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Lake Maria Wildlife Management Area hunting, season by season
951 acres of public land open to hunters in Murray County, with DPA 295 deer dates.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Lake Maria Wildlife Management Area
Lake Maria WMA in brief, from the agency file
951 acres of Murray County belong to Lake Maria WMA. Size rank in Murray County: 3rd of 64 wildlife management areas. For deer it falls in DPA 295, set at either-sex for 2026.
Questions go to the Slayton-Talcot Lake DNR wildlife office at talcotlake.wildlife@state.mn.us.
DNR notes on the habitat: This unit is completely developed with restored prairies and wetlands. There are also food plots maintained for wintering deer and pheasants.
Game listed: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Mourning Dove
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Lake Maria Wildlife Management Area
Subunits and parking at Lake Maria WMA
Each subunit of Lake Maria WMA has its own DNR page; the map below pins 2 parking spots.
| Subunit | Acreage | Near | Open? | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Maria WMA | 951 | Garvin | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Lake Maria WMA: From Garvin, go 2 miles S and W on CSAH 14, then 1 mile S on CSAH 30, then 1.7 miles W and N on Twnshp Rd 105, then 0.5 miles on Twnshp Rd 108 to the north side of the WMA.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Lake Maria WMA pinned among nearby tracts
Skandia WMA lies 2.2 mi southwest of Lake Maria WMA, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skandia WMA | WMA | 499 | 295 | 2.2 mi | southwest |
| Shetek Inlet WMA | WMA | 542 | 295 | 2.6 mi | northeast |
| Giese WMA | WMA | 37 | 295 | 2.9 mi | northwest |
| Iron Lake WMA | WMA | 67 | 295 | 3.3 mi | west |
| Sarah-Mason WMA | WMA | 121 | 295 | 3.7 mi | south |
| Bendix 1 WPA | WPA | 151 | 295 | 4.2 mi | north |
| Bendix II WPA | WPA | 125 | 295 | 4.4 mi | north |
| Garvin WMA | WMA | 82 | 295 | 4.8 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Lake Maria WMA
Site rules for Lake Maria WMA, condensed from the record.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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.
Lake Maria WMA season dates
This table covers Lake Maria WMA only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from its game species list.
| Species | Type | Zone or DPA | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 295 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 295 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 295 | 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 | |
| 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 |
Wear blaze orange or pink in the firearms deer season; waterfowl hunters on water are exempt under DNR rules.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Deer seasons on Lake Maria WMA
200-series DPA 295 carries the either-sex designation this year. One deer of either sex per license in DPA 295.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Adult deer shot Nov. 7-8 here must be sampled. Size of DPA 295: 977 square miles. Murray, Cottonwood, Redwood and Lyon share DPA 295.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Lake Maria WMA (DPA 295)
The whole of DPA 295 gave up 904 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Lake Maria WMA itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 650 | 254 | 904 | 0.94 |
| 2024 | 594 | 241 | 835 | 0.87 |
| 2023 | 569 | 258 | 827 | 0.86 |
| 2022 | 595 | 261 | 856 | 0.89 |
| 2021 | 605 | 252 | 857 | 0.89 |
| 2020 | 621 | 253 | 874 | 1.04 |
| 2019 | 591 | 214 | 805 | 0.96 |
| 2018 | 516 | 244 | 760 | 0.91 |
| 2017 | 518 | 233 | 751 | 0.90 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Lake Maria WMA nearby towns
Garvin is the closest town to Lake Maria WMA, about 3.8 mi away. The largest nearby is Tracy (2,041 people). The DNR detail page starts its directions from Garvin. For questions, the Marshall DNR office is 21 mi from Lake Maria WMA.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garvin | Lyon | 117 | 3.8 mi | northeast |
| Balaton | Lyon | 585 | 5.6 mi | northwest |
| The Lakes | Murray | – | 7.9 mi | southeast |
| Currie | Murray | 214 | 9.5 mi | southeast |
| Tracy | Lyon | 2,041 | 10 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.
Lake Maria WMA: Murray County facts
Counting Lake Maria WMA, Murray County has 81 listed public areas. The no-quota bear area covers Murray County. Murray County turkey hunters declare area 504. County questions go to Slayton-Talcot Lake Area Wildlife Office, Dundee. 3 places in Murray County are closed to hunting, such as Lundblad Prairie Scientific and Natural Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Range time on the drive to Lake Maria Wildlife Management Area
Three ranges near Lake Maria Wildlife Management Area follow, starting with Peaceful Acres Sporting Clays at 3 miles. No target practice on the property, per its rules.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Lake Maria Wildlife Management Area and nearby events
On the ground itself or close by: 1 upcoming event, covering state park youth deer hunt.
Next on the calendar
| When | Listing | Distance | Venue | Tickets or seats | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21–22, 2026 | Lake Shetek State Park Special Youth Deer Hunt 2026, a state park youth deer hunt | 7 | Event details | Source |
A look at the landscape around Lake Maria WMA
Lake Maria WMA shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Lake Maria WMA map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Open | Big game close | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:13 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:30 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:07 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:35 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:58 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:43 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. | 8:34 p.m. | 8:04 p.m. |
Times are rounded to the minute.
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.
Straight answers on hunting Lake Maria WMA
Roughly how large is the Lake Maria WMA unit?
The mapped size is 951 acres.
Can you hunt on Lake Maria WMA this season?
Yes. Hunting and trapping are open on state WMAs during regular seasons unless DNR posts an exception, and Lake Maria WMA shows open hunting status.
Which species does Lake Maria WMA hold?
Game on the agency list for Lake Maria WMA: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl and mourning dove.
Which deer permit area holds Lake Maria WMA?
Lake Maria WMA falls in DPA 295, either-sex. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Who do I call about Lake Maria WMA?
Lake Maria WMA falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Slayton-Talcot Lake office).
Where is the access for Lake Maria WMA?
From Garvin, go 2 miles S and W on CSAH 14, then 1 mile S on CSAH 30, then 1.7 miles W and N on Twnshp Rd 105, then 0.5 miles on Twnshp Rd 108 to the north side of the WMA. The map above shows 2 parking pins.
How early does shooting start at Lake Maria WMA on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:37 a.m., done by 5:37 p.m..
Is CWD sampling required at Lake Maria WMA?
DNR lists DPA 295 as in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Can I leave a stand on Lake Maria WMA overnight?
Daily removal applies on Lake Maria WMA, so plan on a climber or a hang-on you carry out.
Which public ground lies closest to Lake Maria WMA?
Next-closest public land: Skandia WMA (2.2 mi), Shetek Inlet WMA (2.6 mi) and Giese WMA (2.9 mi).
Can I camp on Lake Maria WMA during the season?
Generally no: designated areas or a permit only.
Lake Maria WMA: three things to confirm first
Carry your license, validate a deer or turkey at the kill site and register it (48 hours for deer and bear, 24 for turkey).
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: Michel Curi (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).