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Hunting Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Blue Earth County, 559 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area
Gilfillan Lake WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 559 acres at Gilfillan Lake WMA, which lies in Blue Earth County. By size it ranks 1st of the 19 wildlife management areas we list in Blue Earth County. DPA 291 sets the deer limit here: 2-deer limit this year.
The managing office is Nicollet (DNR Wildlife), nicollet.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Gilfillan Lake WMA.
Listed game: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Gilfillan Lake WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Gilfillan Lake 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 Gilfillan Lake WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Gilfillan Lake WMA fall under DPA 291: 2-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 291 limit of 2 with your license plus bonus permits.
| 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 291 spans 830 square miles. DPA 291 reaches Nicollet, Le Sueur, Sibley, Blue Earth and Brown counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Gilfillan Lake WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Gilfillan Lake 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 | DPA 291 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 291 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 291 | 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 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| 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.
Gilfillan Lake WMA: access points
1 parking point and the route text DNR posts for Gilfillan Lake WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilfillan Lake WMA | 559 | Madison Lake | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Gilfillan Lake WMA: From Madison Lake, go 1 1/2 miles W on CSAH 26. Wheelchair access is limited to adjacent county and township roads. There is a gravel parking lot on the east side of the unit.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Gilfillan Lake WMA
When Gilfillan Lake WMA is crowded, Frank Breen Memorial WMA sits 4.4 mi away to the northeast.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Breen Memorial WMA | WMA | 22 | 291 | 4.4 mi | northeast |
| Born WMA | WMA | 185 | 230 | 6.8 mi | southeast |
| Dove Lake WMA | WMA | 258 | 292 | 7.3 mi | east |
| Savidge Lake AMA | AMA | 11 | 291 | 8.1 mi | north |
| Earl Swain WMA | WMA | 105 | 292 | 8.2 mi | east |
| St. Peter AMA | AMA | 60 | 291 | 9.3 mi | north |
| Seha WMA | WMA | 131 | 292 | 9.5 mi | east |
| Ottawa WMA | WMA | 674 | 291 | 9.7 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Gilfillan Lake WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Madison Lake lies 1.8 mi from Gilfillan Lake WMA. For more services, Mankato (46,459) is 6.5 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Madison Lake. Nearest DNR desk: Nicollet Area Wildlife Office, 17 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Lake | Blue Earth | 1,314 | 1.8 mi | east |
| Eagle Lake | Blue Earth | 3,333 | 3.2 mi | southwest |
| Mankato | Blue Earth | 46,459 | 6.5 mi | west |
| Cleveland | Le Sueur | 769 | 8.2 mi | north |
| Kasota | Le Sueur | 718 | 8.2 mi | northwest |
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.
Gilfillan Lake WMA: deer taken in DPA 291
1,896 deer were registered in DPA 291 during 2025, 2.37 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,026 | 870 | 1,896 | 2.37 |
| 2024 | 994 | 519 | 1,513 | 1.89 |
| 2023 | 909 | 595 | 1,504 | 1.88 |
| 2022 | 865 | 481 | 1,346 | 1.68 |
| 2021 | 844 | 415 | 1,259 | 1.57 |
| 2020 | 883 | 488 | 1,371 | 1.71 |
| 2019 | 888 | 462 | 1,350 | 1.69 |
| 2018 | 815 | 436 | 1,251 | 1.56 |
| 2017 | 868 | 489 | 1,357 | 1.70 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Gilfillan Lake WMA and the rest of Blue Earth County
Blue Earth County has 42 public hunting areas on file, Gilfillan Lake WMA among them. Blue Earth County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 505 and 503. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Nicollet Area Wildlife Office, (507) 386-3920. Not every public place in Blue Earth County is open: Butternut Valley 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 Gilfillan Lake WMA
Sun times computed for Gilfillan Lake 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 | 6:58 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 7:08 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:42 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:59 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:27 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:51 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. | 8:27 p.m. | 7:57 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.
Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunts and banquets nearby
DU gun or purse bingo: 1 upcoming event, on site or a few miles away.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2026 | Madison Lake Gun Bingo, a DU gun or purse bingo | 2 | Point Pleasant Event Center (Madison Lake) | Buy tickets | Source |
Where Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area hunters zero a rifle
Drive about 47 miles from Gilfillan Lake Wildlife Management Area to reach Archer Park – Archery Range, the nearest public lanes. Clubs within 30 miles take the remaining cards. 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.
Gilfillan Lake WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Gilfillan Lake WMA, short answers
Gilfillan Lake WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 291 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Gilfillan Lake WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Gilfillan Lake WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Nicollet office.
Gilfillan Lake WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Frank Breen Memorial WMA (4.4 mi), Born WMA (6.8 mi) and Dove Lake WMA (7.3 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Gilfillan Lake WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:29 a.m. and ends at 5:29 p.m. at the Gilfillan Lake WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Gilfillan Lake WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Gilfillan Lake WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Gilfillan Lake WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 559 acres.
Does Gilfillan Lake WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Gilfillan Lake WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Gilfillan Lake WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove for Gilfillan Lake WMA.
What deer permit area is Gilfillan Lake WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 291: 2-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
How do you get to Gilfillan Lake WMA?
From Madison Lake, go 1 1/2 miles W on CSAH 26. 1 parking spot on the DNR map.
Other photos on this page: Birding for Climate (Public domain); grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).