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Yucatan Wildlife Management Area hunting, season by season
967 acres of public land open to hunters in Houston County and 1 neighbor, with DPA 649 deer dates.
Photo: Sank63 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Yucatan Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Yucatan Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 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.
Yucatan WMA in brief, from the agency file
967 acres of Houston and Fillmore counties belong to Yucatan WMA. Size rank in Houston County: 1st of 7 wildlife management areas. For deer it falls in DPA 649, set at 5-deer limit for 2026.
Questions go to the Rochester DNR wildlife office at rochester.wildlife@state.mn.us.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Yucatan Wildlife Management Area
Subunits and parking at Yucatan WMA
Each subunit of Yucatan WMA has its own DNR page; the map below pins 0 parking spots.
| Subunit | Acreage | Near | Open? | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yucatan WMA | 967 | Houston | Open | – | DNR |
- Yucatan WMA: From Houston, south on MN-76 S fro 1.8 mi, turn right (west) onto Houston County Road 4 and travel 5.8 miles south and west to the WMA on the right hand side of the road.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Yucatan WMA pinned among nearby tracts
Choice WMA lies 3.4 mi southwest of Yucatan WMA, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choice WMA | WMA | 1,664 | 648, 649 | 3.4 mi | southwest |
| Chisholm Valley WMA | WMA | 80 | 649 | 4.6 mi | northeast |
| Ferndale Ridge WMA | WMA | 658 | 649 | 5.1 mi | north |
| Shattuck Creek AMA | AMA | 3.3 | 648 | 5.2 mi | southwest |
| So. Fork Root River AMA | AMA | 25 | 648 | 5.6 mi | southwest |
| Rushford Sand Barrens SNA | SNA | 214 | 648 | 7.4 mi | northwest |
| Beaver Creek Valley State Park, 754 ac | State park | 754 | 649 | 7.8 mi | southeast |
| Rush Creek Woods WMA | WMA | 367 | 646 | 9.1 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Yucatan WMA
Site rules for Yucatan WMA, condensed from the record.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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 |
- There is a "No Firearms Discharge or Hunting" area posted in the southeast portion of the WMA near the parking area a Resident Camp Rd. All weapons must be unloaded within these zones. Please refer to the visitor map for details.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Yucatan WMA season dates
This table covers Yucatan WMA only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from the open seasons for its county.
| Species | Type | Zone or DPA | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 649 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 649 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 649 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 649 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late southeast | DPA 649 | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late CWD hunt | DPA 649 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 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 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Rails | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 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 |
Wear blaze orange or pink in the firearms deer season; waterfowl hunters on water are exempt under DNR rules.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Deer seasons on Yucatan WMA
600-series DPA 649 carries the 5-deer limit designation this year. With bonus permits, a hunter can fill the 5-deer limit in DPA 649.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Late southeast firearms | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Late CWD hunt | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 |
CWD management zone: DPA 649 is inside it. DNR adds a Dec. 18-20 CWD hunt here. DPA 649 raises the buck limit to three. Dispose of carcasses under the DNR rule. Size of DPA 649: 499 square miles. Houston and Fillmore share DPA 649.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Yucatan WMA (DPA 649)
The whole of DPA 649 gave up 3,806 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Yucatan WMA itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,665 | 2,141 | 3,806 | 7.74 |
| 2024 | 1,567 | 1,888 | 3,455 | 7.02 |
| 2023 | 1,539 | 1,844 | 3,383 | 6.88 |
| 2022 | 1,376 | 1,891 | 3,267 | 6.64 |
| 2021 | 1,580 | 1,840 | 3,420 | 6.95 |
| 2020 | 1,783 | 2,071 | 3,854 | 7.83 |
| 2019 | 1,723 | 2,048 | 3,771 | 7.66 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Yucatan WMA nearby towns
Rushford Village is the closest town to Yucatan WMA, about 8.1 mi away. The largest nearby is Rushford (1,852 people). The DNR detail page starts its directions from Houston. For questions, the Altura DNR office is 32 mi from Yucatan WMA.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushford Village | Fillmore | 799 | 8.1 mi | northwest |
| Rushford | Fillmore | 1,852 | 8.3 mi | north |
| Peterson | Fillmore | 227 | 8.4 mi | northwest |
| Houston | Houston | 970 | 8.6 mi | northeast |
| Spring Grove | Houston | 1,202 | 10 mi | southeast |
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.
Yucatan WMA: Houston County facts
Counting Yucatan WMA, Houston County has 12 listed public areas. Houston County is one of the feeding ban counties. Check the Houston County shotgun ordinance (shotgun-only ordinance) before bringing a rifle. The no-quota bear area covers Houston County. Houston County turkey hunters declare area 501. County questions go to Whitewater WMA Area Wildlife Office, Altura. 13 places in Houston County are closed to hunting, such as Badger Creek Aquatic Management Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Range time on the drive to Yucatan Wildlife Management Area
Three ranges near Yucatan Wildlife Management Area follow, starting with Mabel Sportsmans Club at 12 miles. No target practice on the property, per its rules.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Yucatan Wildlife Management Area and nearby events
On the ground itself or close by: 1 upcoming event, covering NWTF chapter banquet.
Next on the calendar
| When | Listing | Distance | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | Rush Creek Longbeards Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 8 | Rushford | Buy tickets | Source |
A look at the landscape around Yucatan WMA
Yucatan WMA shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Yucatan WMA map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Open | Big game close | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. | 7:12 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 6:57 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:59 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:13 a.m. | 6:34 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 6:34 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:50 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:17 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:40 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 4:38 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:27 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. | 8:17 p.m. | 7:47 p.m. |
Times are rounded to the minute.
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.
Straight answers on hunting Yucatan WMA
Can I leave a stand on Yucatan WMA overnight?
Daily removal applies on Yucatan WMA, so plan on a climber or a hang-on you carry out.
Which public ground lies closest to Yucatan WMA?
Next-closest public land: Choice WMA (3.4 mi), Chisholm Valley WMA (4.6 mi) and Ferndale Ridge WMA (5.1 mi).
Can you hunt on Yucatan WMA this season?
Yes. Hunting and trapping are open on state WMAs during regular seasons unless DNR posts an exception, and Yucatan WMA shows open hunting status.
Can I camp on Yucatan WMA during the season?
Generally no: designated areas or a permit only.
Which deer permit area holds Yucatan WMA?
Yucatan WMA falls in DPA 649, 5-deer limit. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Roughly how large is the Yucatan WMA unit?
The mapped size is 967 acres.
Where is the access for Yucatan WMA?
From Houston, south on MN-76 S fro 1.8 mi, turn right (west) onto Houston County Road 4 and travel 5.8 miles south and west to the WMA on the right hand side of the road. Park on the road shoulder only where legal.
Which species does Yucatan WMA hold?
Any game in season, since no species list is published for Yucatan WMA.
Is CWD sampling required at Yucatan WMA?
DNR lists DPA 649 as in the CWD management zone.
Who do I call about Yucatan WMA?
Yucatan WMA falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Rochester office).
How early does shooting start at Yucatan WMA on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:20 a.m., done by 5:22 p.m..
Yucatan WMA: three things to confirm first
Carry your license, validate a deer or turkey at the kill site and register it (48 hours for deer and bear, 24 for turkey).
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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).