Lake Nettie NWR
McLean County, ND · 38 mi SW
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2.1K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · McHenry County, North Dakota
Merbach Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Merbach Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 57 acres located 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.
57GIS acres
57deeded acres
McHenry Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Merbach 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 Merbach 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 Merbach WPA
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Destination: Merbach Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
47.95795, -100.36134- DMS
47°57′28.6″N 100°21′40.8″W
Nearest towns
- Rugby, ND33 mi SW of town
- Minot, ND47 mi SE of town
- Garrison, ND54 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- MOT Minot Intl47 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Merbach WPA
Today at Merbach 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 56m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:25 PM | 10h 00m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 19m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:39 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:51 PM | 8h 42m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:54 AM | 8:24 AM | 4:48 PM | 8h 25m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 8:00 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:57 PM | 8h 27m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:56 AM | 8:26 AM | 5:13 PM | 8h 47m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 5:39 PM | 9h 29m |
Computed for 47.958, -100.361 (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 | 4.1 mi S | McHenry County |
| Rieder WPA | 182 | 4.3 mi NE | McHenry County |
| Ziegler WPA | 14 | 4.7 mi NW | McHenry County |
| Guthrie WPA | 31 | 4.9 mi N | McHenry County |
| Heer WPA | 137 | 6.8 mi SE | McHenry County |
| Alkali Lake WPA | 17 | 6.8 mi N | McHenry County |
| Aylmer Lake WPA | 441 | 8.0 mi E | Pierce County |
| Lemer WPA | 99 | 8.7 mi N | McHenry 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.