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Minnesota WMA
Maple River Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
492 acres of wildlife management area ground in Blue Earth County, deer permit area 299.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Maple River Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Maple River Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 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.
Maple River WMA on paper: the record in brief
Maple River WMA covers 492 acres in Blue Earth County. Among Blue Earth County’s 19 wildlife management areas, it sits 3rd for acres. Subunits (2): Maple River WMA (174 ac) and Maple River WMA (317 ac).
The 2026 deer designation for DPA 299 is 3-deer limit. Management sits with the Nicollet area wildlife staff, reachable at nicollet.wildlife@state.mn.us.
DNR describes the unit this way: Native prairie seeding was completed in 2017.
Hunted here: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Wild Turkey
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Maple River Wildlife Management Area
Getting into Maple River WMA
Directions and parking for Maple River WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (1 parking point mapped).
| Piece | Acres | Town | Status | Lots | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple River WMA | 174 | Good Thunder | Open | – | DNR |
| Maple River WMA | 317 | Good Thunder | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Maple River WMA: From Good Thunder travel south on CSAH 1 (550th Ave.) for 1.5 miles, then turn east on 148th St. Proceed east for 1 mile to County Road 166 (555th Ave) and turn south. Proceed south for 1/2 mile to WMA on west side of roadway. Access can be gained from the parking area located on County Road 166 (555th Ave) or at west end of 142nd lane.
- Maple River WMA: From Good Thunder travel
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Use rules to read before hunting Maple River WMA
Maple River WMA follows the rules below on top of the statewide booklet.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| 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 |
- This sub-unit has no special restrictions in place.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Maple River WMA deer rules: DPA 299
DPA 299 is a 200-series area set to 3-deer limit for 2026. The 3-deer limit in DPA 299 is reached with bonus permits on top of the regular license.
| Deer season | Opening | Closing | Right 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 |
Surveillance block: bring adult deer taken Nov. 7-8 for sampling. At 390 square miles, DPA 299 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 299 overlaps Blue Earth, Watonwan and Brown.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Maple River WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Maple River WMA by its game species list; trapping-only seasons are on the species pages.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 299 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 299 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 299 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring archery-only | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period A | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | Apr 20, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Statewide | Apr 14, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period B | Statewide | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period C | Statewide | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period D | Statewide | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period E | Statewide | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring period F | Statewide | May 19, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| 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 |
Zone rows for ducks and furbearers depend on map lines, not on this unit; DNR draws them along highways.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Harvest trend near Maple River WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 726 deer across DPA 299 (1.88 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 404 | 322 | 726 | 1.88 |
| 2024 | 440 | 345 | 785 | 2.03 |
| 2023 | 403 | 394 | 797 | 2.06 |
| 2022 | 405 | 249 | 654 | 1.69 |
| 2021 | 372 | 270 | 642 | 1.66 |
| 2020 | 411 | 260 | 671 | 1.74 |
| 2019 | 427 | 173 | 600 | 1.55 |
| 2018 | 319 | 257 | 576 | 1.49 |
| 2017 | 354 | 198 | 552 | 1.43 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Maple River WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Maple River WMA map point; Roberts WPA (2.3 mi, south) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roberts WPA | WPA | 279 | 299 | 2.3 mi | south |
| George & Elizabeth Lang WMA | WMA | 134 | 253 | 4.3 mi | south |
| Cobb River WPA-Duncanson WPA | WPA | 398 | 230 | 5.2 mi | east |
| Gage WMA | WMA | 29 | 299 | 5.4 mi | northwest |
| Saiki WMA | WMA | 39 | 299 | 5.5 mi | north |
| Cobb River WPA-Ward WPA | WPA | 101 | 230 | 5.9 mi | east |
| Cobb River WPA-Stradtman WPA | WPA | 89 | 230 | 6.0 mi | east |
| Ida Lake AMA | AMA | 172 | 299 | 6.5 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Blue Earth County around Maple River WMA
In Blue Earth County there are 42 records like Maple River WMA to choose from. For bear, Blue Earth County is no-quota. Turkey permit area 505 and 503 covers the county. Nicollet Area Wildlife Office (Nicollet) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre. Watch for closed ground in Blue Earth County such as Butternut Valley 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.
Gas, food and processors near Maple River WMA
Closest town: Good Thunder, 3.1 mi in a straight line from Maple River WMA. Most services: Mapleton, population 1,639. The unit page lists Good Thunder as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is Nicollet Area Wildlife Office in Nicollet, 22 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Thunder | Blue Earth | 545 | 3.1 mi | northwest |
| Mapleton | Blue Earth | 1,639 | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Vernon Center | Blue Earth | 315 | 6.6 mi | west |
| Amboy | Blue Earth | 515 | 8.4 mi | southwest |
| Garden City | Blue Earth | – | 8.7 mi | northwest |
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.
Before Maple River Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on Maple River Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Wells Rifle & Pistol Range (21 miles), the nearest listing. Target shooting is not allowed on the property itself.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Legal hunting hours worked out for Maple River WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Maple River WMA; the two closing columns split big game from birds.
| Date | Season | Sunrise | Sunset | First shot | Last, big game | Last, birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 6:58 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 7:22 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 7:08 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:27 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:50 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 4:47 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:36 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. | 8:27 p.m. | 7:57 p.m. |
Early teal runs sunrise to sunset.
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.
Pictures that suit a day on Maple River WMA
Quick answers before you hunt Maple River WMA
Where can I hunt public land close to Maple River WMA?
The nearest public units are Roberts WPA (2.3 mi), George & Elizabeth Lang WMA (4.3 mi) and Cobb River WPA-Duncanson WPA (5.2 mi).
When is legal light on Maple River WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:29 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; birds stop at 5:00 p.m..
Is camping at Maple River WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
Can decoys or gear stay on Maple River WMA overnight?
Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Maple River WMA size: how much huntable ground?
Maple River WMA covers 492 acres in 2 subunits.
May the public hunt Maple River WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Maple River WMA.
What can you hunt on Maple River WMA?
Expect deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove on Maple River WMA, per the record.
What are the 2026 deer rules on Maple River WMA?
It is in deer permit area 299 (3-deer limit). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Which office should I call about Maple River WMA?
Maple River WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Nicollet office.
What route leads to Maple River WMA?
From Good Thunder travel south on CSAH 1 (550th Ave.) for 1.5 miles, then turn east on 148th St. Proceed east for 1 mile to County Road 166 (555th Ave) and turn south. Proceed south for 1/2 mile to WMA on west side of roadway. Parking points on file: 1.
Do deer from Maple River WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (299) is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Maple River WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Maple River WMA can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the final word.
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 – Midwest Region (Public domain); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0).