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WMA in Brown County
Hunting Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Brown County and 1 neighbor, 643 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area
Mulligan Slough WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 643 acres at Mulligan Slough WMA, which lies in Brown and Watonwan counties. By size it ranks 2nd of the 23 wildlife management areas we list in Brown County. DPA 296 sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year.
The managing office is New Ulm (DNR Wildlife), newlondon.wildlife@state.mn.us.
Listed game: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- 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 Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Mulligan Slough WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Mulligan Slough WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| 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.
Deer on Mulligan Slough WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Mulligan Slough WMA fall under DPA 296: either-sex, 200 series. No lottery in DPA 296: either sex on the regular license.
| Deer window | From | To | Open 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 |
Mandatory CWD sampling applies Nov. 7-8 (2026 surveillance block). DPA 296 spans 674 square miles. DPA 296 reaches Brown, Watonwan, Cottonwood and Redwood counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Mulligan Slough WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Mulligan Slough WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 296 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 296 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 296 | 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 | |
| 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 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Mulligan Slough WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Mulligan Slough WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulligan Slough WMA | 643 | Comfrey | Open | – | DNR |
- Mulligan Slough WMA: From Comfrey, go 5 miles E on CSAH 17, 1 mile N on CSAH 8, 1 E CSAH 18.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Mulligan Slough WMA
When Mulligan Slough WMA is crowded, Wood Lake WPA sits 1.2 mi away to the south.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Lake WPA | WPA | 55 | 296 | 1.2 mi | south |
| Wood Lake WMA | WMA | 804 | 296 | 1.7 mi | west |
| Winding Creek WMA | WMA | 118 | 296 | 4.4 mi | north |
| Albin WMA | WMA | 37 | 296 | 4.6 mi | north |
| Voss WMA | WMA | 43 | 296 | 4.7 mi | southeast |
| Middle Creek WMA | WMA | 71 | 296 | 4.9 mi | northwest |
| William A. Groebner WMA | WMA | 78 | 296 | 5.5 mi | north |
| Verona WMA, Main Unit | WMA | 244 | 296 | 5.9 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Mulligan Slough WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Darfur lies 5.7 mi from Mulligan Slough WMA. For more services, St. James (4,750) is 11 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Comfrey. Nearest DNR desk: New Ulm Area Wildlife Office, 19 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darfur | Watonwan | 83 | 5.7 mi | southwest |
| Comfrey | Brown | 376 | 7.5 mi | west |
| La Salle | Watonwan | 75 | 9.3 mi | east |
| Butterfield | Watonwan | 597 | 11 mi | south |
| St. James | Watonwan | 4,750 | 11 mi | southeast |
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.
Mulligan Slough WMA: deer taken in DPA 296
607 deer were registered in DPA 296 during 2025, 0.91 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 420 | 187 | 607 | 0.91 |
| 2024 | 430 | 212 | 642 | 0.96 |
| 2023 | 402 | 240 | 642 | 0.96 |
| 2022 | 447 | 163 | 610 | 0.92 |
| 2021 | 426 | 156 | 582 | 0.87 |
| 2020 | 396 | 176 | 572 | 0.86 |
| 2019 | 361 | 173 | 534 | 0.80 |
| 2018 | 309 | 148 | 457 | 0.69 |
| 2017 | 346 | 166 | 512 | 0.77 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Mulligan Slough WMA and the rest of Brown County
Brown County has 29 public hunting areas on file, Mulligan Slough WMA among them. Local rule: Brown County restricts deer firearms to shotguns (shotgun-only ordinance). Brown County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 504 and 505. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: New Ulm Area Wildlife Office, (507) 233-1257. Not every public place in Brown County is open: Cottonwood River Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Mulligan Slough WMA
Sun times computed for Mulligan Slough WMA itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 7:24 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:09 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 7:11 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:26 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:03 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:30 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:54 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
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.
Ranges a Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Mulligan Slough Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Mountain Lake Sportsman Club/Range at 15 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Mulligan Slough WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Mulligan Slough WMA, short answers
What deer permit area is Mulligan Slough WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 296: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Mulligan Slough WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 643 acres.
How do you get to Mulligan Slough WMA?
From Comfrey, go 5 miles E on CSAH 17, 1 mile N on CSAH 8, 1 E CSAH 18. 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
What game species does Mulligan Slough WMA list?
The agency names deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl and wild turkey for Mulligan Slough WMA.
Mulligan Slough WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 296 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Mulligan Slough WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Mulligan Slough WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its New Ulm office.
Mulligan Slough WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Wood Lake WPA (1.2 mi), Wood Lake WMA (1.7 mi) and Winding Creek WMA (4.4 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Mulligan Slough WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:33 a.m. and ends at 5:33 p.m. at the Mulligan Slough WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Mulligan Slough WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Mulligan Slough WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Does Mulligan Slough WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Mulligan Slough WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).