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WMA · 2026-27
Danvers Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Swift County.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Danvers Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Danvers Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 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.
Danvers WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Danvers WMA spreads over 3,033 acres of Swift County. Of 17 wildlife management areas in Swift County, Danvers WMA is number 2 by acreage. Hunters on Danvers WMA follow DPA 275, which DNR made either-sex for 2026.
The DNR Appleton area wildlife office manages it (appleton.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Danvers WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
Game species: 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 Danvers Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Danvers WMA
Danvers WMA has 5 DNR parking points; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danvers WMA | 3,033 | Benson | Open | 5 | DNR |
- Danvers WMA: From Benson, go 6 miles W on CSAH 20.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Danvers WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Danvers WMA, adding 2,138 acres; Benson WPA (Swift County) is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson WPA | WPA | 106 | 275 | 2.6 mi | east |
| Lynch Lake WPA | WPA | 767 | 275 | 3.0 mi | northeast |
| Clair Rollings WMA | WMA | 535 | 275 | 3.9 mi | southeast |
| Jossart WMA | WMA | 200 | 275 | 6.0 mi | southeast |
| Hamann WPA | WPA | 119 | 275 | 6.2 mi | west |
| Maki WPA | WPA | 138 | 275 | 6.4 mi | northwest |
| Hoffman WPA | WPA | 78 | 275 | 6.8 mi | northwest |
| Henry X WMA | WMA | 194 | 275, 277 | 6.9 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Danvers WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Danvers WMA; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| 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.
When you can hunt Danvers WMA
Every dated hunting window for Danvers WMA: 18 species, 33 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 275 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 275 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 275 | 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 |
Pheasant shooting starts at 9 a.m.; ducks, geese and small game stop at sunset.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Danvers WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 275 (200 series) is either-sex in 2026. Either-sex rules let you take a doe in DPA 275 without a permit.
| Season | Begins | Through | 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 |
Opening-weekend sampling is required in this surveillance block DPA. Area of DPA 275: 977 sq mi. Counties in DPA 275: Swift, Stevens, Pope, Big Stone and Chippewa.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 275 gives up around Danvers WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 275 registered 997 deer in 2025, 13% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 778 | 219 | 997 | 1.04 |
| 2024 | 709 | 171 | 880 | 0.92 |
| 2023 | 563 | 212 | 775 | 0.81 |
| 2022 | 624 | 218 | 842 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 694 | 162 | 856 | 0.89 |
| 2020 | 453 | 143 | 596 | 0.78 |
| 2019 | 416 | 122 | 538 | 0.70 |
| 2018 | 382 | 149 | 531 | 0.70 |
| 2017 | 417 | 140 | 557 | 0.73 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Danvers WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Danvers WMA is 3.3 mi from Danvers, the nearest community. Benson is the bigger town nearby at 3,414 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Benson. Watson has the nearest DNR office to Danvers WMA, 20 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danvers | Swift | 100 | 3.3 mi | southwest |
| Clontarf | Swift | 126 | 4.5 mi | northeast |
| Benson | Swift | 3,414 | 5.4 mi | east |
| Holloway | Swift | 86 | 11 mi | southwest |
| De Graff | Swift | 108 | 13 mi | east |
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.
County rules that reach Danvers WMA
Our Swift County list runs to 52 public areas, including Danvers WMA. No bear lottery in Swift County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 506 and 505. The county's nearest wildlife office is Appleton Area Wildlife Office in Watson.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Shooting lines in reach of Danvers Wildlife Management Area
Charlies Hunting Club sits 3 miles from Danvers Wildlife Management Area, closer than any public range on file. Target shooting is off limits here.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Scheduled close to Danvers Wildlife Management Area
1 upcoming event here or nearby as of October 28, 2026.
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2027 | Swift County Gobblers Banquet, an NWTF chapter banquet | 5 | Benson | Buy tickets | Source |
Danvers WMA country, seen through a lens
Danvers WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Danvers WMA hours use the NOAA solar formula for the unit's coordinates.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Opens | Deer, bear end | Birds end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 7:29 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 | 7:31 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:09 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:38 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:02 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:41 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. | 8:36 p.m. | 8:06 p.m. |
Clock times include Daylight Saving Time until Nov. 1.
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.
Danvers WMA: what hunters usually ask
Danvers WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Danvers WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Danvers WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Danvers WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Danvers WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Danvers WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 3,033 acres.
Danvers WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 275, either-sex for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Danvers WMA?
On the Danvers WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
Where do you park at Danvers WMA?
From Benson, go 6 miles W on CSAH 20. DNR maps 5 parking points.
Who should I contact about Danvers WMA?
Danvers WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Appleton office looks after it.
Is Danvers WMA inside a CWD zone?
Danvers WMA sits in DPA 275, which is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
What time can you shoot deer at Danvers WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:39 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:09 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Danvers WMA?
Danvers WMA neighbors on our list: Benson WPA (Swift County) (2.6 mi), Lynch Lake WPA (3.0 mi) and Clair Rollings WMA (3.9 mi).
Danvers WMA trip checklist from this page
No paper tags in Minnesota: validate the electronic license where the animal falls, then register it on time.
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); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).