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Minnesota WMA
Budolfson Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
617 acres of wildlife management area ground in Cottonwood County and 1 neighbor, deer permit area 295.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Budolfson Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Budolfson Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 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.
Budolfson WMA on paper: the record in brief
Budolfson WMA covers 617 acres in Cottonwood and Murray counties. Among Cottonwood County’s 22 wildlife management areas, it sits 3rd for acres. The 2026 deer designation for DPA 295 is either-sex.
Management sits with the Slayton-Talcot Lake area wildlife staff, reachable at talcotlake.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid on file for Budolfson WMA: Pittman-Robertson.
Hunted here: 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 Budolfson Wildlife Management Area
Getting into Budolfson WMA
Directions and parking for Budolfson WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (1 parking point mapped).
| Piece | Acres | Town | Status | Lots | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budolfson WMA | 617 | Westbrook | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Budolfson WMA: From Westbrook, go 2 miles west on MN30, 1 mile north and 1/2 mile east on township roads.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Use rules to read before hunting Budolfson WMA
Budolfson WMA follows the rules below on top of the statewide booklet.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| 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.
Budolfson WMA deer rules: DPA 295
DPA 295 is a 200-series area set to either-sex for 2026. A buck or a doe both count in DPA 295 this year.
| Deer season | Opening | Closing | Right 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 |
Surveillance block: bring adult deer taken Nov. 7-8 for sampling. At 977 square miles, DPA 295 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 295 overlaps Murray, Cottonwood, Redwood and Lyon.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Budolfson WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Budolfson WMA by its game species list; trapping-only seasons are on the species pages.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | 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 |
Zone rows for ducks and furbearers depend on map lines, not on this unit; DNR draws them along highways.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Harvest trend near Budolfson WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 904 deer across DPA 295 (0.94 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | 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.
Budolfson WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Budolfson WMA map point; Dutch Creek WPA (0.6 mi, north) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch Creek WPA | WPA | 19 | 295 | 0.6 mi | north |
| Lake Julia WPA | WPA | 64 | 295 | 0.9 mi | west |
| Westbrook WPA | WPA | 68 | 295 | 1.1 mi | northeast |
| Dovray WPA | WPA | 79 | 295 | 4.8 mi | west |
| Devils Run WPA | WPA | 156 | 295 | 5.6 mi | southwest |
| Buffalo Lake WPA | WPA | 80 | 295 | 5.7 mi | northwest |
| Devils Run WMA | WMA | 90 | 295 | 5.8 mi | southwest |
| Dovray WMA | WMA | 999 | 295 | 6.0 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Cottonwood County around Budolfson WMA
In Cottonwood County there are 40 records like Budolfson WMA to choose from. Firearms deer: Cottonwood County still has a local shotgun ordinance (shotgun-only ordinance). For bear, Cottonwood County is no-quota. Turkey permit area 504 covers the county. Windom Area Wildlife Office (Windom) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre. Watch for closed ground in Cottonwood County such as Purrington Prairie Scientific and Natural Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Gas, food and processors near Budolfson WMA
Closest town: Westbrook, 1.4 mi in a straight line from Budolfson WMA. The unit page lists Westbrook as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office in Dundee, 10 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westbrook | Cottonwood | 734 | 1.4 mi | southeast |
| Dovray | Murray | 53 | 4.2 mi | west |
| Storden | Cottonwood | 214 | 7.2 mi | east |
| Currie | Murray | 214 | 10 mi | west |
| The Lakes | Murray | – | 11 mi | west |
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.
Before Budolfson Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on Budolfson Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Sun Valley Club (11 miles), the nearest listing. Target shooting is not allowed on the property itself.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Legal hunting hours worked out for Budolfson WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Budolfson WMA; the two closing columns split big game from birds.
| Date | Season | Sunrise | Sunset | First shot | Last, big game | Last, birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 7:27 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:12 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:05 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 5:36 p.m. | 5:06 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:33 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:56 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 4:52 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:42 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 8:03 p.m. |
Early teal runs sunrise to sunset.
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.
Pictures that suit a day on Budolfson WMA
Quick answers before you hunt Budolfson WMA
May the public hunt Budolfson WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Budolfson WMA.
Is camping at Budolfson WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
What are the 2026 deer rules on Budolfson WMA?
It is in deer permit area 295 (either-sex). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Budolfson WMA size: how much huntable ground?
Budolfson WMA covers 617 acres.
What route leads to Budolfson WMA?
From Westbrook, go 2 miles west on MN30, 1 mile north and 1/2 mile east on township roads. Parking points on file: 1.
What can you hunt on Budolfson WMA?
Expect deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl on Budolfson WMA, per the record.
Do deer from Budolfson WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (295) is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Who manages Budolfson WMA?
Budolfson WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Slayton-Talcot Lake office.
Where can I hunt public land close to Budolfson WMA?
The nearest public units are Dutch Creek WPA (0.6 mi), Lake Julia WPA (0.9 mi) and Westbrook WPA (1.1 mi).
When is legal light on Budolfson WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:35 a.m. to 5:36 p.m.; birds stop at 5:06 p.m..
Can decoys or gear stay on Budolfson WMA overnight?
Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Budolfson WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Budolfson WMA can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
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-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).