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WMA in Murray County
Hunting Dovray Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Murray County, 999 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Dovray Wildlife Management Area
Dovray WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 999 acres at Dovray WMA, which lies in Murray County. By size it ranks 2nd of the 64 wildlife management areas we list in Murray County. The 4 subunits are North West Unit (13 ac), Central Unit (281 ac), South Unit (618 ac) and North Unit (86 ac).
DPA 295 sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year. The managing office is Slayton-Talcot Lake (DNR Wildlife), talcotlake.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Dovray WMA.
Listed game: 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 Dovray Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Dovray WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Dovray WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| 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 |
- Access to the large marsh off the Highway is restricted to vehicles carrying watercraft. No other motorized vehicles are allowed.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on Dovray WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Dovray WMA fall under DPA 295: either-sex, 200 series. No lottery in DPA 295: either sex on the regular license.
| Deer window | From | To | Open 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 |
Mandatory CWD sampling applies Nov. 7-8 (2026 surveillance block). DPA 295 spans 977 square miles. DPA 295 reaches Murray, Cottonwood, Redwood and Lyon counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Dovray WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Dovray WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Dovray WMA: access points
7 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Dovray WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West Unit | 13 | Dovray | Open | – | DNR |
| Central Unit | 281 | Dovray | Open | 3 | DNR |
| South Unit | 618 | Dovray | Open | 4 | DNR |
| North Unit | 86 | Dovray | Open | – | DNR |
- North West Unit: From Dovray, go 1 mile west on State Highway 30
- Central Unit: 1 mile west of Dovray on state highway 30
- South Unit: 1 mile west of Dovray on state highway 30
- North Unit: 1 mile west of Dovray on state highway 30
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Dovray WMA
When Dovray WMA is crowded, Dovray WPA sits 1.3 mi away to the east.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dovray WPA | WPA | 79 | 295 | 1.3 mi | east |
| Buffalo Lake WMA | WMA | 567 | 295 | 1.4 mi | north |
| Buffalo Lake WPA | WPA | 80 | 295 | 1.8 mi | northeast |
| Slaughter Slough WPA | WPA | 641 | 295 | 2.7 mi | northwest |
| Devils Run WPA | WPA | 156 | 295 | 3.1 mi | south |
| Sweetman WMA | WMA | 35 | 295 | 3.4 mi | southwest |
| Devils Run WMA | WMA | 90 | 295 | 3.6 mi | south |
| Rupp WMA | WMA | 83 | 295 | 3.7 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Dovray WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Dovray lies 1.8 mi from Dovray WMA. For more services, Westbrook (734) is 7.4 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Dovray. Nearest DNR desk: Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office, 13 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dovray | Murray | 53 | 1.8 mi | east |
| Currie | Murray | 214 | 4.2 mi | west |
| The Lakes | Murray | – | 5.2 mi | northwest |
| Westbrook | Cottonwood | 734 | 7.4 mi | east |
| Avoca | Murray | 108 | 8.5 mi | south |
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.
Dovray WMA: deer taken in DPA 295
904 deer were registered in DPA 295 during 2025, 0.94 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Dovray WMA and the rest of Murray County
Murray County has 81 public hunting areas on file, Dovray WMA among them. Murray County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 504. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office, (507) 873-5650. Not every public place in Murray County is open: Lundblad Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Dovray WMA
Sun times computed for Dovray WMA itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7:29 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 5:36 p.m. | 5:06 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:33 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:57 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 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. |
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.
Dovray Wildlife Management Area: hunts and banquets nearby
State park youth deer hunt: 1 upcoming event, on site or a few miles away.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21–22, 2026 | Lake Shetek State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | 6 | Event details | Source |
Ranges a Dovray Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Dovray Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Sun Valley Club at 8 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Dovray WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Dovray WMA, short answers
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Dovray WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:36 a.m. and ends at 5:36 p.m. at the Dovray WMA point.
Dovray WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 295 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Can blinds stay up overnight at Dovray WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Dovray WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Dovray WPA (1.3 mi), Buffalo Lake WMA (1.4 mi) and Buffalo Lake WPA (1.8 mi).
Does Dovray WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Dovray WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Dovray WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
What deer permit area is Dovray WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 295: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Dovray WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 999 acres in 4 subunits.
How do you get to Dovray WMA?
From Dovray, go 1 mile west on State Highway 30 7 parking spots on the DNR map.
What game species does Dovray WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl for Dovray WMA.
Dovray WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Dovray WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Slayton-Talcot Lake office.
Other photos on this page: beggs (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).