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Minnesota WMA
Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area: seasons, rules and access
1,285 acres of wildlife management area ground in Martin County and 1 neighbor, deer permit area 252.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 2.7 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.
Perch Creek WMA on paper: the record in brief
Perch Creek WMA covers 1,285 acres in Martin and Watonwan counties. Among Martin County’s 20 wildlife management areas, it sits 1st for acres. Subunits (2): Perch Creek WMA (1,126 ac) and Perch Creek WMA (159 ac).
The 2026 deer designation for DPA 252 is either-sex. Management sits with the Windom area wildlife staff, reachable at windom.wildlife@state.mn.us. Federal aid on file for Perch Creek WMA: Pittman-Robertson.
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 Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area
Getting into Perch Creek WMA
Directions and parking for Perch Creek WMA as the DNR detail pages give them (0 parking points mapped).
- Perch Creek WMA: From Truman, go 1 mile W on Twp Rd
- Perch Creek WMA: From Truman go north on State Highway 15 for two miles to 430th Street. Go west on 430th Street for two miles. The main parking area is off 430th Street. In addition there are two field approaches off 430th Street that are available for parking.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Use rules to read before hunting Perch Creek WMA
Perch Creek 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 |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Perch Creek WMA deer rules: DPA 252
DPA 252 is a 200-series area set to either-sex for 2026. A buck or a doe both count in DPA 252 this year.
| 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 737 square miles, DPA 252 is the unit deer rules follow. DPA 252 overlaps Martin, Watonwan, Jackson and Cottonwood.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Perch Creek WMA dates, species by species
Season rows matched to Perch Creek 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 252 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 252 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 252 | 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 Perch Creek WMA
In 2025 hunters registered 601 deer across DPA 252 (0.84 per square mile); the table runs back to 2017.
| Season | Adult males | Antlerless and fawns | DPA total | Deer per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 425 | 176 | 601 | 0.84 |
| 2024 | 393 | 162 | 555 | 0.78 |
| 2023 | 388 | 219 | 607 | 0.85 |
| 2022 | 419 | 169 | 588 | 0.82 |
| 2021 | 375 | 174 | 549 | 0.77 |
| 2020 | 397 | 196 | 593 | 0.83 |
| 2019 | 405 | 142 | 547 | 0.77 |
| 2018 | 328 | 170 | 498 | 0.70 |
| 2017 | 327 | 146 | 473 | 0.66 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Perch Creek WMA and the public ground around it
Straight-line distances run from the Perch Creek WMA map point; Armbrust WMA (3.8 mi, south) leads the list.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | DPA | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armbrust WMA | WMA | 66 | 252 | 3.8 mi | south |
| Gleam WMA | WMA | 27 | 252 | 4.3 mi | west |
| Exceder WMA | WMA | 108 | 252 | 6.0 mi | southwest |
| Willow Creek WMA | WMA | 69 | 252 | 6.4 mi | west |
| Primrose WPA | WPA | 71 | 252 | 6.5 mi | southwest |
| Willow Creek WPA | WPA | 80 | 299 | 9.1 mi | northeast |
| Lewisville WMA | WMA | 93 | 252 | 9.1 mi | north |
| W. R. Taylor Memorial WMA | WMA | 218 | 252 | 9.6 mi | north |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Martin County around Perch Creek WMA
In Martin County there are 28 records like Perch Creek WMA to choose from. For bear, Martin County is no-quota. Turkey permit area 504 covers the county. Windom Area Wildlife Office (Windom) is the closest area wildlife office to the county centre.
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 Perch Creek WMA
Closest town: Truman, 2.2 mi in a straight line from Perch Creek WMA. The unit page lists Truman as nearest town. The nearest DNR office is New Ulm Area Wildlife Office in New Ulm, 30 mi away.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truman | Martin | 1,069 | 2.2 mi | east |
| Lewisville | Watonwan | 207 | 6.4 mi | north |
| Northrop | Martin | 217 | 7.3 mi | south |
| Ormsby | Watonwan | 123 | 11 mi | west |
| Granada | Martin | 281 | 12 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.
Before Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area: where to check a zero
Hunters on Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area can sight in at Fairmont Rifle & Pistol Club (13 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 Perch Creek WMA
Shooting starts 30 minutes before sunrise at Perch Creek 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 | 7:00 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 7:23 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:08 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 7:10 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:45 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:01 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:28 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:52 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:38 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. | 8:29 p.m. | 7:59 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 Perch Creek WMA
Quick answers before you hunt Perch Creek WMA
Do deer from Perch Creek WMA need CWD testing?
Its DPA (252) is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Which office should I call about Perch Creek WMA?
Perch Creek WMA is managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, from its Windom office.
Where can I hunt public land close to Perch Creek WMA?
The nearest public units are Armbrust WMA (3.8 mi), Gleam WMA (4.3 mi) and Exceder WMA (6.0 mi).
When is legal light on Perch Creek WMA for the opener?
For the opener, 6:31 a.m. to 5:33 p.m.; birds stop at 5:03 p.m..
Is camping at Perch Creek WMA allowed under WMA rules?
Camping is limited to designated areas or a DNR permit.
Can decoys or gear stay on Perch Creek WMA overnight?
Stands are portable-only and leave with you; the one exception is the northwest overnight window from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
Perch Creek WMA size: how much huntable ground?
Perch Creek WMA covers 1,285 acres in 2 subunits.
May the public hunt Perch Creek WMA?
Yes. The DNR WMA rules allow hunting and trapping in season on Perch Creek WMA.
What can you hunt on Perch Creek WMA?
Expect deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove on Perch Creek WMA, per the record.
What are the 2026 deer rules on Perch Creek WMA?
It is in deer permit area 252 (either-sex). Guns: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What route leads to Perch Creek WMA?
From Truman, go 1 mile W on Twp Rd Parking points on file: 0.
Perch Creek WMA: what to double-check first
Seasons, closures and notices on Perch Creek 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: Russ (CC BY 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).