Big Stone WMD
Big Stone County, MN · 21 mi SE
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4.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Big Stone County, Minnesota
O'connell Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Covering about 60 acres, O'connell 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.
60GIS acres
60deeded acres
Big Stone Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
O'connell 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 O'connell 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 O'connell WPA
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Destination: O'connell Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
45.53554, -96.52969- DMS
45°32′07.9″N 96°31′46.9″W
Nearest towns
- Morris, MN30 mi W of town
- Wahpeton, ND51 mi S of town
- Watertown, SD52 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- ABR Aberdeen Regional92 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at O'connell WPA
Today at O'connell 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 | 6:16 AM | 6:46 AM | 8:06 PM | 13h 20m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:39 PM | 12h 37m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:08 PM | 11h 46m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:42 PM | 11h 02m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:34 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 11m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:57 PM | 9h 33m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:45 PM | 8h 60m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:43 PM | 8h 44m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:51 PM | 8h 46m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:06 PM | 9h 04m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:30 PM | 9h 42m |
Computed for 45.536, -96.530 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane WPA | 92 | 1.2 mi SW | Big Stone County |
| Seidl WPA | 224 | 1.6 mi SE | Big Stone County |
| Curran WPA | 26 | 2.2 mi N | Big Stone County |
| Swenson WPA | 16 | 2.3 mi W | Big Stone County |
| Beck WPA | 246 | 2.3 mi S | Big Stone County |
| Toqua WPA | 68 | 3.1 mi W | Big Stone County |
| Boehnke WPA | 168 | 3.5 mi S | Big Stone County |
| Barry Lake WPA | 634 | 3.6 mi NW | 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.