Hamden Slough NWR
Becker County, MN · 10 mi E
!3 special
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3.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Clay County, Minnesota
Rustad Lake Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Rustad Lake Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 414 acres located 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.
414GIS acres
402deeded acres
Clay Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Rustad 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 Rustad 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 Rustad Lake WPA
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Destination: Rustad Lake Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
46.97919, -96.20431- DMS
46°58′45.1″N 96°12′15.5″W
Nearest towns
- Detroit Lakes, MN20 mi NW of town
- Moorhead, MN28 mi E of town
- Fargo, ND28 mi E of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl29 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Rustad Lake WPA
Today at Rustad 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 | 8:07 PM | 13h 24m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:39 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:06 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:39 PM | 10h 59m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:52 PM | 9h 25m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 4:38 PM | 8h 50m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:36 PM | 8h 33m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:45 PM | 8h 35m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:00 PM | 8h 54m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:25 PM | 9h 34m |
Computed for 46.979, -96.204 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nord WPA | 83 | 0.7 mi S | Clay County |
| Flora Lake WPA | 229 | 1.9 mi W | Clay County |
| Hitterdahl WPA | 14 | 2.7 mi W | Clay County |
| Swede Grove Lake WPA | 32 | 2.8 mi S | Clay County |
| Hitterdal WPA | 161 | 3.1 mi W | Clay County |
| Korell WPA | 763 | 3.4 mi NW | Clay County |
| Eide WPA | 107 | 3.5 mi NW | Clay County |
| Marks WPA | 319 | 3.7 mi SE | Becker 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.