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Hunting Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District, Minnesota public land

A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wetland management district of 8,340 acres.

Banner from elsewhere in Sibley County: Young crop rows on a spring farm field near Lafayette, south-central Minnesota.

Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Minnesota Valley WMD at a glance for hunters

You get 8,340 acres at Minnesota Valley WMD, which lies in Blue Earth, Sibley and 5 other counties. DPA 230 (it also reaches DPA 232, DPA 233 and DPA 253) sets the deer limit here: 3-deer limit this year. Manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

It manages more than 10,000 acres of grassland and wetland habitat for the benefit of wetland and grassland dependent species. The district offers public hunting on over 30 waterfowl production areas located in a 14-county area of east-central Minnesota, many within easy driving distance of Minneapolis and St.

Listed game: migratory game birds, upland game, big game.

From the agency record (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service); checked October 28, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Minneopa State Park

Public land · 13 mi from Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Directions
Swan Lake Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 13 mi from Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Directions
Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 17 mi from Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Directions
Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 24 mi from Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Directions
Walnut Lake Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 36 mi from Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Directions
Sakatah Lake State Park

Public land · 40 mi from Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Directions

What is allowed on Minnesota Valley WMD

Short version of the rules that apply on Minnesota Valley WMD, taken from the managing agency.

WhatRule here
SeasonsState seasons apply
ShotNontoxic, turkey too
DogsImmediate control
Dog trainingNot allowed
Target shootingNot allowed
VehiclesLots, roads only
Driving on iceNot allowed
MotorboatsNot allowed
Camping, firesNot allowed
Overnight parkingNot allowed
Decoys, blinds, standsRemove daily
BaitingNot allowed
TrappingFederal, state rules

50 CFR 32.42 text for this unit (excerpt): —(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game bird species authorized by the State throughout the district subject to the following conditions: (i) Hunters must dismantle hunting blinds, platforms, and ladders made from natural vegetation at the end of each day's hunt. (ii) Hunters and anglers must remove all personal property, including but not limited to boats, decoys, blind materials, stands, platforms, and cameras, brought onto the district at the end of each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). (iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times. (iv) We allow hunting of unprotected wild animals, as designated by the State, only from September 1 through the last day of February. We allow incidental take of unprotected wild animals, as designated by the State, during all hunting. (v) We only allow non-motorized boats. (vi) We permit only archery hunting in the Soberg Waterfowl Production Area. (2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species authorized by the State throughout the district subject to the following conditions: (i) The conditions set forth …

Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.

Deer on Minnesota Valley WMD in 2026-27

Deer on Minnesota Valley WMD fall under DPA 230: 3-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 230 limit of 3 with your license plus bonus permits.

Deer windowFromToOpen now?
ArcherySep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Youth deerOct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Firearms, 200 seriesNov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
MuzzleloaderNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026

CWD testing in DPA 230: optional. DPA 230 spans 466 square miles. DPA 230 reaches Waseca, Blue Earth and Le Sueur counties.

More DPAs here: DPA 232 (3-deer limit), DPA 233 (3-deer limit), DPA 253 (either-sex), DPA 284 (either-sex), DPA 291 (2-deer limit), DPA 292 (3-deer limit), DPA 299 (3-deer limit)

From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Minnesota Valley WMD hunting calendar 2026-27

Minnesota Valley WMD season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.

SpeciesSeasonAppliesOpensClosesToday
DeerArcheryDPAs 230, 232, 233, 253Sep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
DeerYouth deerDPAs 230, 232, 233, 253Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerFirearms, 200 seriesDPAs 230, 232, 233, 253Nov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
DeerMuzzleloaderStatewideNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026
PheasantRegularStatewideOct 10, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Ruffed, spruce grouseRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Hungarian partridgeRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
WoodcockRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Nov 2, 2026
Mourning doveRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026
Rabbits, haresRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
JackrabbitRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
SquirrelsRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
RailsRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
SnipeRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026
Canada gooseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Light geeseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
TealEarly teal seasonStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 9, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth daysStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026
DucksRegular ducksNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Nov 24, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 25, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
Take-a-KidTake-a-KidStatewideSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 29, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Dec 30, 2026
DucksRegular ducksSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Jan 6, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideDec 15, 2026Jan 15, 2027
Light geeseSpring light gooseStatewideFeb 18, 2027Apr 30, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideMar 1, 2027Mar 31, 2027
DeerLate southeastDPAs 338, 605Nov 21, 2026Nov 29, 2026
DeerEarly antlerlessDPAs 605, 685Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerLate CWD huntDPA 605Dec 18, 2026Dec 20, 2026

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.

Public land within a drive of Minnesota Valley WMD

When Minnesota Valley WMD is crowded, Case Lake WMA sits 5.6 mi away to the southwest.

PlaceTypeAcresDPAMiles offDirection
Case Lake WMAWMA342995.6 misouthwest
Evans Slough WMAWMA1652996.0 misouth
Bergdahl WMAWMA1812996.9 minorthwest
Gary Clancy WMAWMA1622997.3 mieast
Emerson WMAWMA1192998.4 minorthwest
Tierney WMAWMA542968.6 miwest
Gage WMAWMA292999.2 mieast
Strom Lake WPAWPA802919.3 minorthwest

Points: USFWS Interest layer (fee WPAs of the district in Minnesota) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.

Minnesota Valley WMD nearest towns and help

Fuel and food: Garden City lies 5.6 mi from Minnesota Valley WMD. For more services, Lake Crystal (2,485) is 6.0 mi out. Nearest DNR desk: Nicollet Area Wildlife Office, 17 mi.

TownCountyPeople (2024)DistanceDirection
Garden CityBlue Earth–5.6 mieast
Lake CrystalBlue Earth2,4856.0 minortheast
MadeliaWatonwan2,4307.0 miwest
Vernon CenterBlue Earth3157.3 misoutheast
Good ThunderBlue Earth54511 mieast
Nicollet wildlife office

DNR office · Nicollet, Nicollet County · about 17 mi away

New Ulm wildlife office

DNR office · New Ulm, Brown County · about 18 mi away

Dick's Locker

deer processing · Good Thunder, Blue Earth County · about 11 mi away

Nelson Taxidermy

taxidermy · Madelia, Watonwan County · about 13 mi away

Charles Smith Gunsmithing

sporting goods · North Mankato, Nicollet County · about 14 mi away

Four Seasons Taxidermy

taxidermy · Courtland, Nicollet County · about 17 mi away

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.

Minnesota Valley WMD: deer taken in DPA 230

549 deer were registered in DPA 230 during 2025, 1.21 per square mile of the unit.

YearAdult bucksOther deerDPA harvestPer square mile
20253182315491.21
20243572476041.34
20233262806061.34
20223393156541.45
20213343176511.44
20203112305411.20
20193432105531.22
20182522535051.12
20172782144921.09

2019-2025 from Table 3 (total harvest per permit area; 2024-2025 exclude special hunts); 2017-2018 from Table 9 (all seasons, special hunts reallocated to the surrounding DPA). DPA boundaries changed over time (e.g. 103/108 in 2018), so older DPAs may not match 2026 polygons.

DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.

When shooting starts and stops at Minnesota Valley WMD

Sun times computed for Minnesota Valley WMD itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.

DateWhySunriseSunsetLegal fromBig game toWaterfowl to
Sep 19, 2026Archery and grouse opener6:59 a.m.7:23 p.m.6:29 a.m.7:53 p.m.7:23 p.m.
Sep 26, 2026Duck opener7:07 a.m.7:09 p.m.6:37 a.m.7:39 p.m.7:09 p.m.
Oct 10, 2026Pheasant opener7:24 a.m.6:44 p.m.6:54 a.m.7:14 p.m.6:44 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Firearms deer opener7:01 a.m.5:01 p.m.6:31 a.m.5:31 p.m.5:01 p.m.
Nov 28, 2026Muzzleloader opener7:28 a.m.4:43 p.m.6:58 a.m.5:13 p.m.4:43 p.m.
Dec 31, 2026Archery close7:52 a.m.4:48 p.m.7:22 a.m.5:18 p.m.4:48 p.m.
Apr 14, 2027Spring turkey opener6:37 a.m.7:58 p.m.6:07 a.m.8:28 p.m.7:58 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 Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District hunter can reach

From Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District, the nearest listed range is River Ridge Gun Club at 17 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away.

River Ridge Gun Club
sporting clays course

Courtland, Nicollet County · 17 mi

Shooting: trap, sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

Nicollet Conservation Club
sporting clays course

Nicollet, Nicollet County · 18 mi

Shooting: trap, sporting clays, shotgun

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

Izaak Walton League –
New Ulm #79
sportsmen’s club

New Ulm, Brown County · 19 mi

Shooting: handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, cowboy action

Members only · source: boisegunclub.com

From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.

Minnesota Valley WMD region in a few frames

Blue Earth River with a driftwood-strewn bank and bare spring woods near Mankato, Blue Earth County
Blue Earth River with a driftwood-strewn bank and bare spring woods near Mankato, Blue Earth County
White-tailed deer fawn in tall grass
White-tailed deer fawn in tall grass
Mallard drakes taking flight
Mallard drakes taking flight

Hunter questions about Minnesota Valley WMD, short answers

Does Minnesota Valley WMD allow public hunting?

Yes. Minnesota Valley WMD is on the list of Minnesota places open to some hunting; the rules band says how.

Is nontoxic shot required at Minnesota Valley WMD?

Lead shot is not allowed for upland, migratory bird or turkey hunting on WPAs.

What deer permit area is Minnesota Valley WMD in?

The record puts it in DPA 230: 3-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.

Minnesota Valley WMD acreage: how much ground is it?

It runs to 8,340 acres.

How do you get to Minnesota Valley WMD?

Start from Garden City (5.6 mi) and follow the pin on the map.

What game species does Minnesota Valley WMD list?

The agency names migratory game birds, upland game and big game for Minnesota Valley WMD.

Minnesota Valley WMD and CWD: what applies?

For CWD, DPA 230 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.

Minnesota Valley WMD: who is the land manager?

Minnesota Valley WMD belongs to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Minnesota Valley WMD neighbors: what public land is nearby?

Short-drive options from the map: Case Lake WMA (5.6 mi), Evans Slough WMA (6.0 mi) and Bergdahl WMA (6.9 mi).

On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Minnesota Valley WMD?

Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:31 a.m. and ends at 5:31 p.m. at the Minnesota Valley WMD point.

Final notes for a Minnesota Valley WMD hunt

Confirm access, permits and the DPA rules for Minnesota Valley WMD before the drive.

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: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).