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WMA · 2026-27
Felton Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Clay County.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Felton Wildlife Management Area
Felton WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Felton WMA spreads over 1,017 acres of Clay County. Of 19 wildlife management areas in Clay County, Felton WMA is number 3 by acreage. Hunters on Felton WMA follow DPA 666, which DNR made either-sex for 2026.
The DNR Detroit Lakes area wildlife office manages it (detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Felton 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 Felton Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Felton WMA
Felton WMA has 1 DNR parking point; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felton WMA | 1,017 | Felton | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Felton WMA: From Felton, go 2 1/2 miles E on CSAH 34.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Felton WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Felton WMA, adding 5,242 acres; Zilmer Prairie WPA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zilmer Prairie WPA | WPA | 11 | 666 | 1.0 mi | southeast |
| Felton Prairie SNA | SNA | 1,350 | 666 | 2.6 mi | northeast |
| Flowing WPA | WPA | 147 | 666 | 3.9 mi | southwest |
| Flickertail Prairie WPA | WPA | 978 | 666 | 4.5 mi | east |
| Flowing Prairie WMA | WMA | 1,556 | 666 | 4.5 mi | south |
| Ulen WMA | WMA | 480 | 666 | 5.8 mi | east |
| Melby WPA | WPA | 88 | 666 | 6.0 mi | southeast |
| Fuglie WPA | WPA | 632 | 666 | 6.2 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Felton WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Felton 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 |
- WMA lies within the Felton Game Refuge Consult game regulations for exceptions.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
When you can hunt Felton WMA
Every dated hunting window for Felton WMA: 18 species, 33 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 666 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 666 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 666 | 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.
Felton WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 666 (600 series) is either-sex in 2026. Either-sex rules let you take a doe in DPA 666 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 |
The CWD management zone takes in DPA 666. Carcass disposal: rule in effect. Area of DPA 666: 625 sq mi. Counties in DPA 666: Clay, Becker and Norman.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Felton WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Felton WMA is 2.9 mi from Felton, the nearest community. Hawley is the bigger town nearby at 2,274 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Felton. Detroit Lakes has the nearest DNR office to Felton WMA, 33 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felton | Clay | 169 | 2.9 mi | west |
| Borup | Norman | 93 | 8.5 mi | north |
| Ulen | Clay | 472 | 8.9 mi | east |
| Hitterdal | Clay | 202 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Hawley | Clay | 2,274 | 14 mi | southeast |
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 Felton WMA
Our Clay County list runs to 82 public areas, including Felton WMA. Deer feeding and attractants are banned in Clay County. Clay County keeps a shotgun-only ordinance (partial shotgun-only ordinance) after the 2025 repeal of the state shotgun zone. No bear lottery in Clay County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 509 and 506. The county's nearest wildlife office is Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office in Detroit Lakes. Clay County also has 4 closed places, Beva Paulson Memorial Hardwood Forest Scientific and Natural Area among them.
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 Felton Wildlife Management Area
Wild Rice Conservation Club sits 16 miles from Felton 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.
Felton WMA country, seen through a lens
Felton WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Felton 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:35 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:47 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:12 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:42 a.m. | 8:11 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. | 8:41 p.m. | 8:11 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.
Felton WMA: what hunters usually ask
What time can you shoot deer at Felton WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:46 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:16 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Felton WMA?
Felton WMA neighbors on our list: Zilmer Prairie WPA (1.0 mi), Felton Prairie SNA (2.6 mi) and Flowing WPA (3.9 mi).
Felton WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Felton WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Felton WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Felton WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Felton WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Felton WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,017 acres.
Felton WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 666, either-sex for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Felton WMA?
On the Felton WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
Where do you park at Felton WMA?
From Felton, go 2 1/2 miles E on CSAH 34. DNR maps 1 parking point.
Who should I contact about Felton WMA?
Felton WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Detroit Lakes office looks after it.
Is Felton WMA inside a CWD zone?
Felton WMA sits in DPA 666, which is in the CWD management zone.
Felton 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 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0).