Fergus Falls WMD
Otter Tail County, MN · 4.7 mi NW
!1 special✕1 closed
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49.4K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Nicholson Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Covering about 1,234 acres, Nicholson Waterfowl Production Area protects prairie wetlands and uplands in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District as part of the Otter Tail 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.
1,234GIS acres
1,243deeded acres
Otter Tail Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Nicholson 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 Nicholson 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 Nicholson WPA
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Destination: Nicholson Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
46.18103, -95.98571- DMS
46°10′51.7″N 95°59′08.6″W
Nearest towns
- Fergus Falls, MN8.2 mi SE of town
- Wahpeton, ND30 mi E of town
- Alexandria, MN35 mi NW of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl65 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Nicholson WPA
Today at Nicholson 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 | 8:05 PM | 13h 22m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:38 PM | 12h 38m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:06 PM | 11h 46m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:39 PM | 11h 01m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:11 PM | 10h 08m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 29m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:40 PM | 8h 55m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:38 PM | 8h 39m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:36 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:47 PM | 8h 41m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:02 PM | 8h 60m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:26 PM | 9h 39m |
Computed for 46.181, -95.986 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Mile WPA | 657 | 1.9 mi SE | Otter Tail County |
| Bakke WPA | 292 | 2.2 mi W | Otter Tail County |
| Hoff-Fronning WPA | 210 | 2.5 mi W | Otter Tail County |
| Hintermeister WPA | 185 | 2.7 mi N | Otter Tail County |
| Peter Lien WPA | 124 | 2.7 mi SW | Otter Tail County |
| C & M Ranch WPA | 262 | 3.1 mi N | Otter Tail County |
| Frigaard WPA | 20 | 3.3 mi SE | Otter Tail County |
| Wasvick WPA | 105 | 3.6 mi NE | Otter Tail County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Otter Tail County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.