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WMA · 2026-27
Faribault Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Rice County and 1 neighbor.
Photo: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Faribault Wildlife Management Area
Faribault WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Faribault WMA spreads over 681 acres of Rice and Steele counties. Of 18 wildlife management areas in Rice County, Faribault WMA is number 3 by acreage. On the DNR map it shows as 2 separate pieces: Main Unit (522 ac) and Medford Unit (159 ac).
Hunters on Faribault WMA follow DPA 293, which DNR made 3-deer limit for 2026. The DNR Owatonna area wildlife office manages it (owatonna.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Faribault WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
From the DNR unit description: Management for this WMA emphasizes small game and grassland wildlife management. Habitat objectives include increasing prairie, grassland and brushland habitats through restorations of old fields to more productive cover. Good year-round bird watching.
Game species: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Wild Turkey
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Faribault Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Faribault WMA
Faribault WMA has 1 DNR parking point; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Unit | 522 | Faribault | Open | 1 | DNR |
| Medford Unit | 159 | Medford | Open | – | DNR |
- Main Unit: From Faribault go 1 mile S. on Albert Avenue (Co. Rd. 45), then 0.5 miles E. on 230th Street East. The address is 2851 235th Street East. A gravel parking area is located at south of 235th Street East about a tenth mile west of the intersection with County Highway 19 (Glynview Trail/Cabot Avenue). A second parking area is located in the southwest corner of the WMA on the east side of Babcock Avenue.
- Medford Unit: Travel 1 mile north on County Road 45 to Cabot Avenue (County Road 49) then east and north on Cabot Avenue to Northwest 86th Street. Take NW 86th Street to the east across the rail road. A gravel topped parking area is located just east of the rail crossing on the south side of the road.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Faribault WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Faribault WMA, adding 1,159 acres; Cannon River Trout Lily WMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon River Trout Lily WMA, 129 ac | WMA | 129 | 605 | 5.3 mi | north |
| Dwyer WMA | WMA | 56 | 292 | 6.9 mi | west |
| Sunktokeca Creek WMA | WMA | 202 | 605 | 7.3 mi | northwest |
| Cannon River WMA | WMA | 270 | 292 | 8.6 mi | west |
| Prairie Rose WMA | WMA | 118 | 232 | 8.6 mi | south |
| Cannon River AMA | AMA | 212 | 292 | 8.8 mi | west |
| Dudley-Kelly AMA | AMA | 8.2 | 292 | 9.2 mi | northwest |
| Wolf Creek WPA | WPA | 164 | 605 | 9.3 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Faribault WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Faribault WMA; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| 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.
When you can hunt Faribault WMA
Every dated hunting window for Faribault WMA: 20 species, 43 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 293 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 293 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 293 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring archery-only | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period A | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period B | Statewide | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period C | Statewide | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period D | Statewide | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period E | Statewide | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period F | Statewide | May 19, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| 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 |
Pheasant shooting starts at 9 a.m.; ducks, geese and small game stop at sunset.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Faribault WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 293 (200 series) is 3-deer limit in 2026. Hunters may take up to 3 deer in DPA 293 across licenses and bonus permits; only one may be a buck in most DPAs.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Testing for CWD is optional in DPA 293. Area of DPA 293: 278 sq mi. Counties in DPA 293: Goodhue, Rice, Dodge and Steele.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 293 gives up around Faribault WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 293 registered 775 deer in 2025, 9% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 402 | 373 | 775 | 2.79 |
| 2024 | 380 | 331 | 711 | 2.56 |
| 2023 | 410 | 371 | 781 | 2.81 |
| 2022 | 410 | 370 | 780 | 2.81 |
| 2021 | 442 | 337 | 779 | 2.80 |
| 2020 | 428 | 403 | 831 | 2.99 |
| 2019 | 776 | 639 | 1,415 | 2.77 |
| 2018 | 666 | 749 | 1,415 | 2.77 |
| 2017 | 701 | 644 | 1,345 | 2.63 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Faribault WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Faribault WMA is 3.9 mi from Faribault, the nearest community. Owatonna is the bigger town nearby at 26,626 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Faribault. Owatonna has the nearest DNR office to Faribault WMA, 14 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faribault | Rice | 24,983 | 3.9 mi | northwest |
| Medford | Steele | 1,362 | 5.5 mi | south |
| Warsaw | Rice | – | 6.5 mi | west |
| Morristown | Rice | 1,016 | 9.9 mi | west |
| Owatonna | Steele | 26,626 | 11 mi | south |
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.
County rules that reach Faribault WMA
Our Rice County list runs to 30 public areas, including Faribault WMA. Deer feeding and attractants are banned in Rice County. No bear lottery in Rice County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 503 and 505. The county's nearest wildlife office is Owatonna Area Wildlife Office in Owatonna. Rice County also has 6 closed places, Cannon River Trout Lily Scientific and Natural Area among them.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Public lanes and clubs for Faribault Wildlife Management Area hunters
From Faribault Wildlife Management Area, Archer Park – Archery Range is the nearest city, county or park district range (37 miles). Nearby sportsmen’s clubs fill the other cards. Target shooting is off limits here.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Faribault WMA country, seen through a lens
Faribault WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Faribault WMA hours use the NOAA solar formula for the unit's coordinates.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Opens | Deer, bear end | Birds end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 7:19 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:57 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:25 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:48 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. | 8:24 p.m. | 7:54 p.m. |
Clock times include Daylight Saving Time until Nov. 1.
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.
Faribault WMA: what hunters usually ask
What size is the Faribault WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 681 acres in 2 subunits.
Faribault WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 293, 3-deer limit for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Faribault WMA?
On the Faribault WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove.
Where do you park at Faribault WMA?
From Faribault go 1 mile S. on Albert Avenue (Co. Rd. 45), then 0.5 miles E. on 230th Street East. The address is 2851 235th Street East. DNR maps 1 parking point.
Who should I contact about Faribault WMA?
Faribault WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Owatonna office looks after it.
Is Faribault WMA inside a CWD zone?
Faribault WMA sits in DPA 293, which is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
What time can you shoot deer at Faribault WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:27 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. for deer, sunrise 6:57 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Faribault WMA?
Faribault WMA neighbors on our list: Cannon River Trout Lily WMA (5.3 mi), Dwyer WMA (6.9 mi) and Sunktokeca Creek WMA (7.3 mi).
Faribault WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Faribault WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Faribault WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Faribault WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Faribault WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
Faribault WMA trip checklist from this page
No paper tags in Minnesota: validate the electronic license where the animal falls, then register it on time.
Sources: source · source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Chad Davis. (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).