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WMA · DPA 218
Hunting on Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Stearns County and 1 neighbor: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 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.
The record behind Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA is 756 acres, in Stearns and Kandiyohi counties. Stearns County has 42 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 2nd largest. Deer rules come from DPA 218 (it also reaches DPA 277), a 3-deer limit area in 2026.
Sauk Rapids is the DNR wildlife area office for Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA (saukrapids.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records NAWCA PWHCI 2 funding for Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA.
The WMA page says: Visitors should note on the wood routed sign the various conservation groups that helped purchase and donate this tract of land. This WMA is part of a larger prairie/brushland community type that extends from Belgrade to Richmond. Please respect property boundaries and ask for permission before going on private lands. Consider picking up any litter you come across. Help us be good neighbors. The future of our WMA program depends on everyone being responsible users of our WMAs.
Species named: 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 Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| 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.
DPA 218 dates for Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 218 3-deer limit; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Up to 3 deer can come out of DPA 218 this season, using bonus permits for the extra antlerless deer.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
DNR placed it in the 2026 surveillance block (sampling Nov. 7-8). DPA 218 takes in 912 square miles. Part of Stearns, Pope, Meeker and Kandiyohi falls in DPA 218.
Other DPAs: DPA 277 (3-deer limit)
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA
34 season windows for 18 species reach Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPAs 218, 277 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPAs 218, 277 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPAs 218, 277 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPAs 218, 277 | 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 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA, with 2 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA | 756 | Regal | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: 2 miles NW of Regal within Sections 25 and 36, T123N, R34W. Wheelchair access is limited to public roads and mowed parking lots on this unit.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA
The closest other public land to Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA is Follies WMA, 1.0 mi to the southwest; the table lists 8 neighbors with 3,230 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follies WMA | WMA | 610 | 277 | 1.0 mi | southwest |
| Regal Meadows WMA | WMA | 306 | 277 | 1.2 mi | southeast |
| Tribute WMA | WMA | 232 | 218 | 1.3 mi | northwest |
| Burbank WPA | WPA | 898 | 277 | 2.4 mi | south |
| Crow River WMA | WMA | 155 | 277 | 3.4 mi | west |
| Regal Flats WMA | WMA | 508 | 277 | 4.5 mi | southeast |
| Gravel Pit 1062 WMA | WMA | 15 | 218 | 5.0 mi | northwest |
| Burbank WMA | WMA | 506 | 277 | 5.5 mi | south |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA
The town nearest Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA is Regal at 2.8 mi. Paynesville (2,586 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Regal as the nearest town on its unit page. New London Area Wildlife Office (New London) is the closest DNR office, 10 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regal | Kandiyohi | 40 | 2.8 mi | east |
| Belgrade | Stearns | 742 | 5.5 mi | west |
| Lake Henry | Stearns | 77 | 5.5 mi | northeast |
| Spring Hill | Stearns | 71 | 7.7 mi | northeast |
| Paynesville | Stearns | 2,586 | 8.8 mi | east |
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.
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 218 totals, which include all the land around Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: 3,769 deer in 2025 against 3,553 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,743 | 2,026 | 3,769 | 4.26 |
| 2024 | 1,715 | 1,838 | 3,553 | 4.02 |
| 2023 | 1,376 | 1,716 | 3,092 | 3.50 |
| 2022 | 1,426 | 1,846 | 3,272 | 3.70 |
| 2021 | 1,552 | 1,613 | 3,165 | 3.58 |
| 2020 | 1,462 | 1,692 | 3,154 | 3.57 |
| 2019 | 1,362 | 971 | 2,333 | 2.64 |
| 2018 | 1,267 | 1,002 | 2,269 | 2.57 |
| 2017 | 1,303 | 1,579 | 2,882 | 3.26 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA
Stearns County holds 88 public hunting records on this site; Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA is one of them. Bear: Stearns County is in the no-quota area, with licenses over the counter. For turkey the county is in permit area 507. Wildlife office for Stearns County: Sauk Rapids Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA, Cedar Lake Aquatic Management Area and Cold Spring Heron Colony Scientific and Natural Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 7:25 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:10 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. | 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:27 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:35 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:59 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:32 p.m. | 8:02 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
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.
Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area and nearby events
1 upcoming event on this property or within about 10 miles (DU chapter party). Checked October 28, 2026.
Upcoming here
| Date | Event | Miles | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2027 | Lakes Country Holiday Bash 2027, a DU chapter party | 9 | Paynesville American Legion | Buy tickets | Source |
Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Stearns Prairie Heritage Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Paynesville Sportsmens Club, 12 miles off. Sight in elsewhere: the area rules bar target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA and country like it, in photos
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA FAQ for 2026-27
Can I stay the night on Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA a big piece of land?
About 756 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
Deer permit area 218; the 2026 designation is 3-deer limit. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
The record for Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA lists deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
What are the directions to Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
2 miles NW of Regal within Sections 25 and 36, T123N, R34W. 2 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
The Sauk Rapids office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
CWD status: DPA 218 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:36 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
Closest on the map: Follies WMA (1.0 mi), Regal Meadows WMA (1.2 mi) and Tribute WMA (1.3 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA?
No overnight gear on Stearns Prairie Heritage WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0).