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WMA · DPA 295
Hunting on Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Murray County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Michel Curi (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
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- Parking areaParking · 2.0 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 Badger Lake WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Badger Lake WMA is 618 acres, in Murray County. Murray County has 64 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 5th largest. Deer rules come from DPA 295, an either-sex area in 2026.
Slayton-Talcot Lake is the DNR wildlife area office for Badger Lake WMA (talcotlake.wildlife@state.mn.us).
The WMA page says: Water levels on this unit are managed for waterfowl production and hunting. The water control structure on North Badger lake was constructed partially with funds from Ducks Unlimited.
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 Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area
Badger Lake WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Badger Lake 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 295 dates for Badger Lake WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 295 either-sex; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Either-sex in DPA 295 means the regular license covers a buck or a doe.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
DNR placed it in the 2026 surveillance block (sampling Nov. 7-8). DPA 295 takes in 977 square miles. Part of Murray, Cottonwood, Redwood and Lyon falls in DPA 295.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Badger Lake WMA
33 season windows for 18 species reach Badger Lake WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 295 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 295 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 295 | 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.
Badger Lake WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Badger Lake WMA, with 5 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger Lake WMA | 618 | Slayton | Open | 5 | DNR |
- Badger Lake WMA: From Slayton, go 4 miles south on County Road 33.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Badger Lake WMA
The closest other public land to Badger Lake WMA is Wajer WMA, 1.3 mi to the north; the table lists 8 neighbors with 1,970 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wajer WMA | WMA | 81 | 295 | 1.3 mi | north |
| Christensen WMA | WMA | 131 | 295 | 1.8 mi | west |
| Wirock WMA | WMA | 122 | 295 | 1.8 mi | southeast |
| Big Slough WPA | WPA | 812 | 295 | 2.6 mi | north |
| Shirley's Slough WMA | WMA | 51 | 295 | 2.6 mi | southwest |
| H.C. Southwick WMA | WMA | 570 | 295 | 3.0 mi | north |
| Schoeberl WMA | WMA | 150 | 295 | 4.4 mi | southwest |
| Melchior WMA | WMA | 54 | 295 | 4.6 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Badger Lake WMA
The town nearest Badger Lake WMA is Iona at 2.6 mi. Slayton (1,967 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Slayton as the nearest town on its unit page. Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office (Dundee) is the closest DNR office, 15 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iona | Murray | 164 | 2.6 mi | west |
| Avoca | Murray | 108 | 4.7 mi | northeast |
| Slayton | Murray | 1,967 | 5.0 mi | north |
| Fulda | Murray | 1,326 | 7.3 mi | southeast |
| Hadley | Murray | 55 | 8.3 mi | northwest |
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.
Badger Lake WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 295 totals, which include all the land around Badger Lake WMA: 904 deer in 2025 against 835 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 650 | 254 | 904 | 0.94 |
| 2024 | 594 | 241 | 835 | 0.87 |
| 2023 | 569 | 258 | 827 | 0.86 |
| 2022 | 595 | 261 | 856 | 0.89 |
| 2021 | 605 | 252 | 857 | 0.89 |
| 2020 | 621 | 253 | 874 | 1.04 |
| 2019 | 591 | 214 | 805 | 0.96 |
| 2018 | 516 | 244 | 760 | 0.91 |
| 2017 | 518 | 233 | 751 | 0.90 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Badger Lake WMA
Murray County holds 81 public hunting records on this site; Badger Lake WMA is one of them. Bear: Murray County is in the no-quota area, with licenses over the counter. For turkey the county is in permit area 504. Wildlife office for Murray County: Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Badger Lake WMA, Lundblad Prairie Scientific and Natural Area and Shetek Lake FMA are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Badger Lake WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Badger Lake 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 | 7:05 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 7:28 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:30 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:33 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:57 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:43 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. | 8:04 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.
Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Sun Valley Club, 5 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.
Badger Lake WMA and country like it, in photos
Badger Lake WMA FAQ for 2026-27
What game is on Badger Lake WMA?
The record for Badger Lake WMA lists deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
What are the directions to Badger Lake WMA?
From Slayton, go 4 miles south on County Road 33. 5 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Badger Lake WMA?
The Slayton-Talcot Lake office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Badger Lake WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Badger Lake WMA?
CWD status: DPA 295 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Badger Lake WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:36 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Badger Lake WMA?
Closest on the map: Wajer WMA (1.3 mi), Christensen WMA (1.8 mi) and Wirock WMA (1.8 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Badger Lake WMA?
No overnight gear on Badger Lake WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Badger Lake WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Badger Lake WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Badger Lake WMA a big piece of land?
About 618 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Badger Lake WMA?
Deer permit area 295; the 2026 designation is either-sex. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Other photos on this page: beggs (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0).