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WMA · 2026-27
Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Martin County.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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.
Rooney Run WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Rooney Run WMA spreads over 540 acres of Martin County. Of 20 wildlife management areas in Martin County, Rooney Run WMA is number 4 by acreage. Hunters on Rooney Run WMA follow DPA 252, which DNR made either-sex for 2026.
The DNR Windom area wildlife office manages it (windom.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Rooney Run WMA record names NAWCA Prarie Wetland Heritage Conserv. Int. 2 federal aid.
Game species: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey.
- 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 Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Rooney Run WMA
DNR maps no parking point for Rooney Run WMA; use the route text below.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooney Run WMA | 540 | Trimont | Open | – | DNR |
- Rooney Run WMA: From Trimont, go 4 miles SE on CSAH 38
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Rooney Run WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Rooney Run WMA, adding 2,346 acres; Clam Lake AMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clam Lake AMA | AMA | 6.8 | 252 | 1.2 mi | north |
| Seymour Lake WMA | WMA | 291 | 252 | 1.8 mi | southwest |
| Krahmer WMA | WMA | 376 | 252 | 3.6 mi | southeast |
| Big Twin Lake AMA | AMA | 0.3 | 252 | 3.9 mi | west |
| Fox Lake WMA | WMA | 35 | 252 | 4.0 mi | southwest |
| Four Corners WMA | WMA | 612 | 252 | 4.4 mi | southwest |
| Caron WMA | WMA | 954 | 252 | 4.7 mi | west |
| Primrose WPA | WPA | 71 | 252 | 6.7 mi | northeast |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Rooney Run WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Rooney Run WMA; posted signs on site still govern.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| 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.
When you can hunt Rooney Run WMA
Every dated hunting window for Rooney Run WMA: 19 species, 42 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Pheasant shooting starts at 9 a.m.; ducks, geese and small game stop at sunset.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Rooney Run WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 252 (200 series) is either-sex in 2026. Either-sex rules let you take a doe in DPA 252 without a permit.
| Season | Begins | Through | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Opening-weekend sampling is required in this surveillance block DPA. Area of DPA 252: 737 sq mi. Counties in DPA 252: Martin, Watonwan, Jackson and Cottonwood.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
How many deer DPA 252 gives up around Rooney Run WMA
DNR reports harvest by deer permit area, not by WMA or county; DPA 252 registered 601 deer in 2025, 8% up on 2024.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | Total | 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.
Rooney Run WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Rooney Run WMA is 3.7 mi from Trimont, the nearest community. Sherburn is the bigger town nearby at 1,050 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Trimont. Windom has the nearest DNR office to Rooney Run WMA, 23 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trimont | Martin | 689 | 3.7 mi | northwest |
| Welcome | Martin | 695 | 4.9 mi | southeast |
| Sherburn | Martin | 1,050 | 5.0 mi | southwest |
| Ormsby | Watonwan | 123 | 9.3 mi | north |
| Odin | Watonwan | 124 | 11 mi | north |
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.
County rules that reach Rooney Run WMA
Our Martin County list runs to 28 public areas, including Rooney Run WMA. No bear lottery in Martin County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 504. The county's nearest wildlife office is Windom Area Wildlife Office in Windom.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Shooting lines in reach of Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area
Fairmont Rifle & Pistol Club sits 11 miles from Rooney Run Wildlife Management Area, closer than any public range on file. Target shooting is off limits here.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Rooney Run WMA country, seen through a lens
Rooney Run WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Rooney Run WMA hours use the NOAA solar formula for the unit's coordinates.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Opens | Deer, bear end | Birds end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7:25 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:01 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:29 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:52 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 4:50 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:29 p.m. | 7:59 p.m. |
Clock times include Daylight Saving Time until Nov. 1.
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.
Rooney Run WMA: what hunters usually ask
Who should I contact about Rooney Run WMA?
Rooney Run WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Windom office looks after it.
Is Rooney Run WMA inside a CWD zone?
Rooney Run WMA sits in DPA 252, which is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
What time can you shoot deer at Rooney Run WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:31 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:01 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Rooney Run WMA?
Rooney Run WMA neighbors on our list: Clam Lake AMA (1.2 mi), Seymour Lake WMA (1.8 mi) and Krahmer WMA (3.6 mi).
Rooney Run WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Rooney Run WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Rooney Run WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Rooney Run WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Rooney Run WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Rooney Run WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 540 acres.
Rooney Run WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 252, either-sex for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Rooney Run WMA?
On the Rooney Run WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl and wild turkey.
Where do you park at Rooney Run WMA?
From Trimont, go 4 miles SE on CSAH 38 No parking point is mapped.
Rooney Run WMA trip checklist from this page
No paper tags in Minnesota: validate the electronic license where the animal falls, then register it on time.
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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).