Home › Minnesota › Public land › Shetek WMA
WMA in Murray County
Hunting Shetek Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Murray County, 731 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Shetek Wildlife Management Area
Shetek WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 731 acres at Shetek WMA, which lies in Murray County. By size it ranks 4th of the 64 wildlife management areas we list in Murray County. The 2 subunits are West Unit (206 ac) and East Unit (525 ac).
DPA 295 sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year. The managing office is Slayton-Talcot Lake (DNR Wildlife), talcotlake.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Shetek WMA.
Listed game: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- 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 Shetek Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Shetek WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Shetek 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 Shetek WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Shetek WMA fall under DPA 295: either-sex, 200 series. No lottery in DPA 295: either sex on the regular license.
| 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 295 spans 977 square miles. DPA 295 reaches Murray, Cottonwood, Redwood and Lyon counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Shetek WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Shetek 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 295 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 295 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 295 | 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 | |
| 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.
Shetek WMA: access points
7 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Shetek WMA.
- West Unit: From Tracey, go 4 miles south on County Road 38, then 1.5 miles west on County Road 21, then 1 mile south on township road. There is a carry-in water access to Clear Lake on this subunit.
- East Unit: From Tracy, go 5.5 miles south on County Road 38.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Shetek WMA
When Shetek WMA is crowded, Buttermilk Run AMA sits 2.2 mi away to the southwest.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk Run AMA | AMA | 28 | 295 | 2.2 mi | southwest |
| Buttermilk Run WMA | WMA | 56 | 295 | 2.4 mi | south |
| Slaughter Slough WPA | WPA | 641 | 295 | 3.8 mi | south |
| Lake Shetek State Park | State park | 821 | 295 | 4.3 mi | southwest |
| Buffalo Lake WMA | WMA | 567 | 295 | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Rupp WMA | WMA | 83 | 295 | 5.0 mi | south |
| Buffalo Lake WPA | WPA | 80 | 295 | 5.2 mi | southeast |
| Plum Creek WMA | WMA | 283 | 295 | 6.2 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shetek WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: The Lakes lies 3.5 mi from Shetek WMA. For more services, Tracy (2,041) is 6.5 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Tracy. Nearest DNR desk: Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office, 20 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lakes | Murray | – | 3.5 mi | southwest |
| Currie | Murray | 214 | 5.6 mi | south |
| Tracy | Lyon | 2,041 | 6.5 mi | north |
| Dovray | Murray | 53 | 7.6 mi | southeast |
| Garvin | Lyon | 117 | 7.9 mi | northwest |
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.
Shetek WMA: deer taken in DPA 295
904 deer were registered in DPA 295 during 2025, 0.94 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 650 | 254 | 904 | 0.94 |
| 2024 | 594 | 241 | 835 | 0.87 |
| 2023 | 569 | 258 | 827 | 0.86 |
| 2022 | 595 | 261 | 856 | 0.89 |
| 2021 | 605 | 252 | 857 | 0.89 |
| 2020 | 621 | 253 | 874 | 1.04 |
| 2019 | 591 | 214 | 805 | 0.96 |
| 2018 | 516 | 244 | 760 | 0.91 |
| 2017 | 518 | 233 | 751 | 0.90 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Shetek WMA and the rest of Murray County
Murray County has 81 public hunting areas on file, Shetek WMA among them. Murray County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 504. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office, (507) 873-5650. Not every public place in Murray County is open: Lundblad Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is closed to hunting.
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 Shetek WMA
Sun times computed for Shetek 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 | 7:05 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 7:28 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 5:36 p.m. | 5:06 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:34 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:57 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:42 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. | 8:04 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.
Shetek Wildlife Management Area: hunts and banquets nearby
State park youth deer hunt: 1 upcoming event, on site or a few miles away.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21–22, 2026 | Lake Shetek State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | 4 | Event details | Source |
Ranges a Shetek Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Shetek Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Saratoga Archery Club at 6 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.
Shetek WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Shetek WMA, short answers
Shetek WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Buttermilk Run AMA (2.2 mi), Buttermilk Run WMA (2.4 mi) and Slaughter Slough WPA (3.8 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Shetek WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:36 a.m. and ends at 5:36 p.m. at the Shetek WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Shetek WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Shetek WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Shetek WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 731 acres in 2 subunits.
Does Shetek WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Shetek WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Shetek WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl and wild turkey for Shetek WMA.
What deer permit area is Shetek WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 295: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Shetek WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Shetek WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Slayton-Talcot Lake office.
How do you get to Shetek WMA?
From Tracey, go 4 miles south on County Road 38, then 1.5 miles west on County Road 21, then 1 mile south on township road. 7 parking spots on the DNR map.
Shetek WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 295 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Other photos on this page: Michel Curi (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).