Madison WMD
Lake County, SD · 11 mi N
44K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Minnehaha County, South Dakota
Covering about 149 acres, Schaefer Waterfowl Production Area protects prairie wetlands and uplands in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. It is managed by the Madison Wetland Management District as part of the Minnehaha 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.
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — public land. Everything outside is typically private; always look for boundary signs.
Destination: Schaefer Waterfowl Production Area
43.81693, -97.0354843°49′00.9″N 97°02′07.7″WStraight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.
Full season calculator →| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:06 PM | 13h 16m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:40 PM | 12h 35m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:11 PM | 11h 47m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:46 PM | 11h 06m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:20 PM | 10h 17m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:04 PM | 9h 42m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:53 PM | 9h 11m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:24 AM | 7:54 AM | 4:51 PM | 8h 57m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:00 PM | 8h 58m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:14 PM | 9h 15m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:15 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:36 PM | 9h 51m |
Computed for 43.817, -97.035 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
Loading National Weather Service forecast…
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
| WPA | Acres | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Lake WPA | 1,116 | 1.1 mi NW | Minnehaha County |
| Acheson WPA | 97 | 1.7 mi SW | Minnehaha County |
| Gelderman WPA | 74 | 3.2 mi NE | Lake County |
| Clear Lake WPA | 155 | 3.6 mi SE | Minnehaha County |
| Graham WPA | 99 | 4.3 mi W | Minnehaha County |
| Island Lake WPA | 139 | 4.6 mi W | Minnehaha County |
| Island Lake WPA | 160 | 5.0 mi W | McCook County |
| Morris WPA | 44 | 5.3 mi W | McCook County |
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Minnehaha County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.