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WMA · 2026-27
Flowing Prairie 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 Flowing Prairie Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Flowing Prairie Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 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.
Flowing Prairie WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Flowing Prairie WMA spreads over 1,556 acres of Clay County. Of 19 wildlife management areas in Clay County, Flowing Prairie WMA is number 2 by acreage. Hunters on Flowing Prairie 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 Flowing Prairie WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
Game species: deer, small game, waterfowl, mourning dove.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Flowing Prairie Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Flowing Prairie WMA
Flowing Prairie WMA has 2 DNR parking points; directions below are the DNR route text.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowing Prairie WMA | 1,556 | Felton | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Flowing Prairie WMA: From Felton, go 7 miles S on MN 9, then 2 miles E on CSAH 26 to the WMA on the North (left) side of the road.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Flowing Prairie WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Flowing Prairie WMA, adding 1,628 acres; Flowing WPA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowing WPA | WPA | 147 | 666 | 2.1 mi | northwest |
| Hatchet Lake WPA | WPA | 94 | 666 | 2.7 mi | southeast |
| Jeral WMA | WMA | 75 | 666 | 3.0 mi | southeast |
| Jarvis WPA | WPA | 124 | 666 | 3.4 mi | southeast |
| Zilmer Prairie WPA | WPA | 11 | 666 | 3.7 mi | north |
| Holte WPA | WPA | 72 | 666 | 4.2 mi | east |
| Felton WMA | WMA | 1,017 | 666 | 4.5 mi | north |
| Melby WPA | WPA | 88 | 666 | 4.6 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Flowing Prairie WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Flowing Prairie 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 |
- Portions of this WMA are within the Clay County State Game Refuge some hunting restrictions apply within this area. Annual hunting regulations should be checked for hunting restrictions within the game refuge.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
When you can hunt Flowing Prairie WMA
Every dated hunting window for Flowing Prairie 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 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| 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.
Flowing Prairie 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.
Flowing Prairie WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Flowing Prairie WMA is 5.8 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 Flowing Prairie WMA, 31 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felton | Clay | 169 | 5.8 mi | northwest |
| Hitterdal | Clay | 202 | 9.4 mi | east |
| Hawley | Clay | 2,274 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Glyndon | Clay | 1,369 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Ulen | Clay | 472 | 11 mi | northeast |
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 Flowing Prairie WMA
Our Clay County list runs to 82 public areas, including Flowing Prairie 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 Flowing Prairie Wildlife Management Area
Wild Rice Conservation Club sits 20 miles from Flowing Prairie 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.
Flowing Prairie WMA country, seen through a lens
Flowing Prairie WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Flowing Prairie 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. | 4:42 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:11 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:41 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.
Flowing Prairie WMA: what hunters usually ask
What other public tracts sit near Flowing Prairie WMA?
Flowing Prairie WMA neighbors on our list: Flowing WPA (2.1 mi), Hatchet Lake WPA (2.7 mi) and Jeral WMA (3.0 mi).
Flowing Prairie WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Flowing Prairie WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Flowing Prairie WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Flowing Prairie WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Flowing Prairie WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Flowing Prairie WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,556 acres.
Flowing Prairie 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 Flowing Prairie WMA?
On the Flowing Prairie WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, waterfowl and mourning dove.
Where do you park at Flowing Prairie WMA?
From Felton, go 7 miles S on MN 9, then 2 miles E on CSAH 26 to the WMA on the North (left) side of the road. DNR maps 2 parking points.
Who should I contact about Flowing Prairie WMA?
Flowing Prairie WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Detroit Lakes office looks after it.
Is Flowing Prairie WMA inside a CWD zone?
Flowing Prairie WMA sits in DPA 666, which is in the CWD management zone.
What time can you shoot deer at Flowing Prairie WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:46 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:16 a.m..
Flowing Prairie 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); greenebriar (Public domain).