Home › Minnesota › Public land › Coon Creek WMA
WMA in Lyon County
Hunting Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Lyon County and 1 neighbor, 1,103 acres.
Photo: kjell (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area
Coon Creek WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,103 acres at Coon Creek WMA, which lies in Lyon and Lincoln counties. By size it ranks 1st of the 50 wildlife management areas we list in Lyon County. DPA 286 (it also reaches DPA 288) sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year.
The managing office is Marshall (DNR Wildlife), marshall.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Coon Creek WMA.
Listed game: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Mourning Dove
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Coon Creek WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Coon Creek WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Regular seasons |
| Vehicles | Designated roads, lots |
| Target shooting | Not allowed |
| Guns in transit | Cased, unloaded |
| Camping | Designated or permit |
| Portable stands, blinds | Remove daily |
| Overnight stands, northwest | Nov 1-Dec 31 |
| Dogs | Leash Apr 16-Jul 14 |
| Drones | Not allowed |
| Gear left overnight | Not allowed |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on Coon Creek WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Coon Creek WMA fall under DPA 286: either-sex, 200 series. No lottery in DPA 286: either sex on the regular license.
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Mandatory CWD sampling applies Nov. 7-8 (2026 surveillance block). DPA 286 spans 459 square miles. DPA 286 lies within Lincoln County alone.
More DPAs here: DPA 288 (either-sex)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Coon Creek WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Coon Creek WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 286, 288 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 286, 288 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPAs 286, 288 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Rabbits, hares | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbit | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Early geese | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal season | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (north) | North furbearer zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Dec 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (south) | South furbearer zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Spring light goose | Statewide | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Coon Creek WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Coon Creek WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coon Creek WMA | 1,103 | Russell | Open | – | DNR |
- Coon Creek WMA: From Russell, go 4 miles W and 1/2 mile N on Co Rd 66.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Coon Creek WMA
When Coon Creek WMA is crowded, Coon Creek WPA sits 1.0 mi away to the west.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coon Creek WPA | WPA | 160 | 286 | 1.0 mi | west |
| Alleckson WPA | WPA | 97 | 286 | 1.5 mi | west |
| Dead Coon Marshes WMA | WMA | 101 | 286 | 2.7 mi | west |
| Elmer Weltz WMA | WMA | 161 | 288 | 3.2 mi | north |
| Norgaard WMA | WMA | 21 | 286 | 3.6 mi | southwest |
| Prairie Marshes WMA | WMA | 493 | 288 | 5.1 mi | east |
| Furgamme WMA | WMA | 152 | 288 | 5.5 mi | north |
| Hopeful WMA | WMA | 590 | 286 | 5.8 mi | south |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Coon Creek WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Tyler lies 5.8 mi from Coon Creek WMA. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Russell. Nearest DNR desk: Marshall Area Wildlife Office, 18 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler | Lincoln | 1,102 | 5.8 mi | southwest |
| Russell | Lyon | 356 | 6.2 mi | east |
| Arco | Lincoln | 85 | 6.5 mi | northwest |
| Florence | Lyon | 21 | 7.4 mi | south |
| Lynd | Lyon | 435 | 10 mi | northeast |
Towns from the 2024 Census gazetteer and population estimates; offices and businesses from services.json (DNR and business listings, chain stores and license agents left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 28, 2026.
Coon Creek WMA: deer taken in DPA 286
588 deer were registered in DPA 286 during 2025, 1.32 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 365 | 223 | 588 | 1.32 |
| 2024 | 349 | 148 | 497 | 1.11 |
| 2023 | 272 | 164 | 436 | 0.98 |
| 2022 | 317 | 172 | 489 | 1.10 |
| 2021 | 339 | 182 | 521 | 1.17 |
| 2020 | 323 | 209 | 532 | 1.19 |
| 2019 | 318 | 183 | 501 | 1.12 |
| 2018 | 248 | 162 | 410 | 0.92 |
| 2017 | 299 | 133 | 432 | 0.97 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Coon Creek WMA and the rest of Lyon County
Lyon County has 61 public hunting areas on file, Coon Creek WMA among them. Lyon County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 504. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Marshall Area Wildlife Office, (507) 706-6170. Not every public place in Lyon County is open: Glynn Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Coon Creek WMA
Sun times computed for Coon Creek WMA itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:14 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:31 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:51 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:08 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 5:38 p.m. | 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:36 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:00 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:44 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. | 8:36 p.m. | 8:06 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
Hours rule from the DNR booklet shooting hours page; sun times calculated for the unit point (NOAA method, Central Time); checked October 28, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Ranges a Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Coon Creek Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Peaceful Acres Sporting Clays at 20 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Coon Creek WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Coon Creek WMA, short answers
Coon Creek WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 286 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Coon Creek WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Coon Creek WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Marshall office.
Coon Creek WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Coon Creek WPA (1.0 mi), Alleckson WPA (1.5 mi) and Dead Coon Marshes WMA (2.7 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Coon Creek WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:38 a.m. and ends at 5:38 p.m. at the Coon Creek WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Coon Creek WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Coon Creek WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Coon Creek WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,103 acres.
Does Coon Creek WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Coon Creek WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Coon Creek WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl and mourning dove for Coon Creek WMA.
What deer permit area is Coon Creek WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 286: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
How do you get to Coon Creek WMA?
From Russell, go 4 miles W and 1/2 mile N on Co Rd 66. 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
Other photos on this page: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).