Kulm WMD
LaMoure County, ND · 30 mi N
✓1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
45.1K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · McPherson County, South Dakota
Rath Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Rath Waterfowl Production Area is a 347-acre tract of federally owned wetland and grassland habitat in McPherson County, South Dakota. It is managed by the Sand Lake Wetland Management District as part of the McPherson 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.
347GIS acres
347deeded acres
McPherson Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Rath 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 Rath 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 Rath WPA
Navigate
Destination: Rath Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
45.88131, -99.13813- DMS
45°52′52.7″N 99°08′17.3″W
Nearest towns
- Aberdeen, SD43 mi NW of town
- Mobridge, SD67 mi E of town
- Jamestown, ND74 mi S of town
Closest airports
- ABR Aberdeen Regional46 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Rath WPA
Today at Rath 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 | 8:17 PM | 13h 21m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:50 PM | 12h 37m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 7:19 PM | 11h 46m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:52 PM | 11h 01m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 5:24 PM | 10h 09m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 7:05 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:06 PM | 9h 31m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:27 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:54 PM | 8h 57m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:40 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:52 PM | 8h 41m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:47 AM | 8:17 AM | 5:01 PM | 8h 43m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:44 AM | 8:14 AM | 5:16 PM | 9h 02m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:39 PM | 9h 40m |
Computed for 45.881, -99.138 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shafer WPA | 499 | 1.5 mi E | McPherson County |
| Rau WPA | 80 | 1.7 mi NE | McPherson County |
| Heyd Lake WPA | 764 | 1.9 mi N | McPherson County |
| Rau Lake WPA | 331 | 2.0 mi NE | McPherson County |
| Hoffman-Gerard WPA | 30 | 2.8 mi N | McPherson County |
| Ehresman WPA | 325 | 3.2 mi NE | McPherson County |
| Shafer-Shafer Hoffman WPA | 652 | 3.4 mi SE | McPherson County |
| Swisher WPA | 317 | 3.7 mi N | McPherson County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), McPherson County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.