Madison WMD
Lake County, SD · 37 mi NE
✓1 open!1 special
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44K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Hanson County, South Dakota
Welker Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Welker Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 183 acres located in Hanson County, South Dakota. It is managed by the Madison Wetland Management District as part of the Hanson 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.
183GIS acres
182deeded acres
Hanson Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Welker 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 Welker WPA
What you can typically do
- Hunt waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under South 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 Welker WPA
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Destination: Welker Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
43.66293, -97.67358- DMS
43°39′46.5″N 97°40′24.9″W
Nearest towns
- Mitchell, SD18 mi E of town
- Madison, SD37 mi SW of town
- Sioux Falls, SD48 mi W of town
Closest airports
- FSD Sioux Falls Regional47 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Welker WPA
Today at Welker 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 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:08 PM | 13h 16m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 PM | 12h 35m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:13 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:49 PM | 11h 06m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:23 PM | 10h 18m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:07 PM | 9h 43m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:56 PM | 9h 12m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:54 PM | 8h 58m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 5:03 PM | 8h 59m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:17 PM | 9h 16m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:39 PM | 9h 51m |
Computed for 43.663, -97.674 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janssen WPA | 239 | 5.8 mi E | McCook County |
| Delger WPA | 81 | 6.2 mi NE | Hanson County |
| Hamaker WPA | 116 | 6.4 mi E | McCook County |
| Urell WPA | 60 | 6.5 mi E | McCook County |
| Kayser WPA | 22 | 6.8 mi W | Hanson County |
| MacKenzie WPA | 164 | 7.5 mi NE | McCook County |
| Schuldt WPA | 234 | 7.6 mi E | McCook County |
| Lions Lake WPA | 184 | 8.9 mi E | McCook County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Hanson County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.