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WMA · DPA 279
Hunting on Sweetwater Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Lac qui Parle County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Sweetwater Wildlife Management Area
The record behind Sweetwater WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Sweetwater WMA is 586 acres, in Lac qui Parle County. Lac qui Parle County has 44 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 5th largest. Sweetwater WMA comes in 2 parts, South West Unit (132 ac) and North East Unit (453 ac).
Deer rules come from DPA 279, a 2-deer limit area in 2026. Appleton is the DNR wildlife area office for Sweetwater WMA (appleton.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records Pittman-Robertson funding for Sweetwater WMA.
Species named: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sweetwater Wildlife Management Area
Sweetwater WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Sweetwater WMA; they come from the agency page.
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| 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.
DPA 279 dates for Sweetwater WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 279 2-deer limit; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Up to 2 deer can come out of DPA 279 this season, using bonus permits for the extra antlerless deer.
| Deer season | Opens | Closes | 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 |
DNR placed it in the 2026 surveillance block (sampling Nov. 7-8). DPA 279 takes in 346 square miles. Part of Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine falls in DPA 279.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Sweetwater WMA
33 season windows for 18 species reach Sweetwater WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 279 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 279 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 279 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 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 | |
| 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 |
Blaze orange or pink is required during the firearms deer seasons, including for most small game hunters.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Sweetwater WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Sweetwater WMA, with 0 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Unit | 132 | Madison | Open | – | DNR |
| North East Unit | 453 | – | Open | – | DNR |
- South West Unit: From Madison, go 8 miles S on US 75, 8 miles W on CSAH 12.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Sweetwater WMA
The closest other public land to Sweetwater WMA is Bolson Slough WPA, 0.6 mi to the northwest; the table lists 8 neighbors with 2,616 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolson Slough WPA | WPA | 178 | 279 | 0.6 mi | northwest |
| Farrell WPA | WPA | 403 | 279 | 0.8 mi | southwest |
| Florida Creek WMA | WMA | 1,114 | 279 | 2.3 mi | east |
| Goodman WPA | WPA | 236 | 279 | 2.4 mi | northeast |
| Pearson WPA | WPA | 366 | 279 | 2.5 mi | southwest |
| Freeland WPA | WPA | 80 | 279 | 3.0 mi | east |
| Taylor WPA | WPA | 180 | 279 | 3.3 mi | west |
| Indigo WMA | WMA | 59 | 279 | 3.5 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA boundary layer (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Sweetwater WMA
The town nearest Sweetwater WMA is Marietta at 8.8 mi. Canby (1,664 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Madison as the nearest town on its unit page. Appleton Area Wildlife Office (Watson) is the closest DNR office, 26 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marietta | Lac qui Parle | 116 | 8.8 mi | north |
| Madison | Lac qui Parle | 1,488 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Canby | Yellow Medicine | 1,664 | 13 mi | south |
| Nassau | Lac qui Parle | 66 | 13 mi | north |
| Dawson | Lac qui Parle | 1,431 | 15 mi | east |
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.
Sweetwater WMA area deer harvest by year
DPA 279 totals, which include all the land around Sweetwater WMA: 397 deer in 2025 against 370 in 2024.
| Year | Bucks | Does, fawns | All deer | Per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 275 | 122 | 397 | 1.16 |
| 2024 | 255 | 115 | 370 | 1.08 |
| 2023 | 213 | 145 | 358 | 1.04 |
| 2022 | 242 | 150 | 392 | 1.14 |
| 2021 | 259 | 134 | 393 | 1.14 |
| 2020 | 207 | 187 | 394 | 1.15 |
| 2019 | 228 | 112 | 340 | 0.99 |
| 2018 | 190 | 94 | 284 | 0.83 |
| 2017 | 196 | 168 | 364 | 1.06 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
The county setting of Sweetwater WMA
Lac qui Parle County holds 69 public hunting records on this site; Sweetwater WMA is one of them. Bear: Lac qui Parle County is in the no-quota area, with licenses over the counter. For turkey the county is in permit area 504 and 505. Wildlife office for Lac qui Parle County: Appleton Area Wildlife Office.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Sweetwater WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Sweetwater WMA, so the minutes differ a little from the county tables.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Start | Big game stop | Bird stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:07 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 7:31 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:52 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. | 5:38 p.m. | 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:39 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:03 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:44 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. | 8:38 p.m. | 8:08 p.m. |
Spring turkey uses the bird column.
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.
Sweetwater Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Sweetwater Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Dawson Rod & Gun Club, 15 miles off. Sight in elsewhere: the area rules bar target shooting.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Sweetwater WMA and country like it, in photos
Sweetwater WMA FAQ for 2026-27
When does firearms deer season open on Sweetwater WMA?
Deer permit area 279; the 2026 designation is 2-deer limit. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Sweetwater WMA?
The record for Sweetwater WMA lists deer, small game, pheasant and waterfowl.
What are the directions to Sweetwater WMA?
From Madison, go 8 miles S on US 75, 8 miles W on CSAH 12. 0 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Sweetwater WMA?
The Appleton office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Sweetwater WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Sweetwater WMA?
CWD status: DPA 279 is in the 2026 surveillance block (mandatory sampling Nov. 7-8).
Sweetwater WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:41 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Sweetwater WMA?
Closest on the map: Bolson Slough WPA (0.6 mi), Farrell WPA (Lac qui Parle County) (0.8 mi) and Florida Creek WMA (2.3 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Sweetwater WMA?
No overnight gear on Sweetwater WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Sweetwater WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Sweetwater WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Sweetwater WMA a big piece of land?
About 586 acres in 2 subunits, per the agency GIS.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).