Lake Nettie NWR
McLean County, ND · 37 mi SW
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2.1K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · McHenry County, North Dakota
Heer Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Covering about 137 acres, Heer Waterfowl Production Area protects prairie wetlands and uplands in McHenry County, North Dakota. It is managed by the J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District as part of the McHenry 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.
137GIS acres
138deeded acres
McHenry Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Heer 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 Heer WPA
What you can typically do
- Hunt waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under North Dakota 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 Heer WPA
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Destination: Heer Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
47.87019, -100.29695- DMS
47°52′12.7″N 100°17′49.0″W
Nearest towns
- Rugby, ND37 mi S of town
- Minot, ND53 mi SE of town
- Garrison, ND54 mi E of town
Closest airports
- MOT Minot Intl53 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Heer WPA
Today at Heer 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 | 6:28 AM | 6:58 AM | 8:25 PM | 13h 27m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:46 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:56 PM | 12h 40m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:23 PM | 11h 45m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:28 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:55 PM | 10h 57m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:25 PM | 10h 01m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 20m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:38 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:52 PM | 8h 43m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:53 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:49 PM | 8h 26m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 8:00 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:57 PM | 8h 28m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:55 AM | 8:25 AM | 5:13 PM | 8h 48m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:39 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:39 PM | 9h 30m |
Computed for 47.870, -100.297 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuntz WPA | 343 | 4.5 mi NW | McHenry County |
| Geigle WPA | 330 | 5.1 mi S | Sheridan County |
| Weltz WPA | 34 | 5.6 mi S | Sheridan County |
| Stotz WPA | 104 | 6.5 mi SE | Sheridan County |
| Martin WPA | 40 | 6.6 mi SE | Sheridan County |
| Merbach WPA | 57 | 6.8 mi NW | McHenry County |
| Fetzer WPA | 255 | 6.9 mi S | Sheridan County |
| Aylmer Lake WPA | 441 | 7.1 mi NE | Pierce County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), McHenry County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.