Big Stone NWR
Lac qui Parle County, MN · 26 mi N
!2 special✕1 closed
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9.6K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota
Freeland Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Freeland Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 80 acres located in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Morris Wetland Management District as part of the Lac Qui Parle 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.
80GIS acres
80deeded acres
Lac qui Parle Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Freeland 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 Freeland 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 Freeland WPA
Navigate
Destination: Freeland Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
44.87595, -96.30166- DMS
44°52′33.4″N 96°18′06.0″W
Nearest towns
- Marshall, MN39 mi NW of town
- Watertown, SD40 mi E of town
- Brookings, SD46 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- FSD Sioux Falls Regional92 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Freeland WPA
Today at Freeland 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 | 8:04 PM | 13h 19m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:38 PM | 12h 36m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:08 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:42 PM | 11h 03m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 13m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:58 PM | 9h 37m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:46 PM | 9h 04m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:25 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:44 PM | 8h 49m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:53 PM | 8h 51m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:08 PM | 9h 08m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:31 PM | 9h 45m |
Computed for 44.876, -96.302 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Creek WPA | 201 | 1.2 mi SE | Lac qui Parle County |
| Goodman WPA | 236 | 3.1 mi NW | Lac qui Parle County |
| Farrell WPA | 403 | 3.4 mi W | Lac qui Parle County |
| Bolson Slough WPA | 179 | 3.5 mi W | Lac qui Parle County |
| Pearson WPA | 366 | 4.2 mi W | Lac qui Parle County |
| Colbert WPA | 278 | 5.7 mi E | Lac qui Parle County |
| Taylor WPA | 181 | 6.0 mi W | Lac qui Parle County |
| Garfield WPA | 161 | 6.4 mi N | Lac qui Parle County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Lac Qui Parle County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.