Hamden Slough NWR
Becker County, MN · 22 mi S
!3 special
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3.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Mahnomen County, Minnesota
Sandy Lake Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Sandy Lake Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 161 acres located in Mahnomen County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District as part of the Mahnomen 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.
161GIS acres
160deeded acres
Mahnomen Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Sandy 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 Sandy 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 Sandy Lake WPA
Navigate
Destination: Sandy Lake Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
47.29233, -95.85270- DMS
47°17′32.4″N 95°51′09.7″W
Nearest towns
- Detroit Lakes, MN33 mi N of town
- Bemidji, MN47 mi W of town
- Moorhead, MN52 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl52 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Sandy Lake WPA
Today at Sandy 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 | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:06 PM | 13h 25m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:38 PM | 12h 39m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:05 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:38 PM | 10h 58m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:08 PM | 10h 03m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:49 PM | 9h 23m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:36 PM | 8h 47m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:33 PM | 8h 30m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:42 PM | 8h 32m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:58 PM | 8h 52m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:22 PM | 9h 33m |
Computed for 47.292, -95.853 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Oak Lake WPA | 69 | 1.2 mi E | Mahnomen County |
| Erion WPA | 39 | 3.2 mi S | Mahnomen County |
| Paul Sr. WPA | 245 | 3.9 mi S | Mahnomen County |
| Tiny WPA | 8.8 | 4.5 mi N | Mahnomen County |
| Rothschadl WPA | 80 | 4.5 mi SE | Mahnomen County |
| Haggman WPA | 240 | 5.0 mi SW | Mahnomen County |
| Paul Jr. WPA | 79 | 5.1 mi S | Mahnomen County |
| Krebsbach WPA | 89 | 5.2 mi SE | Mahnomen County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Mahnomen County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.