Hamden Slough NWR
Becker County, MN · 18 mi NE
!3 special
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3.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Clay County, Minnesota
Carlson Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Covering about 64 acres, Carlson Waterfowl Production Area protects prairie wetlands and uplands in Clay County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District as part of the Clay County Waterfowl Production Area of Mn 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.
64GIS acres
62deeded acres
Clay Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Carlson 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 Carlson 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 Carlson WPA
Navigate
Destination: Carlson Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
46.85111, -96.31011- DMS
46°51′04.0″N 96°18′36.4″W
Nearest towns
- Moorhead, MN22 mi E of town
- Detroit Lakes, MN22 mi W of town
- Fargo, ND23 mi E of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl25 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Carlson WPA
Today at Carlson 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 | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:07 PM | 13h 24m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:39 PM | 12h 38m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:07 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:40 PM | 10h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:11 PM | 10h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:52 PM | 9h 26m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:39 PM | 8h 51m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:37 PM | 8h 34m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:46 PM | 8h 36m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:01 PM | 8h 55m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:25 PM | 9h 35m |
Computed for 46.851, -96.310 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bjorndahl WPA | 41 | 0.3 mi S | Clay County |
| Nelson WPA | 241 | 0.8 mi S | Clay County |
| Hawley WPA | 109 | 1.1 mi N | Clay County |
| Noreen WPA | 493 | 1.7 mi E | Clay County |
| Doran Lake WPA | 329 | 2.2 mi S | Clay County |
| Kasin WPA | 195 | 2.9 mi SW | Clay County |
| Rushfeldt WPA | 650 | 3.5 mi E | Clay County |
| Lee Lake WPA | 89 | 3.7 mi E | Clay County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Clay County Waterfowl Production Area of Mn. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.