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Hunting Florida Creek Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Lac qui Parle County, 1,114 acres.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Florida Creek Wildlife Management Area
Florida Creek WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,114 acres at Florida Creek WMA, which lies in Lac qui Parle County. By size it ranks 2nd of the 44 wildlife management areas we list in Lac qui Parle County. The 4 subunits are Middle Unit (43 ac), Lost Unit (40 ac), South East Unit (493 ac) and North West Unit (537 ac).
DPA 279 sets the deer limit here: 2-deer limit this year. The managing office is Appleton (DNR Wildlife), appleton.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Florida Creek 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 Florida Creek Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Florida Creek WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Florida Creek 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 |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on Florida Creek WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Florida Creek WMA fall under DPA 279: 2-deer limit, 200 series. Fill the DPA 279 limit of 2 with your license plus bonus permits.
| 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 279 spans 346 square miles. DPA 279 reaches Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Florida Creek WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Florida Creek 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 279 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 279 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 279 | 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.
Florida Creek WMA: access points
1 parking point and the route text DNR posts for Florida Creek WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Unit | 43 | Madison | Open | – | DNR |
| Lost Unit | 40 | Madison | Open | – | DNR |
| South East Unit | 493 | Madison | Open | 1 | DNR |
| North West Unit | 537 | Madison | Open | – | DNR |
- Middle Unit: From Madison, go 9 miles S on US 75, 5 miles W on Twp Rd
- Lost Unit: From Madison, go 9 miles S on US 75, 5 miles W on Twp Rd
- South East Unit: From Madison, go 9 miles S on US 75, 5 miles W on Twp Rd
- North West Unit: From Madison, go 9 miles S on US 75, 5 miles W on Twp Rd
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Florida Creek WMA
When Florida Creek WMA is crowded, Goodman WPA sits 1.2 mi away to the northwest.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodman WPA | WPA | 236 | 279 | 1.2 mi | northwest |
| Freeland WPA | WPA | 80 | 279 | 1.9 mi | south |
| Sweetwater WMA | WMA | 586 | 279 | 2.3 mi | west |
| Bolson Slough WPA | WPA | 178 | 279 | 2.6 mi | west |
| Florida Creek WPA | WPA | 201 | 279 | 2.9 mi | southeast |
| Farrell WPA | WPA | 403 | 279 | 3.1 mi | southwest |
| Bail Out WMA | WMA | 155 | 279 | 4.2 mi | south |
| Pearson WPA | WPA | 366 | 279 | 4.5 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Florida Creek WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Marietta lies 9.0 mi from Florida Creek WMA. For more services, Canby (1,664) is 13 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Madison. Nearest DNR desk: Appleton Area Wildlife Office, 23 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marietta | Lac qui Parle | 116 | 9.0 mi | northwest |
| Madison | Lac qui Parle | 1,488 | 9.8 mi | northeast |
| Nassau | Lac qui Parle | 66 | 13 mi | northwest |
| Dawson | Lac qui Parle | 1,431 | 13 mi | east |
| Canby | Yellow Medicine | 1,664 | 13 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.
Florida Creek WMA: deer taken in DPA 279
397 deer were registered in DPA 279 during 2025, 1.16 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 275 | 122 | 397 | 1.16 |
| 2024 | 255 | 115 | 370 | 1.08 |
| 2023 | 213 | 145 | 358 | 1.04 |
| 2022 | 242 | 150 | 392 | 1.14 |
| 2021 | 259 | 134 | 393 | 1.14 |
| 2020 | 207 | 187 | 394 | 1.15 |
| 2019 | 228 | 112 | 340 | 0.99 |
| 2018 | 190 | 94 | 284 | 0.83 |
| 2017 | 196 | 168 | 364 | 1.06 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Florida Creek WMA and the rest of Lac qui Parle County
Lac qui Parle County has 69 public hunting areas on file, Florida Creek WMA among them. Lac qui Parle County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 504 and 505. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Appleton Area Wildlife Office, (320) 435-4040.
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 Florida Creek WMA
Sun times computed for Florida Creek 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 7:31 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:15 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:51 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:39 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:44 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. | 8:37 p.m. | 8:07 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.
Ranges a Florida Creek Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Florida Creek Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Dawson Rod & Gun Club at 13 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.
Florida Creek WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Florida Creek WMA, short answers
Florida Creek WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Goodman WPA (1.2 mi), Freeland WPA (1.9 mi) and Sweetwater WMA (2.3 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Florida Creek WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:41 a.m. and ends at 5:37 p.m. at the Florida Creek WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Florida Creek WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Florida Creek WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Florida Creek WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,114 acres in 4 subunits.
Does Florida Creek WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Florida Creek WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Florida Creek WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl for Florida Creek WMA.
What deer permit area is Florida Creek WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 279: 2-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Florida Creek WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Florida Creek WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Appleton office.
How do you get to Florida Creek WMA?
From Madison, go 9 miles S on US 75, 5 miles W on Twp Rd 1 parking spot on the DNR map.
Florida Creek WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 279 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Final notes for a Florida Creek WMA hunt
Confirm access, permits and the DPA rules for Florida Creek WMA before the drive.
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); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).