Home › Minnesota › Public land › Whitefield WMA
WMA in Kandiyohi County
Hunting Whitefield Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Kandiyohi County, 488 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Whitefield Wildlife Management Area
Whitefield WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 488 acres at Whitefield WMA, which lies in Kandiyohi County. By size it ranks 7th of the 30 wildlife management areas we list in Kandiyohi County. The 2 subunits are Main Unit (254 ac) and Northwest Unit (234 ac).
DPA 282 sets the deer limit here: antlerless permit lottery this year. The managing office is New London (DNR Wildlife), newlondon.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists FmHA as the federal aid source for Whitefield WMA.
What the DNR page says about it: Wetlands on this unit usually are very shallow, with little or no standing or open water.
Listed game: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Mourning Dove
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Whitefield Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Whitefield WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Whitefield 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 Whitefield WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Whitefield WMA fall under DPA 282: antlerless permit lottery, 200 series, 25 lottery permits. Firearm hunters who want a doe in DPA 282 must win the antlerless lottery (apply by Sept. 10).
| 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 282 spans 1,129 square miles. DPA 282 reaches Renville, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Swift and Meeker counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Whitefield WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Whitefield 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 282 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 282 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 282 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Whitefield WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Whitefield WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Unit | 254 | Willmar | Open | – | DNR |
| Northwest Unit | 234 | Willmar | Open | – | DNR |
- Main Unit: From the junction of US 71 and the Willmar 71/23 bypass on the south side of the city, travel a distance of 2.5 miles south on 71 and then turn west on gravel township road and travel .5 miles before turning south for 1 mile to unit. Both sides of road. Access via adjacent roadways.
- Northwest Unit: From the intersection of Hwy 23 and 71 on the south end of Willmar, drive south on Hwy. 71 for 2.6 miles. Take a right and head west on 75th Ave. SW. Proceed west for 0.75 miles to the parking lot on the north end of the unit. There are 2 parking lots. One is accessed heading west on a trail off 7th St. SW on the east side of the unit. The other is on the north end of the WMA.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Whitefield WMA
When Whitefield WMA is crowded, Schueler WPA sits 1.8 mi away to the northwest.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schueler WPA | WPA | 46 | 282 | 1.8 mi | northwest |
| Lake Eleanor WMA | WMA | 72 | 283 | 3.4 mi | northeast |
| Johnson WPA | WPA | 79 | 283 | 4.3 mi | southeast |
| Priam WPA | WPA | 116 | 282 | 5.3 mi | northwest |
| Reed WMA | WMA | 118 | 282 | 5.4 mi | west |
| Olson Lake WPA | WPA | 459 | 282 | 5.5 mi | southwest |
| Hanson WPA | WPA | 118 | 282 | 5.5 mi | west |
| Reynolds WPA | WPA | 137 | 282 | 6.1 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Whitefield WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Willmar lies 5.9 mi from Whitefield WMA. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Willmar. Nearest DNR desk: New London Area Wildlife Office, 19 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willmar | Kandiyohi | 21,892 | 5.9 mi | north |
| Blomkest | Kandiyohi | 140 | 6.6 mi | south |
| Kandiyohi | Kandiyohi | 565 | 8.7 mi | northeast |
| Raymond | Kandiyohi | 796 | 9.2 mi | west |
| Prinsburg | Kandiyohi | 511 | 9.7 mi | southwest |
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.
Whitefield WMA: deer taken in DPA 282
242 deer were registered in DPA 282 during 2025, 0.21 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 209 | 33 | 242 | 0.21 |
| 2024 | 187 | 30 | 217 | 0.19 |
| 2023 | 165 | 44 | 209 | 0.19 |
| 2022 | 172 | 38 | 210 | 0.19 |
| 2021 | 180 | 26 | 206 | 0.18 |
| 2020 | 149 | 45 | 194 | 0.25 |
| 2019 | 176 | 35 | 211 | 0.27 |
| 2018 | 124 | 30 | 154 | 0.20 |
| 2017 | 144 | 38 | 182 | 0.23 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Whitefield WMA and the rest of Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County has 99 public hunting areas on file, Whitefield WMA among them. Local rule: Kandiyohi County restricts deer firearms to shotguns (shotgun-only ordinance). Kandiyohi County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 507 and 506. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: New London Area Wildlife Office, (320) 347-7630. Not every public place in Kandiyohi County is open: Florida Lake Aquatic Management 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 Whitefield WMA
Sun times computed for Whitefield 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 | 7:02 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 7:26 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 | 7:28 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:34 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:58 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 4:47 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 8:03 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 Whitefield Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Whitefield Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Minnesota Gun Class – Willmar 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.
Whitefield WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Whitefield WMA, short answers
Whitefield WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 488 acres in 2 subunits.
Does Whitefield WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Whitefield WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Whitefield WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl and mourning dove for Whitefield WMA.
What deer permit area is Whitefield WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 282: antlerless permit lottery. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Whitefield WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Whitefield WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its New London office.
How do you get to Whitefield WMA?
From the junction of US 71 and the Willmar 71/23 bypass on the south side of the city, travel a distance of 2.5 miles south on 71 and then turn west on gravel township road and travel .5 miles before turning south for 1 mile to unit. Both sides of road. 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Whitefield WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:36 a.m. and ends at 5:32 p.m. at the Whitefield WMA point.
Whitefield WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 282 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Can blinds stay up overnight at Whitefield WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Whitefield WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Schueler WPA (1.8 mi), Lake Eleanor WMA (3.4 mi) and Johnson WPA (Kandiyohi County) (4.3 mi).
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Whitefield WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Other photos on this page: PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); greenebriar (Public domain).