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Hunting Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Lac qui Parle County, 781 acres.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 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.
Salt Lake WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 781 acres at Salt Lake WMA, which lies in Lac qui Parle County. By size it ranks 3rd of the 44 wildlife management areas we list in Lac qui Parle County. The 2 subunits are Main Unit (769 ac) and North Unit (12 ac).
DPA 279 sets the deer limit here: 2-deer limit this year. The managing office is Appleton (DNR Wildlife), appleton.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists LAWCON as the federal aid source for Salt Lake WMA.
Listed game: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Salt Lake WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Salt 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 Salt Lake WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Salt Lake WMA fall under DPA 279: 2-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 279 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 279 spans 346 square miles. DPA 279 reaches Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Salt Lake WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Salt 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 279 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 279 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 279 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Salt Lake WMA: access points
2 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Salt Lake WMA.
- Main Unit: From Marietta, go 3 miles S on CSAH 7, 1 mile W on Twp Rd
- North Unit: From Marietta, go 3 miles S on CSAH 7, 1 mile W on Twp Rd
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Salt Lake WMA
When Salt Lake WMA is crowded, Dacotah WMA sits 2.4 mi away to the south.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacotah WMA | WMA | 49 | 279 | 2.4 mi | south |
| David B. Vesall WMA | WMA | 646 | 279 | 4.2 mi | northeast |
| Gollnick WMA | WMA | 517 | 279 | 4.3 mi | east |
| Northeast Four Corners WMA | WMA | 362 | 279 | 4.7 mi | east |
| Taylor WPA | WPA | 180 | 279 | 5.7 mi | south |
| Bolson Slough WPA | WPA | 178 | 279 | 6.1 mi | southeast |
| Goodman WPA | WPA | 236 | 279 | 6.5 mi | southeast |
| Yellow Bank Hills SNA | SNA | 77 | 279 | 6.6 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Salt Lake WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Marietta lies 3.1 mi from Salt Lake WMA. For more services, Madison (1,488) is 13 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Marietta. Nearest DNR desk: Appleton Area Wildlife Office, 28 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marietta | Lac qui Parle | 116 | 3.1 mi | north |
| Nassau | Lac qui Parle | 66 | 6.8 mi | north |
| Madison | Lac qui Parle | 1,488 | 13 mi | east |
| Bellingham | Lac qui Parle | 141 | 14 mi | northeast |
| Louisburg | Lac qui Parle | 29 | 19 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.
Salt Lake WMA: deer taken in DPA 279
397 deer were registered in DPA 279 during 2025, 1.16 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 275 | 122 | 397 | 1.16 |
| 2024 | 255 | 115 | 370 | 1.08 |
| 2023 | 213 | 145 | 358 | 1.04 |
| 2022 | 242 | 150 | 392 | 1.14 |
| 2021 | 259 | 134 | 393 | 1.14 |
| 2020 | 207 | 187 | 394 | 1.15 |
| 2019 | 228 | 112 | 340 | 0.99 |
| 2018 | 190 | 94 | 284 | 0.83 |
| 2017 | 196 | 168 | 364 | 1.06 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Salt Lake WMA and the rest of Lac qui Parle County
Lac qui Parle County has 69 public hunting areas on file, Salt Lake WMA among them. Lac qui Parle County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 504 and 505. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Appleton Area Wildlife Office, (320) 435-4040.
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 Salt Lake WMA
Sun times computed for Salt 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 | 7:08 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:52 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. | 5:38 p.m. | 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:40 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:04 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:45 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. | 8:38 p.m. | 8:08 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.
Ranges a Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Dawson Rod & Gun Club at 19 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.
Salt Lake WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Salt Lake WMA, short answers
What game species does Salt Lake WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl for Salt Lake WMA.
What deer permit area is Salt Lake WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 279: 2-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Salt Lake WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Salt Lake WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Appleton office.
How do you get to Salt Lake WMA?
From Marietta, go 3 miles S on CSAH 7, 1 mile W on Twp Rd 2 parking spots on the DNR map.
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Salt Lake WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:41 a.m. and ends at 5:38 p.m. at the Salt Lake WMA point.
Salt Lake WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 279 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Can blinds stay up overnight at Salt Lake WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Salt Lake WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Dacotah WMA (2.4 mi), David B. Vesall WMA (4.2 mi) and Gollnick WMA (4.3 mi).
Does Salt Lake WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Salt Lake WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Salt Lake WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Salt Lake WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 781 acres in 2 subunits.
Final notes for a Salt Lake WMA hunt
Confirm access, permits and the DPA rules for Salt Lake WMA before the drive.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).