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Home › Minnesota › Public land › Perch Creek WMA

Minnesota WMA

Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access

1,285 acres of wildlife management area ground in Martin County and 1 neighbor, deer permit area 252.

Get driving directionsAll Martin County spots

Nearby stand-in from Martin County, not Perch Creek WMA: Rows of early spring crops and distant wind turbines near Fairmont in Martin County.

Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Get driving directionsParking on Google MapsTrailheads on Google Maps

Parking, trailheads and gates near Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

  • Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • GateGate · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections

Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.

Perch Creek WMA on paper: the record in brief

Perch Creek WMA covers 1,285 acres in Martin and Watonwan counties. Among Martin County’s 20 wildlife management areas, it sits 1st for acres. Subunits (2): Perch Creek WMA (1,126 ac) and Perch Creek WMA (159 ac).

The 2026 deer designation for DPA 252 is either-sex. Management sits with the Windom area wildlife staff, reachable at windom.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid on file for Perch Creek WMA: Pittman-Robertson.

Hunted here: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.

From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Public land · 17 mi from Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Directions
Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 23 mi from Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Directions
Maple River Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 24 mi from Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Directions
Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 29 mi from Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Directions
String Lakes Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 35 mi from Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Directions
Walnut Lake Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 37 mi from Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Directions

Getting into Perch Creek WMA

Directions and parking for Perch Creek WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (0 parking points mapped).

PieceAcresTownStatusLotsDetail
Perch Creek WMA1,126TrumanOpen–DNR
Perch Creek WMA159TrumanOpen–DNR
  • Perch Creek WMA: From Truman, go 1 mile W on Twp Rd
  • Perch Creek WMA: From Truman go north on State Highway 15 for two miles to 430th Street. Go west on 430th Street for two miles. The main parking area is off 430th Street. In addition there are two field approaches off 430th Street that are available for parking.

DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.

Use rules to read before hunting Perch Creek WMA

Perch Creek WMA follows the rules below on top of the statewide booklet.

TopicRule
Hunting, trappingRegular seasons
VehiclesDesignated roads, lots
Target shootingNot allowed
Guns in transitCased, unloaded
CampingDesignated or permit
Portable stands, blindsRemove daily
Overnight stands, northwestNov 1-Dec 31
DogsLeash Apr 16-Jul 14
DronesNot allowed
Gear left overnightNot allowed

Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.

What DNR has posted about Perch Creek WMA

  • Perch Creek WMA lies inside the 2026 CWD surveillance block: deer a year old or older taken Nov. 7-8 must be tested, and testing is voluntary the rest of the seasons.

DNR notice text: NOTICE TO DEER HUNTERS: This WMA is within the 2026 CWD surveillance block , which requires mandatory CWD testing for deer one year of age or older harvested Nov. 7-8; Voluntary CWD testing remainder of all seasons. Locations of the nearest CWD testing locations are available from this interactive map .

DNR WMA visitor alerts on the unit page; checked October 28, 2026. CWD rules.

Perch Creek WMA deer rules: DPA 252

DPA 252 is a 200-series area set to either-sex for 2026. A buck or a doe both count in DPA 252 this year.

Deer seasonOpeningClosingRight now
ArcherySep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Youth deerOct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Firearms, 200 seriesNov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
MuzzleloaderNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026

Surveillance block: bring adult deer taken Nov. 7-8 for sampling. At 737 square miles, DPA 252 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 252 overlaps Martin, Watonwan, Jackson and Cottonwood.

DPA 252 pageAll DPAsCWD rules

From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Perch Creek WMA dates, species by species

Season rows matched to Perch Creek WMA by its game species list; trapping-only seasons are on the species pages.

SpeciesHuntZoneFirst dayLast dayNow
DeerArcheryDPA 252Sep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
DeerYouth deerDPA 252Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerFirearms, 200 seriesDPA 252Nov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
DeerMuzzleloaderStatewideNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026
Wild turkeyFallStatewideOct 3, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Wild turkeySpring archery-onlyStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period AStatewideApr 14, 2027Apr 20, 2027
Wild turkeySpring youthStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period BStatewideApr 21, 2027Apr 27, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period CStatewideApr 28, 2027May 4, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period DStatewideMay 5, 2027May 11, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period EStatewideMay 12, 2027May 18, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period FStatewideMay 19, 2027May 31, 2027
PheasantRegularStatewideOct 10, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Ruffed, spruce grouseRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Hungarian partridgeRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Mourning doveRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026
Rabbits, haresRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
JackrabbitRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
SquirrelsRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Canada gooseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Light geeseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
TealEarly teal seasonStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 9, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth daysStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026
DucksRegular ducksNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Nov 24, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 25, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
Take-a-KidTake-a-KidStatewideSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 29, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Dec 30, 2026
Raccoon, foxesHunting (north)North furbearer zoneOct 17, 2026Mar 15, 2027
Badger, opossum, weaselsHunting (north)North furbearer zoneOct 17, 2026Mar 15, 2027
DucksRegular ducksSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Jan 6, 2027
Raccoon, foxesHunting (south)South furbearer zoneOct 24, 2026Mar 15, 2027
Badger, opossum, weaselsHunting (south)South furbearer zoneOct 24, 2026Mar 15, 2027
BobcatHunt and trap (north)North furbearer zoneDec 12, 2026Jan 17, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideDec 15, 2026Jan 15, 2027
BobcatHunt and trap (south)South furbearer zoneJan 2, 2027Jan 17, 2027
Light geeseSpring light gooseStatewideFeb 18, 2027Apr 30, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideMar 1, 2027Mar 31, 2027

Zone rows for ducks and furbearers depend on map lines, not on this unit; DNR draws them along highways.

From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.

Harvest trend near Perch Creek WMA

In 2025 hunters registered 601 deer across DPA 252 (0.84 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.

SeasonAdult malesAntlerless and fawnsDPA totalDeer per sq mi
20254251766010.84
20243931625550.78
20233882196070.85
20224191695880.82
20213751745490.77
20203971965930.83
20194051425470.77
20183281704980.70
20173271464730.66

2019-2025 from Table 3 (total harvest per permit area; 2024-2025 exclude special hunts); 2017-2018 from Table 9 (all seasons, special hunts reallocated to the surrounding DPA). DPA boundaries changed over time (e.g. 103/108 in 2018), so older DPAs may not match 2026 polygons.

DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.

Perch Creek WMA and the public ground around it

Straight-line distances run from the Perch Creek WMA map point; Armbrust WMA (3.8 mi, south) leads the list.

NearbyKindAcresDPAMilesHeading
Armbrust WMAWMA662523.8 misouth
Gleam WMAWMA272524.3 miwest
Exceder WMAWMA1082526.0 misouthwest
Willow Creek WMAWMA692526.4 miwest
Primrose WPAWPA712526.5 misouthwest
Willow Creek WPAWPA802999.1 minortheast
Lewisville WMAWMA932529.1 minorth
W. R. Taylor Memorial WMAWMA2182529.6 minorth

Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.

Martin County around Perch Creek WMA

6,535Public land (GIS)
5,759WMA acres
520WPA acres
173Refuge acres
7AMA acres

In Martin County there are 28 records like Perch Creek WMA to choose from. For bear, Martin County is no-quota. Turkey permit area 504 covers the county. Windom Area Wildlife Office (Windom) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre.

Martin County, in fullTurkey mapBear quota areas

County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Gas, food and processors near Perch Creek WMA

Closest town: Truman, 2.2 mi in a straight line from Perch Creek WMA. The unit page lists Truman as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is New Ulm Area Wildlife Office in New Ulm, 30 mi away.

TownCounty2024 populationAwayWhich way
TrumanMartin1,0692.2 mieast
LewisvilleWatonwan2076.4 minorth
NorthropMartin2177.3 misouth
OrmsbyWatonwan12311 miwest
GranadaMartin28112 misoutheast
New Ulm wildlife office

DNR office · New Ulm, Brown County · about 30 mi away

(507) 233-1257RouteWeb
Region 4 (South) office

DNR office · New Ulm, Brown County · about 30 mi away

(507) 233-1204RouteWeb
K A Guns

sporting goods · Saint James, Watonwan County · about 12 mi away

(507) 942-7126Route
Trimont Locker

deer processing · Trimont, Martin County · about 13 mi away

(507) 639-5861Route
Nelson Taxidermy

taxidermy · Madelia, Watonwan County · about 16 mi away

(507) 642-8905Route
The Sports Shak

sporting goods · Winnebago, Faribault County · about 16 mi away

(507) 893-3400Route

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.

Before Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero

Hunters on Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Fairmont Rifle & Pistol Club (13 miles), the nearest listing. Target shooting is not allowed on the property itself.

Fairmont Rifle & Pistol
Club
sportsmen’s club

Fairmont, Martin County · 13 mi

Covers rifle, handgun

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

East Chain Sportsmans Club
sportsmen’s club

Fairmont, Martin County · 13 mi

Covers trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, shotgun

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

Mountain Lake Sportsman Club/Range
sportsmen’s club

Mountain Lake, Cottonwood County · 24 mi

Covers trap, handgun, smallbore rimfire, shotgun

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.

Legal hunting hours worked out for Perch Creek WMA

Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Perch Creek WMA; the two closing columns split big game from birds.

DateSeasonSunriseSunsetFirst shotLast, big gameLast, birds
Sep 19, 2026Archery and grouse opener7:00 a.m.7:23 p.m.6:30 a.m.7:53 p.m.7:23 p.m.
Sep 26, 2026Duck opener7:08 a.m.7:10 p.m.6:38 a.m.7:40 p.m.7:10 p.m.
Oct 10, 2026Pheasant opener7:25 a.m.6:45 p.m.6:55 a.m.7:15 p.m.6:45 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Firearms deer opener7:01 a.m.5:03 p.m.6:31 a.m.5:33 p.m.5:03 p.m.
Nov 28, 2026Muzzleloader opener7:28 a.m.4:44 p.m.6:58 a.m.5:14 p.m.4:44 p.m.
Dec 31, 2026Archery close7:52 a.m.4:49 p.m.7:22 a.m.5:19 p.m.4:49 p.m.
Apr 14, 2027Spring turkey opener6:38 a.m.7:59 p.m.6:08 a.m.8:29 p.m.7:59 p.m.

Early teal runs sunrise to sunset.

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.

Pictures that suit a day on Perch Creek WMA

Wild turkey gobbler walking through a grassy field at Land Between the Lakes
Wild turkey gobbler walking through a grassy field at Land Between the Lakes
Mourning dove perched on a bare branch
Mourning dove perched on a bare branch
Wild turkey gobbler strutting on a leaf-covered woodland trail
Wild turkey gobbler strutting on a leaf-covered woodland trail

Perch Creek WMA alternatives of the same kind

WMA

Armbrust WMA

66 ac, 4 mi

WMA

Gleam WMA

27 ac, 4 mi

WMA

Exceder WMA

108 ac, 6 mi

WMA

Willow Creek WMA

69 ac, 6 mi

Wildlife management areasWalk-In AccessAquatic management areas

Quick answers before you hunt Perch Creek WMA

Do deer from Perch Creek WMA need CWD testing?

Its DPA (252) is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).

Which office should I call about Perch Creek WMA?

Perch Creek WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Windom office.

Where can I hunt public land close to Perch Creek WMA?

The nearest public units are Armbrust WMA (3.8 mi), Gleam WMA (4.3 mi) and Exceder WMA (6.0 mi).

When is legal light on Perch Creek WMA for the opener?

For the opener, 6:31 a.m. to 5:33 p.m.; birds stop at 5:03 p.m..

Is camping at Perch Creek WMA allowed under WMA rules?

Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.

Can decoys or gear stay on Perch Creek WMA overnight?

Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.

Perch Creek WMA size: how much huntable ground?

Perch Creek WMA covers 1,285 acres in 2 subunits.

May the public hunt Perch Creek WMA?

Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Perch Creek WMA.

What can you hunt on Perch Creek WMA?

Expect deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove on Perch Creek WMA, per the record.

What are the 2026 deer rules on Perch Creek WMA?

It is in deer permit area 252 (either-sex). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.

What route leads to Perch Creek WMA?

From Truman, go 1 mile W on Twp Rd Parking points on file: 0.

Perch Creek WMA: what to double-check first

Seasons, closures and notices on Perch Creek WMA can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.

Statewide pinsArea indexMartin CountyDPA 252Wildlife management areasAgency details

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: Russ (CC BY 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).