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WMA in Freeborn County
Hunting Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Freeborn County, 1,048 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area
Panicum Prairie WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,048 acres at Panicum Prairie WMA, which lies in Freeborn County. By size it ranks 1st of the 13 wildlife management areas we list in Freeborn County. The 2 subunits are Shell Rock Unit (193 ac) and Grass Lake Unit (855 ac).
DPA 254 sets the deer limit here: 3-deer limit this year. The managing office is Owatonna (DNR Wildlife), owatonna.wildlife@state.mn.us. The Panicum Prairie WMA record names NAWCA Prairie Wetland Heritage Conserv. Int 2 federal aid.
What the DNR page says about it: This unit was made possible through the generosity of many donors especially Sharon and Dean Krafka, Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and DU. The NRCS, USFWS and Worth County Conservation Board partnered in habitat projects.
Listed game: 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 Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Panicum Prairie WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Panicum Prairie 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 |
- Hunters, anglers and canoeists need to be aware of the Iowa-Minnesota border, licensing requirements and appropriate regulations.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on Panicum Prairie WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Panicum Prairie WMA fall under DPA 254: 3-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 254 limit of 3 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 254: optional. DPA 254 spans 947 square miles. DPA 254 reaches Freeborn, Faribault, Mower, Waseca and Steele counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Panicum Prairie WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Panicum Prairie 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 254 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 254 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 254 | 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 |
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.
Panicum Prairie WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Panicum Prairie WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Rock Unit | 193 | Gordonsville | Open | – | DNR |
| Grass Lake Unit | 855 | Gordonsville | Open | – | DNR |
- Shell Rock Unit: From Gordonsville, go 2 miles SW on CSAH 1.
- Grass Lake Unit: From Gordonsville, go 4 miles SW on CSAH 1.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Panicum Prairie WMA
When Panicum Prairie WMA is crowded, Shell Rock WMA sits 3.8 mi away to the northeast.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Rock WMA | WMA | 48 | 254 | 3.8 mi | northeast |
| Bhagyam WPA | WPA | 281 | 254 | 4.3 mi | west |
| Goose Creek WPA | WPA | 474 | 254 | 5.3 mi | northwest |
| Ann & Leo Donahue WMA | WMA | 112 | 254 | 6.7 mi | northwest |
| Twin Lake WPA | WPA | 300 | 254 | 7.5 mi | northwest |
| State Line Lake WMA | WMA | 47 | 254 | 8.0 mi | west |
| Myre-Big Island State Park | State park | 1,821 | 254 | 8.7 mi | north |
| Pickerel Lake WPA | WPA | 244 | 254 | 9.2 mi | northwest |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Panicum Prairie WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Glenville lies 4.7 mi from Panicum Prairie WMA. For more services, Albert Lea (18,159) is 10 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Gordonsville. Nearest DNR desk: Owatonna Area Wildlife Office, 42 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenville | Freeborn | 558 | 4.7 mi | northeast |
| Twin Lakes | Freeborn | 130 | 6.3 mi | northwest |
| Emmons | Freeborn | 360 | 8.3 mi | west |
| Myrtle | Freeborn | 49 | 8.5 mi | northeast |
| Albert Lea | Freeborn | 18,159 | 10 mi | north |
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.
Panicum Prairie WMA: deer taken in DPA 254
1,373 deer were registered in DPA 254 during 2025, 1.49 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 753 | 620 | 1,373 | 1.49 |
| 2024 | 772 | 568 | 1,340 | 1.45 |
| 2023 | 745 | 601 | 1,346 | 1.46 |
| 2022 | 707 | 552 | 1,259 | 1.36 |
| 2021 | 713 | 551 | 1,264 | 1.37 |
| 2020 | 707 | 578 | 1,285 | 1.39 |
| 2019 | 691 | 567 | 1,258 | 1.36 |
| 2018 | 578 | 615 | 1,193 | 1.28 |
| 2017 | 584 | 411 | 995 | 1.07 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Panicum Prairie WMA and the rest of Freeborn County
Freeborn County has 25 public hunting areas on file, Panicum Prairie WMA among them. Freeborn County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 503. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Owatonna Area Wildlife Office, (507) 414-6200.
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 Panicum Prairie WMA
Sun times computed for Panicum Prairie 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 | 6:56 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 7:19 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:03 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:56 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:23 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:46 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:34 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. | 8:24 p.m. | 7:54 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.
Panicum Prairie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2026 | Freeborn County Gun Bingo (Emmons), a DU gun or purse bingo | 8 | Good Shot Golf and Sporting Clays (Emmons) | Buy tickets | Source |
Ranges a Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Full Draw Archery Club at 10 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.
Panicum Prairie WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Panicum Prairie WMA, short answers
Panicum Prairie WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Shell Rock WMA (3.8 mi), Bhagyam WPA (4.3 mi) and Goose Creek WPA (5.3 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Panicum Prairie WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:26 a.m. and ends at 5:29 p.m. at the Panicum Prairie WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Panicum Prairie WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Panicum Prairie WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Panicum Prairie WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,048 acres in 2 subunits.
Does Panicum Prairie WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Panicum Prairie WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Panicum Prairie WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove for Panicum Prairie WMA.
What deer permit area is Panicum Prairie WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 254: 3-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Panicum Prairie WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Panicum Prairie WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Owatonna office.
How do you get to Panicum Prairie WMA?
From Gordonsville, go 2 miles SW on CSAH 1. 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
Panicum Prairie WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 254 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Other photos on this page: Joshua Mayer (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain).