Waterfowl Production Area · Douglas County, Minnesota

Ernest Olson Waterfowl Production Area

Public land (fee title)Walk-in access

Ernest Olson Waterfowl Production Area is a 253-acre tract of federally owned wetland and grassland habitat in Douglas County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District as part of the Douglas 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.

253GIS acres
253deeded acres
Douglas Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi

Ernest Olson 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
All WPAs in Douglas County:KMLGPX

Hunting on Ernest Olson 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 Ernest Olson WPA

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Destination: Ernest Olson Waterfowl Production Area

Decimal
46.05663, -95.68106
DMS
46°03′23.9″N 95°40′51.8″W

Nearest towns

  • Alexandria, MN18 mi NW of town
  • Fergus Falls, MN25 mi SE of town
  • Morris, MN34 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • FAR Fargo Hector Intl81 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

Shooting hours at Ernest Olson WPA

Today at Ernest Olson 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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM8:04 PM13h 22m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM7:36 PM12h 37m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM7:05 PM11h 46m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM6:38 PM11h 01m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM5:10 PM10h 09m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM4:52 PM9h 30m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:13 AM7:43 AM4:40 PM8h 56m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:27 AM7:57 AM4:37 PM8h 40m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:34 AM8:04 AM4:46 PM8h 42m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:31 AM8:01 AM5:01 PM9h 01m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:16 AM7:46 AM5:25 PM9h 39m

Computed for 46.057, -95.681 (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

WPAAcresDistanceCounty
Grandokken-Savanna WPA4043.0 mi SEDouglas County
Odens WPA5213.2 mi SWDouglas County
Larson WPA713.4 mi SWDouglas County
Reger WPA6293.6 mi NEDouglas County
Klimek WPA383.6 mi SEDouglas County
Reger WPA6.54.3 mi NEOtter Tail County
Klein WPA3324.4 mi NEDouglas County
Bah Lakes WPA1364.6 mi SWDouglas County

Closest refuges & districts

Fergus Falls WMD

Otter Tail County, MN · 21 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

49.4K huntable acres

Morris WMD

Stevens County, MN · 32 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

56.6K huntable acres

Detroit Lakes WMD

Becker County, MN · 55 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

50.2K huntable acres

Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Douglas County Waterfowl Production Area of Mn. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.