- Watertown, SD57 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl104 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Dismal Swamp WPA
Today at Dismal Swamp 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 | 6:15 AM | 6:45 AM | 8:05 PM | 13h 20m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:38 PM | 12h 37m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:07 PM | 11h 46m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:41 PM | 11h 02m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:14 PM | 10h 11m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:56 PM | 9h 33m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:14 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:44 PM | 9h 00m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:27 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:42 PM | 8h 45m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:51 PM | 8h 46m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 05m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:29 PM | 9h 42m |
Computed for 45.467, -96.272 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Stone WPA | 93 | 1.5 mi E | Stevens County |
| Malta WPA | 132 | 1.6 mi SE | Big Stone County |
| Odden WPA | 433 | 1.9 mi N | Big Stone County |
| Dybdahl WPA | 174 | 2.6 mi SE | Stevens County |
| Grossman WPA | 80 | 2.9 mi NE | Stevens County |
| Centennial WPA | 605 | 3.0 mi W | Big Stone County |
| Jacobson WPA | 220 | 3.6 mi NW | Big Stone County |
| Wagner WPA | 161 | 3.8 mi W | Big Stone County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Big Stone County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.