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Kingston Wildlife Management Area hunting, season by season
624 acres of public land open to hunters in Meeker County, with DPA 277 deer dates.
Photo: Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Kingston Wildlife Management Area
Kingston WMA in brief, from the agency file
624 acres of Meeker County belong to Kingston WMA. Size rank in Meeker County: 1st of 22 wildlife management areas. For deer it falls in DPA 277, set at 3-deer limit for 2026.
Questions go to the New London DNR wildlife office at newlondon.wildlife@state.mn.us.
Game listed: 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 Kingston Wildlife Management Area
Subunits and parking at Kingston WMA
Each subunit of Kingston WMA has its own DNR page; the map below pins 0 parking spots.
| Subunit | Acreage | Near | Open? | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston WMA | 624 | Kimball | Open | – | DNR |
- Kingston WMA: In Kimball: From the Intersection of MN Hwy 55 and MN Hwy 15/24 go south on MN Hwy 15/24 for 3.75 miles. The WMA is on the west side of the highway. There are 3 newly constructed parking lots on the WMA. One is on the south end, and 2 are on the west side. The majority of the upland habitat is on the western side of this WMA.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Kingston WMA pinned among nearby tracts
Dr. L. Daniel Frenzel Jr and Virginia Frenzel WMA lies 1.8 mi north of Kingston WMA, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. L. Daniel Frenzel Jr and Virginia Frenzel WMA, 240 ac | WMA | 240 | 277 | 1.8 mi | north |
| A Shau Valley WMA | WMA | 210 | 219 | 4.0 mi | northeast |
| Alice Hamm WMA | WMA | 121 | 218 | 4.7 mi | north |
| Clear Lake WPA | WPA | 197 | 277 | 6.2 mi | west |
| Murray Lake WPA | WPA | 89 | 219 | 6.3 mi | north |
| Erpelding WPA | WPA | 277 | 218 | 7.3 mi | north |
| Goose Lake WPA | WPA | 355 | 219 | 7.7 mi | east |
| Powers Lake WMA | WMA | 276 | 277 | 8.6 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Kingston WMA
Site rules for Kingston WMA, condensed from the record.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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.
Kingston WMA season dates
This table covers Kingston WMA only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from its game species list.
| Species | Type | Zone or DPA | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 277 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 277 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 277 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 277 | 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 |
Wear blaze orange or pink in the firearms deer season; waterfowl hunters on water are exempt under DNR rules.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Deer seasons on Kingston WMA
200-series DPA 277 carries the 3-deer limit designation this year. With bonus permits, a hunter can fill the 3-deer limit in DPA 277.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
Adult deer shot Nov. 7-8 here must be sampled. Size of DPA 277: 1,147 square miles. Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Swift and Stearns share DPA 277.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Kingston WMA (DPA 277)
The whole of DPA 277 gave up 4,575 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Kingston WMA itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,281 | 2,294 | 4,575 | 4.32 |
| 2024 | 2,360 | 1,941 | 4,301 | 4.07 |
| 2023 | 1,905 | 2,108 | 4,013 | 3.79 |
| 2022 | 2,085 | 2,690 | 4,775 | 4.51 |
| 2021 | 2,325 | 2,759 | 5,084 | 4.81 |
| 2020 | 2,051 | 2,129 | 4,180 | 5.15 |
| 2019 | 1,873 | 1,220 | 3,093 | 3.81 |
| 2018 | 1,668 | 1,317 | 2,985 | 3.68 |
| 2017 | 1,630 | 1,356 | 2,986 | 3.68 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Kingston WMA nearby towns
Kimball is the closest town to Kingston WMA, about 3.9 mi away. The largest nearby is Watkins (1,010 people). The DNR detail page starts its directions from Kimball. For questions, the Sauk Rapids DNR office is 24 mi from Kingston WMA.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimball | Stearns | 919 | 3.9 mi | north |
| Kingston | Meeker | 187 | 4.8 mi | south |
| Watkins | Meeker | 1,010 | 5.4 mi | northwest |
| South Haven | Wright | 183 | 5.9 mi | east |
| Fairhaven | Stearns | – | 7.4 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.
Kingston WMA: Meeker County facts
Counting Kingston WMA, Meeker County has 51 listed public areas. Meeker County is one of the feeding ban counties. The no-quota bear area covers Meeker County. Meeker County turkey hunters declare area 507 and 506. County questions go to New London Area Wildlife Office, New London. 1 place in Meeker County is closed to hunting, such as Sucker Creek Aquatic Management Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Kingston Wildlife Management Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Kingston Wildlife Management Area, 44 miles separates hunters from Elm Creek Park Reserve, the closest public range. Club lanes inside 30 miles are on the next cards. No target practice on the property, per its rules.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
A look at the landscape around Kingston WMA
Kingston WMA shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Kingston WMA map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Open | Big game close | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 7:23 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:08 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:04 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:32 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:56 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:36 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
Times are rounded to the minute.
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.
Straight answers on hunting Kingston WMA
Where is the access for Kingston WMA?
In Kimball: From the Intersection of MN Hwy 55 and MN Hwy 15/24 go south on MN Hwy 15/24 for 3.75 miles. The WMA is on the west side of the highway. Park on the road shoulder only where legal.
Which species does Kingston WMA hold?
Game on the agency list for Kingston WMA: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove.
Is CWD sampling required at Kingston WMA?
DNR lists DPA 277 as in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Who do I call about Kingston WMA?
Kingston WMA falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (New London office).
Which public ground lies closest to Kingston WMA?
Next-closest public land: Dr. L. Daniel Frenzel Jr and Virginia Frenzel WMA (1.8 mi), A Shau Valley WMA (4.0 mi) and Alice Hamm WMA (4.7 mi).
How early does shooting start at Kingston WMA on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:34 a.m., done by 5:29 p.m..
Can I camp on Kingston WMA during the season?
Generally no: designated areas or a permit only.
Can I leave a stand on Kingston WMA overnight?
Daily removal applies on Kingston WMA, so plan on a climber or a hang-on you carry out.
Roughly how large is the Kingston WMA unit?
The mapped size is 624 acres.
Can you hunt on Kingston WMA this season?
Yes. Hunting and trapping are open on state WMAs during regular seasons unless DNR posts an exception, and Kingston WMA shows open hunting status.
Which deer permit area holds Kingston WMA?
Kingston WMA falls in DPA 277, 3-deer limit. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Kingston WMA: three things to confirm first
Carry your license, validate a deer or turkey at the kill site and register it (48 hours for deer and bear, 24 for turkey).
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: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).