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Home › Minnesota › Public land › Rydell NWR

Wildlife refuge in Polk County

Rydell National Wildlife Refuge hunting, season by season

2,077 acres of public land open to hunters in Polk County, with DPA 257 deer dates.

Get driving directionsAll Polk County spots

The banner shows Glacial Ridge NWR, the nearest place we have a photo of (Indiangrass and bluestem prairie in late summer at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge).

Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Getting to Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Get driving directionsParking on Google MapsTrailheads on Google Maps

Parking, trailheads and gates near Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

  • Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.5 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 4.9 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.

Rydell NWR in brief, from the agency file

2,077 acres of Polk County belong to Rydell NWR. Size rank in Polk County: 2nd of 2 national wildlife refuges. For deer it falls in DPA 257, set at 3-deer limit for 2026.

Management: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Located in northwestern Minnesota, Rydell National Wildlife Refuge protects approximately 2,200 acres of grassland, wetland and forest habitat. Rydell National Wildlife Refuge is open to archery and muzzleloader deer hunting and archery or shotgun bear hunting on 1,378 acres (Hunt Unit A).

Game listed: migratory game birds, upland game, big game, black bear, deer, wild turkey.

From the agency record (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service); checked October 28, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Erskine Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 5 mi from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Directions
Mentor Prairie Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 6 mi from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Directions
Maple Meadows Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 7 mi from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Directions
Polk Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 7 mi from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Directions
Dugdale Wildlife Management Area

Public land · 9 mi from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Directions
Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

Public land · 9 mi from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Directions

Rydell NWR: open and closed units

USFWS splits Rydell NWR into 3 hunt units; closed units stay closed in every season.

UnitHuntableAcreagePermitType
Unit ASpecial Regulations Apply1,378No–
Unit BSpecial Regulations Apply458No–
ClosedNo203No–
  • A hunt is held each fall for 15 youth hunters.

USFWS Public Hunt Units layer; checked October 28, 2026.

Rydell NWR pinned among nearby tracts

Rydell WPA lies 0.9 mi north of Rydell NWR, the nearest of 8 public areas within 45 miles.

AreaTypeAcresDPAStraight lineWhich way
Rydell WPAWPA532570.9 minorth
Erskine Complex WPAWPA1,3482572.3 mieast
Dorr WMAWMA3782572.4 misoutheast
Woodside WPAWPA3152572.6 misouth
Bee Lake WMAWMA1212572.8 mieast
Underdahl WPAWPA802573.0 misouth
Cable Lake WPAWPA1192573.5 minorthwest
Moren WPAWPA1912573.8 miwest

Points: USFWS Interest layer (fee-title refuge land in Minnesota) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.

Rules for hunting Rydell NWR

Site rules for Rydell NWR, condensed from the record.

RuleDetail
RulesState plus 50 CFR 32.42
WhereDesignated areas only
Hunt mapCheck open units
DogsImmediate control
Personal propertyRemove daily
ShotNontoxic where stated

50 CFR 32.42 text for this unit (excerpt): —(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game bird species authorized by the State, except for sandhill crane, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions: (i) We only allow hunting of coot, light and dark goose, and duck during the special State-administered youth waterfowl season. (ii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times. (iii) Hunters must dismantle hunting blinds, platforms, and ladders made from natural vegetation at the end of each day's hunt. (iv) We allow nonmotorized boats in areas open to migratory bird hunting during the special State-administered youth waterfowl season. (v) We prohibit hunting during the Spring Light Goose Conservation Order. (vi) We allow the use of wheeled, nonmotorized conveyance devices ( e.g., bikes, game carts). (vii) We allow access from 2 hours before legal sunrise until 2 hours after legal sunset. (viii) We allow hunting from September 1 through the last day of February. The only exception is for turkey hunting which follows State season dates. (ix) Hunters must remove all personal property, including but not limited …

Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.

Rydell NWR season dates

This table covers Rydell NWR only: deer rows follow its DPA, the rest come from its game species list.

SpeciesTypeZone or DPABeginsThroughToday
DeerArcheryDPA 257Sep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
DeerYouth deerDPA 257Oct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
DeerFirearms, 200 seriesDPA 257Nov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
DeerMuzzleloaderStatewideNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026
Black bearNo-quota areaNo Quota AreaSep 1, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Wild turkeyFallStatewideOct 3, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Wild turkeySpring archery-onlyStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period AStatewideApr 14, 2027Apr 20, 2027
Wild turkeySpring youthStatewideApr 14, 2027May 31, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period BStatewideApr 21, 2027Apr 27, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period CStatewideApr 28, 2027May 4, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period DStatewideMay 5, 2027May 11, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period EStatewideMay 12, 2027May 18, 2027
Wild turkeySpring period FStatewideMay 19, 2027May 31, 2027
PheasantRegularStatewideOct 10, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Ruffed, spruce grouseRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
Hungarian partridgeRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 3, 2027
WoodcockRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Nov 2, 2026
Mourning doveRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026
Rabbits, haresRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
JackrabbitRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
SquirrelsRegularStatewideSep 19, 2026Feb 28, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
RailsRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
SnipeRegularStatewideSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026
Canada gooseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Light geeseEarly geeseStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 20, 2026
TealEarly teal seasonStatewideSep 5, 2026Sep 9, 2026
Sandhill craneNorthwest zoneNorthwest crane zoneSep 12, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth daysStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 13, 2026
DucksRegular ducksNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Nov 24, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseNorth ZoneSep 26, 2026Dec 25, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 4, 2026
Take-a-KidTake-a-KidStatewideSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026
DucksRegular ducksCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Nov 29, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseCentral ZoneOct 10, 2026Dec 30, 2026
DucksRegular ducksSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 6, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseSouth ZoneOct 17, 2026Jan 6, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideDec 15, 2026Jan 15, 2027
Light geeseSpring light gooseStatewideFeb 18, 2027Apr 30, 2027
CrowCrow segmentStatewideMar 1, 2027Mar 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 Rydell NWR

200-series DPA 257 carries the 3-deer limit designation this year. With bonus permits, a hunter can fill the 3-deer limit in DPA 257.

SeasonStartsEndsStatus
ArcherySep 19, 2026Dec 31, 2026
Youth deerOct 15, 2026Oct 18, 2026
Firearms, 200 seriesNov 7, 2026Nov 15, 2026
MuzzleloaderNov 28, 2026Dec 13, 2026

Optional CWD testing only in DPA 257. Size of DPA 257: 426 square miles. Polk, Red Lake and Pennington share DPA 257.

DPA 257 pageEvery DPACWD page

From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Deer harvest around Rydell NWR (DPA 257)

The whole of DPA 257 gave up 979 deer in 2025; the DNR publishes no figure for Rydell NWR itself.

YearAdult maleRestHarvestDensity
20255464339792.37
20245204089282.25
20234404328722.11
20224454468912.16
20215444711,0152.46
20205434479902.40
20195424569982.42
20184746031,0772.61
20174745209942.41

2019-2025 from Table 3 (total harvest per permit area; 2024-2025 exclude special hunts); 2017-2018 from Table 9 (all seasons, special hunts reallocated to the surrounding DPA). DPA boundaries changed over time (e.g. 103/108 in 2018), so older DPAs may not match 2026 polygons.

DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.

Rydell NWR nearby towns

Mentor is the closest town to Rydell NWR, about 3.2 mi away. The largest nearby is Fertile (780 people). For questions, the Thief River Falls DNR office is 32 mi from Rydell NWR.

TownCountyPop. 2024Miles offBearing
MentorPolk1033.2 minorthwest
ErskinePolk3874.2 mieast
WingerPolk17210 misoutheast
McIntoshPolk58110 mieast
FertilePolk78012 misouthwest
Thief River Falls wildlife office

DNR office · Thief River Falls, Pennington County · about 32 mi away

(218) 219-8587RouteSite
Thief Lake WMA wildlife office

DNR office · Middle River, Marshall County · about 58 mi away

(218) 633-7670RouteSite
Patriot Arms

sporting goods · Erskine, Polk County · about 5 mi away

(218) 687-2020RouteSite
Archery Innovations

sporting goods · Mcintosh, Polk County · about 10 mi away

(218) 563-2800RouteSite
McCollum's Hunting Preserve

guide or preserve · Bejou, Mahnomen County · about 18 mi away

(218) 935-2468Route
Merschman Taxidermy

taxidermy · Lengby, Mahnomen County · about 27 mi away

(218) 668-2305Route

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.

Rydell NWR: Polk County facts

69,402Public land (GIS)
24,556WMA acres
13,928WPA acres
25,953Refuge acres
167State park acres
4,493SNA acres

Counting Rydell NWR, Polk County has 89 listed public areas. Polk County is one of the feeding ban counties. The no-quota bear area covers Polk County. Polk County turkey hunters declare area 509. County questions go to Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office, Thief River Falls. 4 places in Polk County are closed to hunting, such as Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area.

Polk County pageTurkey areas listBear zones

County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.

Range time on the drive to Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Three ranges near Rydell National Wildlife Refuge follow, starting with Fertile Conservation Club at 12 miles.

Fertile Conservation Club
archery range

Fertile, Polk County · 12 mi

Lines: archery, 3D archery

Access not stated · source: findarcheryranges.com

Walter Ranz Memorial Shooting
Park
trap and skeet club

Fertile, Norman County · 16 mi

Lines: trap, shotgun

Access not stated · source: minnesotatrap.com

Sportsmans Park
sportsmen’s club

Red Lake Falls, Red Lake County · 18 mi

Lines: trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026.

A look at the landscape around Rydell NWR

Little and big bluestem prairie stretching to the horizon at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Little and big bluestem prairie stretching to the horizon at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Big bluestem stems silhouetted against a pale dawn sky at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Big bluestem stems silhouetted against a pale dawn sky at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Female black bear walking through tall grass in northern Minnesota
Female black bear walking through tall grass in northern Minnesota

Rydell NWR shooting hours on key dates

Times are worked out for the Rydell NWR map point on Central Time; big game ends half an hour after sunset, birds at sunset.

DateMomentSunriseSunsetOpenBig game closeBirds close
Sep 19, 2026Archery and grouse opener7:05 a.m.7:31 p.m.6:35 a.m.8:01 p.m.7:31 p.m.
Sep 26, 2026Duck opener7:15 a.m.7:17 p.m.6:45 a.m.7:47 p.m.7:17 p.m.
Oct 10, 2026Pheasant opener7:34 a.m.6:48 p.m.7:04 a.m.7:18 p.m.6:48 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Firearms deer opener7:17 a.m.5:00 p.m.6:47 a.m.5:30 p.m.5:00 p.m.
Nov 28, 2026Muzzleloader opener7:48 a.m.4:38 p.m.7:18 a.m.5:08 p.m.4:38 p.m.
Dec 31, 2026Archery close8:13 a.m.4:41 p.m.7:43 a.m.5:11 p.m.4:41 p.m.
Apr 14, 2027Spring turkey opener6:39 a.m.8:11 p.m.6:09 a.m.8:41 p.m.8:11 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.

Rydell NWR busy? The nearest four of its kind

Wildlife refuge

Glacial Ridge NWR

23,763 ac, 9 mi

Wildlife refuge

Hamden Slough NWR

3,424 ac, 47 mi

Wildlife refuge

Agassiz NWR

63,799 ac, 48 mi

Wildlife refuge

Tamarac NWR

42,649 ac, 52 mi

Federal landHunting programsWalk-In Access

Straight answers on hunting Rydell NWR

Roughly how large is the Rydell NWR unit?

The mapped size is 2,077 acres.

Can you hunt on Rydell NWR this season?

Rydell NWR allows hunting under the rules its agency lists.

Which species does Rydell NWR hold?

Game on the agency list for Rydell NWR: migratory game birds, upland game, big game, black bear, deer and wild turkey.

Which deer permit area holds Rydell NWR?

Rydell NWR falls in DPA 257, 3-deer limit. Expect the firearms season from Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.

Who do I call about Rydell NWR?

Rydell NWR falls under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Where is the access for Rydell NWR?

No directions are published; Mentor is the closest town at 3.2 mi.

How early does shooting start at Rydell NWR on the opener?

Opening day of the firearms season: shooting from 6:47 a.m., done by 5:30 p.m..

Is CWD sampling required at Rydell NWR?

DNR lists DPA 257 as outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.

Which public ground lies closest to Rydell NWR?

Next-closest public land: Rydell WPA (0.9 mi), Erskine Complex WPA (2.3 mi) and Dorr WMA (2.4 mi).

Rydell NWR: 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).

Public land mapPublic land indexPolk CountyDPA 257Federal landOfficial page

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: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).