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WMA · South region
Herlein-Boote Wildlife Management Area hunting, 2026-27
Seasons, access rules and the nearest towns for this wildlife management area in Nobles County.
Photo: Michel Curi (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Herlein-Boote Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Herlein-Boote Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
What the file says about Herlein-Boote WMA
Herlein-Boote WMA adds 741 acres of public ground to Nobles County. Line up the 34 wildlife management areas in Nobles County by acres and Herlein-Boote WMA comes 2nd. Its deer permit area is 237; the 2026 designation there is antlerless permit lottery.
DNR runs Herlein-Boote WMA from its Slayton-Talcot Lake area office; email talcotlake.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid noted by DNR for Herlein-Boote WMA: Pittman-Robertson.
Species on the record: 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 Herlein-Boote Wildlife Management Area
Herlein-Boote WMA route text and lots
Use these DNR directions to find Herlein-Boote WMA; the map pins its 2 parking points.
| Section | Acres | Town | Hunting | Lots | DNR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herlein-Boote WMA | 741 | Reading | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Herlein-Boote WMA: From Reading, go 4 miles south on County Road 9 then 1mile east on township road There is a carry-in water access to the marsh on this unit.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Herlein-Boote WMA access rules
The rows below restate the access rules on the agency record for Herlein-Boote WMA.
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| 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.
Herlein-Boote WMA and deer permit area 237
The 2026 designation for DPA 237 is antlerless permit lottery, and 100 antlerless permits go out by lottery; firearms dates follow the 200-series window. Antlerless deer in DPA 237 need a lottery permit for the firearms seasons; the declaration deadline was Sept. 10.
| Hunt | First day | Last day | 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 |
It is also in the 2026 surveillance block, with mandatory CWD sampling Nov. 7-8. The DPA covers 615 square miles. DPA 237 counties: Nobles and Murray.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Seasons open on Herlein-Boote WMA
Dated seasons that apply on Herlein-Boote WMA (33 rows), with today's status in the last column.
| Quarry | Season | Where | Opening | Closing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 237 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 237 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 237 | 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 |
Waterfowl rows show the North, Central and South zones because DNR draws those lines on highways (MN 210/23/39, US 212/I-494/I-94), not by unit; check the DNR map.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
DPA 237 harvest, the area around Herlein-Boote WMA
Harvest numbers below are DPA 237 totals (301 in 2025), the closest DNR figure for Herlein-Boote WMA.
| Season | Bucks (adult) | Others | Registered | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 239 | 62 | 301 | 0.50 |
| 2024 | 277 | 55 | 332 | 0.55 |
| 2023 | 255 | 104 | 359 | 0.59 |
| 2022 | 271 | 93 | 364 | 0.60 |
| 2021 | 304 | 105 | 409 | 0.67 |
| 2020 | 334 | 89 | 423 | 0.58 |
| 2019 | 333 | 90 | 423 | 0.58 |
| 2018 | 275 | 80 | 355 | 0.49 |
| 2017 | 281 | 94 | 375 | 0.51 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Herlein-Boote WMA on the map with nearby land
Big pins mark Herlein-Boote WMA and its parking; Lambert Prairie WMA is the nearest neighbor at 3.8 mi.
| Neighbor | Category | Acreage | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lambert Prairie WMA | WMA | 306 | 237 | 3.8 mi | south |
| Bluebird Prairie WMA | WMA | 78 | 237 | 4.2 mi | west |
| Dewald WMA | WMA | 16 | 237 | 5.7 mi | southwest |
| Ransom Ridge WMA | WMA | 382 | 237 | 7.3 mi | southwest |
| Groth WMA | WMA | 171 | 237 | 8.2 mi | north |
| James Willey WMA | WMA | 138 | 237 | 8.3 mi | southeast |
| John Erickson WMA | WMA | 121 | 237 | 8.4 mi | southeast |
| Van Drie Ridge WMA | WMA | 84 | 237 | 8.5 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
What Nobles County adds to a Herlein-Boote WMA trip
Herlein-Boote WMA is one of 40 public places we list in Nobles County. Nobles County is on the shotgun-only ordinance list: shotgun-only ordinance. Bear licenses in Nobles County are no-quota, sold over the counter. Turkey: permit area 504. Area wildlife office: Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office ((507) 873-5650). Do not mistake Herlein-Boote WMA for closed Nobles County ground such as Compass Prairie Scientific and Natural Area and Worthington Waterfowl Production Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Supplies and help close to Herlein-Boote WMA
From Herlein-Boote WMA the nearest town is Worthington (4.9 mi). On the DNR record, the reference town is Reading. DNR staff closest to Herlein-Boote WMA work out of Dundee (21 mi).
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worthington | Nobles | 13,754 | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Rushmore | Nobles | 364 | 6.1 mi | southwest |
| Wilmont | Nobles | 326 | 10 mi | northwest |
| Bigelow | Nobles | 220 | 10 mi | south |
| Brewster | Nobles | 500 | 12 mi | east |
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.
Closest Minnesota ranges to Herlein-Boote Wildlife Management Area
Southwest Bow Benders Archery Club, 6 miles away, is the nearest range to Herlein-Boote Wildlife Management Area; check its access rule before going. The property rules exclude target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Herlein-Boote WMA legal light on key dates
Legal light at Herlein-Boote WMA: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer and bear, and to sunset for turkey, waterfowl and small game.
| Day | Season point | Sun up | Sun down | Shooting opens | Deer close | Bird close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:05 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 5:38 p.m. | 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:33 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 4:50 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:56 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:43 a.m. | 8:03 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. | 8:33 p.m. | 8:03 p.m. |
Raccoon and fox may be hunted at night under DNR rules.
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.
Photos to set the scene for Herlein-Boote WMA
Herlein-Boote WMA questions answered from its record
How many acres of hunting does Herlein-Boote WMA offer?
741 acres.
What DPA is Herlein-Boote WMA, and what is its designation?
DPA 237 (200 series, antlerless permit lottery). Firearms deer runs Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026 there.
What animals can be hunted at Herlein-Boote WMA?
Deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl, according to the agency page for Herlein-Boote WMA.
How do hunters reach Herlein-Boote WMA?
From Reading, go 4 miles south on County Road 9 then 1mile east on township road Lots mapped: 2.
Who holds title to Herlein-Boote WMA?
Land manager for Herlein-Boote WMA: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Slayton-Talcot Lake office.
Does chronic wasting disease testing apply on Herlein-Boote WMA?
DPA 237 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
What are the legal shooting hours at Herlein-Boote WMA?
On the Nov. 7 firearms opener, legal deer hours at Herlein-Boote WMA run 6:35 a.m. to 5:38 p.m..
If Herlein-Boote WMA is full, where is the next public land?
Public ground nearest by straight line: Lambert Prairie WMA (3.8 mi), Bluebird Prairie WMA (4.2 mi) and Dewald WMA (5.7 mi).
Are tree stands allowed on Herlein-Boote WMA, and for how long?
No. Portable stands and blinds come off Herlein-Boote WMA every day (northwest Minnesota has an overnight exception Nov. 1-Dec. 31), and no equipment stays overnight.
Herlein-Boote WMA: is overnight camping allowed?
Not unless DNR designates a site or issues a permit; WMA rules bar other camping.
Is hunting legal on Herlein-Boote WMA in 2026-27?
Yes, in the regular seasons. Read the special restrictions on the DNR page and watch for posted refuge areas.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain).