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WMA in Polk County
Hunting Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Polk County, 848 acres.
Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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.
Tympanuchus WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 848 acres at Tympanuchus WMA, which lies in Polk County. By size it ranks 12th of the 45 wildlife management areas we list in Polk County. DPA 256 sets the deer limit here: 2-deer limit this year.
The managing office is Thief River Falls (DNR Wildlife), thiefriver.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Tympanuchus WMA.
What the DNR page says about it: This WMA is open to public hunting, trapping and other compatible recreational uses. The unit has been posted with WMA signs. Access is by a county road on the north side. The parking lot and a routed wood unit sign are adjacent to this road.
Listed game: deer, small game.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Tympanuchus WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Tympanuchus 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 Tympanuchus WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Tympanuchus WMA fall under DPA 256: 2-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 256 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 256: optional. DPA 256 spans 655 square miles. DPA 256 reaches Polk, Pennington, Red Lake and Marshall counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Tympanuchus WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Tympanuchus 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 256 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 256 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 256 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
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.
Tympanuchus WMA: access points
2 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Tympanuchus WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tympanuchus WMA | 848 | Crookston | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Tympanuchus WMA: From Crookston, take U.S. Hwy 2 east to SH 102. Southeast 5.5 mi on SH 102 to County Road 45. East 3 mi on CR 45. Parking lots are located north and east central. Disabled access is limited to adjacent roads and the parking lot.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Tympanuchus WMA
When Tympanuchus WMA is crowded, Thorson Prairie WMA sits 2.3 mi away to the southeast.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorson Prairie WMA | WMA | 1,109 | 256, 265 | 2.3 mi | southeast |
| Kertsonville WMA | WMA | 371 | 256 | 2.4 mi | north |
| Melvin Slough WPA | WPA | 1,212 | 256, 265 | 4.7 mi | southeast |
| Burnham WMA | WMA | 990 | 256 | 5.6 mi | southeast |
| Trail WMA | WMA | 609 | 256 | 5.7 mi | southeast |
| Chicog WMA | WMA | 2,434 | 265 | 6.0 mi | south |
| Shypoke WMA | WMA | 161 | 256 | 6.3 mi | southeast |
| Glacial Ridge NWR | Wildlife refuge | 23,763 | 256, 257 | 6.4 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Tympanuchus WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Crookston lies 10 mi from Tympanuchus WMA. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Crookston. Nearest DNR desk: Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office, 31 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crookston | Polk | 7,269 | 10 mi | northwest |
| Beltrami | Polk | 90 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Fertile | Polk | 780 | 13 mi | southeast |
| Mentor | Polk | 103 | 13 mi | east |
| Red Lake Falls | Red Lake | 1,327 | 15 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.
Tympanuchus WMA: deer taken in DPA 256
1,042 deer were registered in DPA 256 during 2025, 1.59 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 633 | 409 | 1,042 | 1.59 |
| 2024 | 631 | 402 | 1,033 | 1.58 |
| 2023 | 458 | 409 | 867 | 1.33 |
| 2022 | 501 | 511 | 1,012 | 1.55 |
| 2021 | 595 | 474 | 1,069 | 1.64 |
| 2020 | 611 | 451 | 1,062 | 1.62 |
| 2019 | 548 | 440 | 988 | 1.51 |
| 2018 | 561 | 592 | 1,153 | 1.76 |
| 2017 | 605 | 606 | 1,211 | 1.85 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Tympanuchus WMA and the rest of Polk County
Polk County has 89 public hunting areas on file, Tympanuchus WMA among them. Polk County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Polk County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 509. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office, (218) 219-8587. Not every public place in Polk County is open: Agassiz Dunes 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 Tympanuchus WMA
Sun times computed for Tympanuchus 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 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 | 7:36 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:18 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:49 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:14 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 4:42 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:40 a.m. | 8:12 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. | 8:42 p.m. | 8:12 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 Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Crookston Gun Club at 13 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.
Tympanuchus WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Tympanuchus WMA, short answers
Does Tympanuchus WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Tympanuchus WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Tympanuchus WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
What deer permit area is Tympanuchus WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 256: 2-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Tympanuchus WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 848 acres.
How do you get to Tympanuchus WMA?
From Crookston, take U.S. Hwy 2 east to SH 102. Southeast 5.5 mi on SH 102 to County Road 45. East 3 mi on CR 45. Parking lots are located north and east central. 2 parking spots on the DNR map.
What game species does Tympanuchus WMA list?
The agency names deer and small game for Tympanuchus WMA.
Tympanuchus WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 256 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Tympanuchus WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Tympanuchus WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Thief River Falls office.
Tympanuchus WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Thorson Prairie WMA (2.3 mi), Kertsonville WMA (2.4 mi) and Melvin Slough WPA (4.7 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Tympanuchus WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:48 a.m. and ends at 5:31 p.m. at the Tympanuchus WMA point.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Tympanuchus WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Other photos on this page: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); NPS Photo (Public domain).