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Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area hunting, season by season
650 acres of public land open to hunters in Wright County and 1 neighbor, with DPA 219 deer dates.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area
Minnesota Veterans WMA in brief, from the agency file
650 acres of Wright and Stearns counties belong to Minnesota Veterans WMA. Size rank in Wright County: 4th of 17 wildlife management areas. For deer it falls in DPA 219, set at 3-deer limit for 2026.
Questions go to the Sauk Rapids DNR wildlife office at saukrapids.wildlife@state.mn.us. Its DNR record carries the federal aid code OHF.
DNR notes on the habitat: This WMA has special significance in being a “Build A Wildlife Area” in the state dedicated on July 23, 2014 to honor those that served our country helping preserve freedom and democracy. An impressive granite monument highlights over 50 contributors. Funding for this project was providing by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for game fish and wildlife.
Game listed: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area
Subunits and parking at Minnesota Veterans WMA
Each subunit of Minnesota Veterans WMA has its own DNR page; the map below pins 0 parking spots.
| Subunit | Acreage | Near | Open? | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Veterans WMA | 650 | Clearwater | Open | – | DNR |
- Minnesota Veterans WMA: From Clearwater, go 3 ½ miles S of Hwy 94 on MN state highway 24 to parking lot. This WMA is in Sections 21, 22 & 27, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Clearwater (W) Township, Wright County and Section 21, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Lynden (S) Township, Stearns County.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Minnesota Veterans WMA pinned among nearby tracts
Suconnix WMA lies 2.3 mi southeast of Minnesota Veterans WMA, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.
| Area | Type | Acres | DPA | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suconnix WMA | WMA | 1,006 | 219 | 2.3 mi | southeast |
| Hoglund WMA | WMA | 361 | 219 | 3.7 mi | east |
| Corinna WPA | WPA | 131 | 219 | 5.6 mi | southeast |
| Silver Creek AMA | AMA | 4.8 | 229 | 6.8 mi | east |
| Lake Maria State Park | State park | 1,589 | 229 | 7.0 mi | southeast |
| Annandale WPA | WPA | 161 | 219 | 8.2 mi | south |
| Corinna WMA | WMA | 81 | 219 | 8.4 mi | south |
| Hidden Marsh WMA | WMA | 39 | 219 | 8.6 mi | south |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rules for hunting Minnesota Veterans WMA
Site rules for Minnesota Veterans 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.
Minnesota Veterans WMA season dates
This table covers Minnesota Veterans 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 219 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 219 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 219 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 219 | 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 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| 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 Minnesota Veterans WMA
200-series DPA 219 carries the 3-deer limit designation this year. With bonus permits, a hunter can fill the 3-deer limit in DPA 219.
| Season | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Adult deer shot Nov. 7-8 here must be sampled. Size of DPA 219: 426 square miles. Wright, Stearns, Meeker and Sherburne share DPA 219.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Deer harvest around Minnesota Veterans WMA (DPA 219)
The whole of DPA 219 gave up 1,989 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Minnesota Veterans WMA itself.
| Year | Adult male | Rest | Harvest | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 999 | 990 | 1,989 | 5.08 |
| 2024 | 994 | 979 | 1,973 | 5.04 |
| 2023 | 839 | 870 | 1,709 | 4.37 |
| 2022 | 898 | 989 | 1,887 | 4.82 |
| 2021 | 874 | 879 | 1,753 | 4.48 |
| 2020 | 927 | 1,182 | 2,109 | 5.39 |
| 2019 | 855 | 810 | 1,665 | 4.25 |
| 2018 | 753 | 610 | 1,363 | 3.48 |
| 2017 | 784 | 576 | 1,360 | 3.47 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Minnesota Veterans WMA nearby towns
Clearwater is the closest town to Minnesota Veterans WMA, about 3.8 mi away. The largest nearby is Annandale (3,487 people). The DNR detail page starts its directions from Clearwater. For questions, the Sauk Rapids DNR office is 16 mi from Minnesota Veterans WMA.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater | Wright | 2,221 | 3.8 mi | northeast |
| Silver Creek | Wright | – | 5.8 mi | southeast |
| Fairhaven | Stearns | – | 6.6 mi | west |
| Clear Lake | Sherburne | 679 | 7.2 mi | northeast |
| Annandale | Wright | 3,487 | 7.2 mi | south |
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.
Minnesota Veterans WMA: Wright County facts
Counting Minnesota Veterans WMA, Wright County has 35 listed public areas. Wright County is one of the feeding ban counties. The no-quota bear area covers Wright County. Wright County turkey hunters declare area 507 and 506. County questions go to Sauk Rapids Area Wildlife Office, Sauk Rapids. 3 places in Wright County are closed to hunting, such as Cokato Lake Aquatic Management Area.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area hunters: public range and clubs
From Minnesota Veterans Wildlife Management Area, 35 miles separates hunters from Elm Creek Park Reserve, the closest public range. Club lanes inside 30 miles are on the next cards. 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.
A look at the landscape around Minnesota Veterans WMA
Minnesota Veterans WMA shooting hours on key dates
Times are worked out for the Minnesota Veterans 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 | 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 7:09 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:24 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:42 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:03 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:31 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 4:38 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:56 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 4:42 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. | 8:29 p.m. | 7:59 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 Minnesota Veterans WMA
Which species does Minnesota Veterans WMA hold?
Game on the agency list for Minnesota Veterans WMA: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove.
Which deer permit area holds Minnesota Veterans WMA?
Minnesota Veterans WMA falls in DPA 219, 3-deer limit. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Who do I call about Minnesota Veterans WMA?
Minnesota Veterans WMA falls under Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Sauk Rapids office).
Where is the access for Minnesota Veterans WMA?
From Clearwater, go 3 ½ miles S of Hwy 94 on MN state highway 24 to parking lot. This WMA is in Sections 21, 22 & 27, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Clearwater (W) Township, Wright County and Section 21, T. 122 N., R. 27 W., Lynden (S) Township, Stearns County. Park on the road shoulder only where legal.
How early does shooting start at Minnesota Veterans WMA on the opener?
Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:33 a.m., done by 5:27 p.m..
Is CWD sampling required at Minnesota Veterans WMA?
DNR lists DPA 219 as in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Can I leave a stand on Minnesota Veterans WMA overnight?
Daily removal applies on Minnesota Veterans WMA, so plan on a climber or a hang-on you carry out.
Which public ground lies closest to Minnesota Veterans WMA?
Next-closest public land: Suconnix WMA (2.3 mi), Hoglund WMA (3.7 mi) and Corinna WPA (5.6 mi).
Can you hunt on Minnesota Veterans WMA this season?
Yes. Hunting and trapping are open on state WMAs during regular seasons unless DNR posts an exception, and Minnesota Veterans WMA shows open hunting status.
Can I camp on Minnesota Veterans WMA during the season?
Generally no: designated areas or a permit only.
Roughly how large is the Minnesota Veterans WMA unit?
The mapped size is 650 acres.
Minnesota Veterans 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: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0).