J. Clark Salyer NWR
McHenry County, ND · 26 mi NW
!3 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🐇🎣
58.9K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Pierce County, North Dakota
Rush Lake Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Rush Lake Waterfowl Production Area is a 649-acre tract of federally owned wetland and grassland habitat in Pierce County, North Dakota. It is managed by the J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District as part of the Pierce 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.
649GIS acres
640deeded acres
Pierce Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Rush 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 Rush Lake 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 Rush Lake WPA
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Destination: Rush Lake Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
48.37858, -100.21127- DMS
48°22′42.9″N 100°12′40.6″W
Nearest towns
- Rugby, ND10 mi W of town
- Bottineau, ND33 mi S of town
- Minot, ND51 mi E of town
Closest airports
- MOT Minot Intl50 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Rush Lake WPA
Today at Rush 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 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:25 PM | 13h 28m |
| 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 | 7:22 PM | 11h 44m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:28 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:54 PM | 10h 55m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:23 PM | 9h 58m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:49 PM | 8h 39m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:55 AM | 8:25 AM | 4:46 PM | 8h 21m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 8:02 AM | 8:32 AM | 4:55 PM | 8h 23m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:57 AM | 8:27 AM | 5:11 PM | 8h 44m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 5:37 PM | 9h 27m |
Computed for 48.379, -100.211 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black WPA | 54 | 2.6 mi W | Pierce County |
| Black-Byrn WPA | 360 | 2.7 mi W | Pierce County |
| Horseshoe Lake WPA | 1,482 | 4.2 mi NW | Pierce County |
| Christenson Lake WPA | 907 | 6.8 mi SE | Pierce County |
| Round Lake WPA | 1,727 | 6.9 mi N | Pierce County |
| Cruden WPA | 238 | 7.3 mi NE | Pierce County |
| Red Lake WPA | 161 | 10 mi S | Pierce County |
| Torgerson Marsh WPA | 27 | 10 mi NE | Pierce County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Pierce County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.