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WMA · DPA 213
Hunting on Herberger Lake Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Todd County and 1 neighbor: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Herberger Lake Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Herberger Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 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.
The record behind Herberger Lake WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Herberger Lake WMA is 690 acres, in Todd and Douglas counties. Todd County has 30 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 5th largest. Deer rules come from DPA 213, a 3-deer limit area in 2026.
Fergus Falls is the DNR wildlife area office for Herberger Lake WMA (fergusfalls.wildlife@state.mn.us).
Species named: 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 Herberger Lake Wildlife Management Area
Herberger Lake WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Herberger Lake WMA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| 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.
DPA 213 dates for Herberger Lake WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 213 3-deer limit; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Up to 3 deer can come out of DPA 213 this season, using bonus permits for the extra antlerless deer.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
DNR placed it in the 2026 surveillance block (sampling Nov. 7-8). DPA 213 takes in 1,163 square miles. Part of Douglas, Todd, Otter Tail, Pope and Stearns falls in DPA 213.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Herberger Lake WMA
34 season windows for 18 species reach Herberger Lake WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 213 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 213 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 213 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 213 | 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 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Herberger Lake WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Herberger Lake WMA, with 0 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herberger Lake WMA | 690 | Osakis | Open | – | DNR |
- Herberger Lake WMA: From Osakis, go 4 1/2 miles S on CSAH 3.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Herberger Lake WMA
The closest other public land to Herberger Lake WMA is West Union WPA, 1.0 mi to the east; the table lists 8 neighbors with 1,407 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Union WPA | WPA | 309 | 213 | 1.0 mi | east |
| Schultz Lake WPA | WPA | 320 | 213 | 1.9 mi | southwest |
| Kuhtz Lake WMA | WMA | 21 | 213 | 2.1 mi | south |
| Sogge WPA | WPA | 137 | 213 | 2.4 mi | northeast |
| Aurzada Prairie WMA | WMA | 105 | 213 | 2.4 mi | northeast |
| Terfehr WPA | WPA | 71 | 213 | 2.6 mi | northeast |
| Tenhoff WPA | WPA | 356 | 213 | 2.8 mi | northwest |
| Faber WPA | WPA | 89 | 213 | 2.9 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Herberger Lake WMA
The town nearest Herberger Lake WMA is West Union at 3.3 mi. Osakis (1,747 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Osakis as the nearest town on its unit page. New London Area Wildlife Office (New London) is the closest DNR office, 34 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Union | Todd | 91 | 3.3 mi | east |
| Osakis | Douglas | 1,747 | 4.1 mi | north |
| Westport | Pope | 46 | 6.4 mi | south |
| Nelson | Douglas | 183 | 7.8 mi | northwest |
| Villard | Pope | 224 | 8.6 mi | southwest |
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.
Herberger Lake WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 213 totals, which include all the land around Herberger Lake WMA: 6,423 deer in 2025 against 5,814 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,119 | 3,304 | 6,423 | 6.08 |
| 2024 | 3,051 | 2,763 | 5,814 | 5.50 |
| 2023 | 2,320 | 2,738 | 5,058 | 4.79 |
| 2022 | 2,433 | 3,391 | 5,824 | 5.51 |
| 2021 | 3,014 | 3,674 | 6,688 | 6.33 |
| 2020 | 3,222 | 4,589 | 7,811 | 7.39 |
| 2019 | 2,965 | 3,358 | 6,323 | 5.98 |
| 2018 | 2,583 | 3,277 | 5,860 | 5.54 |
| 2017 | 2,572 | 2,801 | 5,373 | 5.08 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Herberger Lake WMA
Todd County holds 40 public hunting records on this site; Herberger Lake WMA is one of them. Bear permit area 45 covers part of Todd County (45 (700 permits)). For turkey the county is in permit area 507. Wildlife office for Todd County: Little Falls Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Herberger Lake WMA, Jensen Aquatic Management Area and Little Swan Lake Aquatic Management Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Herberger Lake WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Herberger Lake WMA, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:02 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 7:27 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:11 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 7:13 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:08 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:37 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:02 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. | 8:04 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
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.
Herberger Lake Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Herberger Lake Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Beste's Sporting Clays and Pheasant Hunting Preserve, 9 miles off. Sight in elsewhere: the area rules bar target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Herberger Lake WMA and country like it, in photos
Herberger Lake WMA FAQ for 2026-27
Can I stay the night on Herberger Lake WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Herberger Lake WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Herberger Lake WMA a big piece of land?
About 690 acres, per the agency GIS.
When does firearms deer season open on Herberger Lake WMA?
Deer permit area 213; the 2026 designation is 3-deer limit. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Herberger Lake WMA?
The record for Herberger Lake WMA lists deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
What are the directions to Herberger Lake WMA?
From Osakis, go 4 1/2 miles S on CSAH 3. 0 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Herberger Lake WMA?
The Fergus Falls office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Herberger Lake WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Herberger Lake WMA?
CWD status: DPA 213 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Herberger Lake WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:38 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Herberger Lake WMA?
Closest on the map: West Union WPA (1.0 mi), Schultz Lake WPA (1.9 mi) and Kuhtz Lake WMA (2.1 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Herberger Lake WMA?
No overnight gear on Herberger Lake WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Other photos on this page: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0).