Madison WMD
Lake County, SD · 14 mi S
✓1 open!1 special
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44K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Lake County, South Dakota
Lentsch Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Lentsch Waterfowl Production Area is a 71-acre tract of federally owned wetland and grassland habitat in Lake County, South Dakota. It is managed by the Madison Wetland Management District as part of the Lake 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.
71GIS acres
72deeded acres
Lake Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Lentsch 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 Lentsch 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 Lentsch WPA
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Destination: Lentsch Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
44.17641, -97.02608- DMS
44°10′35.1″N 97°01′33.9″W
Nearest towns
- Madison, SD12 mi N of town
- Brookings, SD15 mi SW of town
- Sioux Falls, SD46 mi N of town
Closest airports
- FSD Sioux Falls Regional44 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Lentsch WPA
Today at Lentsch 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 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:06 PM | 13h 17m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:41 PM | 12h 35m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:11 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:46 PM | 11h 05m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:19 PM | 10h 16m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:52 AM | 7:22 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 40m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:51 PM | 9h 09m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:50 PM | 8h 54m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:33 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:58 PM | 8h 56m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:30 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:13 PM | 9h 13m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:35 PM | 9h 49m |
Computed for 44.176, -97.026 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murfield WPA | 394 | 1.4 mi E | Lake County |
| Childrens WPA | 173 | 1.4 mi NW | Lake County |
| Habeger WPA | 160 | 2.0 mi W | Lake County |
| Demeray WPA | 76 | 2.4 mi SW | Lake County |
| Regan WPA | 114 | 2.5 mi SW | Lake County |
| Alquire WPA | 424 | 2.5 mi E | Lake County |
| Kenneth Nelson WPA | 143 | 3.0 mi N | Brookings County |
| Ramsey WPA | 178 | 3.0 mi E | Lake County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Lake County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.