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WMA in Becker County
Hunting Spring Creek Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Becker County, 961 acres.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Spring Creek Wildlife Management Area
Spring Creek WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 961 acres at Spring Creek WMA, which lies in Becker County. By size it ranks 2nd of the 23 wildlife management areas we list in Becker County. DPA 297 sets the deer limit here: antlerless permit lottery this year.
The managing office is Detroit Lakes (DNR Wildlife), detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists NAWCA Border Prairie Wetland Habitat Corridors Phase IV as the federal aid source for Spring Creek WMA.
What the DNR page says about it: Management includes enhancing waterfowl production and migration habitat, purple loosestrife control by release of beetles in 1997, and prescribed burning. Spring Creek is a MN Natural Heritage Registry site. Spring Creek WMA contains 3 parcels of marshy waterfowl habitat acquired in 1955 with Pittman-Robertson funds.
Listed game: deer, black bear, small game, pheasant.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Spring Creek Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Spring Creek WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Spring Creek 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 Spring Creek WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Spring Creek WMA fall under DPA 297: antlerless permit lottery, 200 series, 25 lottery permits. Firearm hunters who want a doe in DPA 297 must win the antlerless lottery (apply by Sept. 10).
| 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 |
CWD testing in DPA 297: optional. DPA 297 spans 450 square miles. DPA 297 reaches Mahnomen and Becker counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Spring Creek WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Spring Creek 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 297 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 297 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 297 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | No-quota area | No Quota Area | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Quota areas | Quota areas 45, 46 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Spring Creek WMA: access points
1 parking point and the route text DNR posts for Spring Creek WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek WMA | 961 | Ogema | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Spring Creek WMA: From Ogema, go 1.25 m. W on CSAH 18, 1 m. N on 208th Avenue, 1.75 m. W on 380th Street, 1.5 m. N on CSAH 107. For sections12 & 13, go .25 m. W on CSAH 18.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Spring Creek WMA
When Spring Creek WMA is crowded, Spring Creek WPA sits 1.3 mi away to the south.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek WPA | WPA | 71 | 297 | 1.3 mi | south |
| Downing WPA | WPA | 561 | 297 | 2.3 mi | northwest |
| Waubun WMA | WMA | 2,413 | 297 | 3.2 mi | north |
| Waubun WPA | WPA | 282 | 297 | 3.5 mi | northeast |
| Pederson WPA | WPA | 253 | 297 | 3.7 mi | southeast |
| Kent WPA | WPA | 200 | 297 | 3.7 mi | east |
| Coburn WMA | WMA | 400 | 297 | 3.9 mi | west |
| White Earth WMA | WMA | 43 | 297 | 4.0 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Spring Creek WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Ogema lies 2.8 mi from Spring Creek WMA. For more services, Mahnomen (1,216) is 13 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Ogema. Nearest DNR desk: Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office, 24 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogema | Becker | 205 | 2.8 mi | southeast |
| Waubun | Mahnomen | 399 | 4.0 mi | north |
| White Earth | Becker | – | 5.2 mi | east |
| Callaway | Becker | 180 | 10 mi | south |
| Mahnomen | Mahnomen | 1,216 | 13 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.
Spring Creek WMA: deer taken in DPA 297
224 deer were registered in DPA 297 during 2025, 0.51 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 195 | 29 | 224 | 0.51 |
| 2024 | 169 | 35 | 204 | 0.47 |
| 2023 | 118 | 27 | 145 | 0.33 |
| 2022 | 140 | 51 | 191 | 0.44 |
| 2021 | 189 | 32 | 221 | 0.50 |
| 2020 | 154 | 111 | 265 | 0.60 |
| 2019 | 176 | 93 | 269 | 0.61 |
| 2018 | 190 | 127 | 317 | 0.72 |
| 2017 | 202 | 60 | 262 | 0.60 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Spring Creek WMA and the rest of Becker County
Becker County has 124 public hunting areas on file, Spring Creek WMA among them. Becker County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Becker County bear hunting runs through quota area 46 and 45, 46 (950 permits) and 45 (700 permits). The county sits in turkey permit area 507 and 509. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office, (218) 846-8470. Not every public place in Becker County is open: Bad Medicine Lake – Restricted Use Aquatic Management 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 Spring Creek WMA
Sun times computed for Spring Creek 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 | 7:05 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:14 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:15 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:45 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:10 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 7:40 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 8:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. | 8:39 p.m. | 8:09 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.
Spring Creek Wildlife Management Area: hunts and banquets nearby
Firearms safety hybrid class: 1 upcoming event, on site or a few miles away.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30–31, 2026 | Firearms Safety Hybrid Class, a firearms safety hybrid class | 4 | Waubun | Register | Source |
Ranges a Spring Creek Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Spring Creek Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Andersons Royal Flush Pheasant at 14 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.
Spring Creek WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Spring Creek WMA, short answers
Spring Creek WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 961 acres.
Does Spring Creek WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Spring Creek WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Spring Creek WMA list?
The agency names deer, black bear, small game and pheasant for Spring Creek WMA.
What deer permit area is Spring Creek WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 297: antlerless permit lottery. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Spring Creek WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Spring Creek WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Detroit Lakes office.
How do you get to Spring Creek WMA?
From Ogema, go 1.25 m. W on CSAH 18, 1 m. N on 208th Avenue, 1.75 m. W on 380th Street, 1.5 m. N on CSAH 107. For sections12 & 13, go .25 m. W on CSAH 18. 1 parking spot on the DNR map.
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Spring Creek WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:45 a.m. and ends at 5:31 p.m. at the Spring Creek WMA point.
Spring Creek WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 297 is outside the CWD zones, with optional testing.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Spring Creek WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Spring Creek WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Spring Creek WPA (1.3 mi), Downing WPA (Mahnomen County) (2.3 mi) and Waubun WMA (3.2 mi).
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Spring Creek WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).