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Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area hunting, season by season
760 acres of public land open to hunters in Rice County, with DPA 605 deer dates.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area
Prairie Creek WMA in brief, from the agency file
760 acres of Rice County belong to Prairie Creek WMA. Size rank in Rice County: 2nd of 18 wildlife management areas. DNR splits it into 2 subunits: Koester Prairie (599 ac) and Engeseth-Rinde (161 ac).
For deer it falls in DPA 605, set at 5-deer limit for 2026. Questions go to the Owatonna DNR wildlife office at owatonna.wildlife@state.mn.us. Its DNR record carries the federal aid code OHF.
DNR notes on the habitat: The grasslands blend into hardwood forests on the western portion of the wildlife area. Prairie Creek is managed using a working lands approach including prescribed burning, haying and mowing and grazing to restore prairies and maintain grassland and oak savanna habitats. Recent habitat work has focused on removing undesirable trees and invasive species and expanding permanent habitats to fields previously used for row crops. Small woodland plantings provide soft and hard mast trees for food and cover. Koester Prairie derives its moniker from the family that owned the area for much of the last century. Choices on how to farm and graze the land preserved a remnant of the native prairies that once dominated this landscape. Stewardship activities continue through the volunteer efforts of the Friends of Prairie Creek, Rice County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and other partners. This …
Game listed: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Wild Turkey
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area
Subunits and parking at Prairie Creek WMA
Each subunit of Prairie Creek WMA has its own DNR page; the map below pins 0 parking spots.
| Subunit | Acreage | Near | Open? | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koester Prairie | 599 | Dennison | Open | – | DNR |
| Engeseth-Rinde | 161 | Nerstrand | Open | – | DNR |
- Koester Prairie: From Dennison, go 1 mile W on CSAH 31 then 1 mile S on Lamb Avenue to 13371 Lamb Avenue. An off road parking area is available on the east side of Lamb Avenue along the north boundary of the wildlife area. Please respect private property. Stay off private drives and take care not to block shared field accesses.
- Engeseth-Rinde: The wildlife area is on the north side of town. A grass/gravel surface parking area is provided along the west side of Kielmeyer Avenue in the southeast corner of the wildlife area. A 0.4 mile long foot path following the old rail grade provides access from Cherry Street in Nerstrand. No off-street parking is available at this location.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Prairie Creek WMA pinned among nearby tracts
Prairie Creek Woods SNA lies 3.3 mi southwest of Prairie Creek WMA, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Creek Woods SNA | SNA | 83 | 605 | 3.3 mi | southwest |
| Nerstrand Big Woods State Park | State park | 1,630 | 605 | 3.8 mi | southwest |
| Warsaw WMA | WMA | 243 | 605 | 4.0 mi | northeast |
| Little Cannon River AMA | AMA | 77 | 293 | 6.5 mi | east |
| Cannon River Trout Lily WMA, 129 ac | WMA | 129 | 605 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Mud Creek WMA | WMA | 157 | 605 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Lois Bean Illsley WMA | WMA | 9.8 | 605 | 12 mi | west |
| Sunktokeca Creek WMA | WMA | 202 | 605 | 13 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Prairie Creek WMA
Site rules for Prairie Creek 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 |
- There is no hunting along the access trail between the town of Nerstrand and the main body of the wildlife area.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Prairie Creek WMA season dates
This table covers Prairie Creek 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 605 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 605 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 605 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 605 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late southeast | DPA 605 | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late CWD hunt | DPA 605 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 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 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 Prairie Creek WMA
600-series DPA 605 carries the 5-deer limit designation this year. With bonus permits, a hunter can fill the 5-deer limit in DPA 605.
| 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 | |
| Late southeast firearms | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Late CWD hunt | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 |
CWD management zone: DPA 605 is inside it. DNR adds a Dec. 18-20 CWD hunt here. Dispose of carcasses under the DNR rule. Size of DPA 605: 1,229 square miles. Dakota, Rice, Scott, Goodhue and Le Sueur share DPA 605.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Prairie Creek WMA (DPA 605)
The whole of DPA 605 gave up 3,115 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Prairie Creek WMA itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,495 | 1,620 | 3,115 | 2.61 |
| 2024 | 1,374 | 1,452 | 2,826 | 2.37 |
| 2023 | 1,279 | 1,542 | 2,821 | 2.37 |
| 2022 | 1,326 | 1,606 | 2,932 | 2.46 |
| 2021 | 1,269 | 1,528 | 2,797 | 2.35 |
| 2020 | 1,508 | 2,070 | 3,578 | 3.00 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Prairie Creek WMA nearby towns
Dennison is the closest town to Prairie Creek WMA, about 1.8 mi away. The largest nearby is Northfield (21,316 people). The DNR detail page starts its directions from Dennison. For questions, the Owatonna DNR office is 20 mi from Prairie Creek WMA.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennison | Goodhue | 218 | 1.8 mi | northeast |
| Nerstrand | Rice | 278 | 3.3 mi | south |
| Northfield | Rice | 21,316 | 7.3 mi | northwest |
| Dundas | Rice | 1,806 | 7.8 mi | west |
| Kenyon | Goodhue | 1,872 | 8.8 mi | southeast |
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.
Prairie Creek WMA: Rice County facts
Counting Prairie Creek WMA, Rice County has 30 listed public areas. Rice County is one of the feeding ban counties. The no-quota bear area covers Rice County. Rice County turkey hunters declare area 503 and 505. County questions go to Owatonna Area Wildlife Office, Owatonna. 6 places in Rice County are closed to hunting, such as Cannon River Trout Lily Scientific and Natural Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area, 26 miles separates hunters from Spring Lake Park Archery Range, 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 Prairie Creek WMA
Prairie Creek WMA shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Prairie Creek 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 | 6:54 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:02 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:19 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:56 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 4:56 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:24 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 4:37 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:48 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:32 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. | 8:24 p.m. | 7:54 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 Prairie Creek WMA
Roughly how large is the Prairie Creek WMA unit?
The mapped size is 760 acres in 2 subunits.
Can you hunt on Prairie Creek WMA this season?
Yes. Hunting and trapping are open on state WMAs during regular seasons unless DNR posts an exception, and Prairie Creek WMA shows open hunting status.
Which species does Prairie Creek WMA hold?
Game on the agency list for Prairie Creek WMA: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, wild turkey and mourning dove.
Which deer permit area holds Prairie Creek WMA?
Prairie Creek WMA falls in DPA 605, 5-deer limit. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Who do I call about Prairie Creek WMA?
Prairie Creek WMA falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Owatonna office).
Where is the access for Prairie Creek WMA?
From Dennison, go 1 mile W on CSAH 31 then 1 mile S on Lamb Avenue to 13371 Lamb Avenue. Park on the road shoulder only where legal.
How early does shooting start at Prairie Creek WMA on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:26 a.m., done by 5:26 p.m..
Is CWD sampling required at Prairie Creek WMA?
DNR lists DPA 605 as in the CWD management zone.
Can I leave a stand on Prairie Creek WMA overnight?
Daily removal applies on Prairie Creek WMA, so plan on a climber or a hang-on you carry out.
Which public ground lies closest to Prairie Creek WMA?
Next-closest public land: Prairie Creek Woods SNA (3.3 mi), Nerstrand Big Woods State Park (3.8 mi) and Warsaw WMA (4.0 mi).
Can I camp on Prairie Creek WMA during the season?
Generally no: designated areas or a permit only.
Prairie Creek 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: Chad Davis. (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).