Rydell NWR
Polk County, MN · 7.7 mi NE
!2 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
1.8K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Polk County, Minnesota
Ness Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Ness Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 33 acres located in Polk County, Minnesota. It is managed by the Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District as part of the Polk 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.
33GIS acres
32deeded acres
Polk Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Ness WPA satellite map
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — public land. Everything outside is typically private; always look for boundary signs.
Loading interactive map…
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 Ness 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 Ness WPA
Navigate
Destination: Ness Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
47.55998, -96.18646- DMS
47°33′35.9″N 96°11′11.3″W
Nearest towns
- Thief River Falls, MN39 mi S of town
- Grand Forks, ND47 mi SE of town
- Detroit Lakes, MN54 mi N of town
Closest airports
- FAR Fargo Hector Intl53 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Ness WPA
Today at Ness 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 | 8:08 PM | 13h 26m |
| 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 57m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:37 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:09 PM | 10h 02m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:50 PM | 9h 21m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:36 PM | 8h 45m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:35 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:33 PM | 8h 28m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:42 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:42 PM | 8h 30m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:38 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:58 PM | 8h 50m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:22 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:23 PM | 9h 31m |
Computed for 47.560, -96.186 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast
Loading National Weather Service forecast…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacobson WPA | 244 | 3.4 mi N | Polk County |
| Union Lake WPA | 298 | 3.9 mi NE | Polk County |
| Maltrod Lake WPA | 295 | 5.1 mi E | Polk County |
| Woodside WPA | 315 | 5.3 mi NE | Polk County |
| Vesledahl WPA | 571 | 5.6 mi E | Polk County |
| Sundal WPA | 119 | 5.6 mi S | Norman County |
| Underdahl WPA | 80 | 6.2 mi NE | Polk County |
| Maple Lake WPA | 357 | 6.4 mi N | Polk County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Polk County Waterfowl Production Area of Mn. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.