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WMA · 2026-27
Twin Valley Wildlife Management Area hunting guide and rules
Everything we could verify about this wildlife management area in Norman County.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Twin Valley Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Twin Valley Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 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.
Twin Valley WMA: acres, owner and deer area
Twin Valley WMA spreads over 1,628 acres of Norman County. Of 15 wildlife management areas in Norman County, Twin Valley WMA is number 3 by acreage. Hunters on Twin Valley WMA follow DPA 666, which DNR made either-sex for 2026.
The DNR Detroit Lakes area wildlife office manages it (detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us). The Twin Valley WMA record names Pittman-Robertson federal aid.
Game species: deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock, waterfowl.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Cottontail
- Gray Squirrel
- Snowshoe Hare
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Twin Valley Wildlife Management Area
Parking lots and routes for Twin Valley WMA
DNR maps no parking point for Twin Valley WMA; use the route text below.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Unit | 1,628 | Syre | Open | – | DNR |
- North Unit: From Syre, go 1¼ m. W on CSAH #39 Access for people with disabilities is limited to the road. There are no parking lots or facilities on this WMA.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Map: Twin Valley WMA and its neighbors
8 public areas lie within 45 miles of Twin Valley WMA, adding 4,689 acres; Cupido WMA is closest.
| Public land | Type | Acres | DPA | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cupido WMA | WMA | 1,197 | 666 | 1.6 mi | west |
| Syre WMA | WMA | 510 | 666 | 2.0 mi | east |
| Neal WMA | WMA | 1,852 | 666 | 2.1 mi | northwest |
| Dalby WMA | WMA | 117 | 666 | 4.1 mi | northwest |
| Home WMA | WMA | 95 | 666 | 4.8 mi | northeast |
| Vangsness WMA | WMA | 325 | 666 | 4.9 mi | northeast |
| Ulen WMA | WMA | 480 | 666 | 5.9 mi | south |
| Stumbo WPA | WPA | 113 | 666 | 5.9 mi | east |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Twin Valley WMA: the use rules
These are the use rules the agency lists for Twin Valley 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 Twin Valley WMA
Every dated hunting window for Twin Valley WMA: 18 species, 33 rows.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 666 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 666 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 666 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 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 |
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.
Twin Valley WMA deer calendar and limits
DPA 666 (600 series) is either-sex in 2026. Either-sex rules let you take a doe in DPA 666 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 |
The CWD management zone takes in DPA 666. Carcass disposal: rule in effect. Area of DPA 666: 625 sq mi. Counties in DPA 666: Clay, Becker and Norman.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Twin Valley WMA: towns, DNR office and shops
Twin Valley WMA is 6.5 mi from Ulen, the nearest community. Twin Valley is the bigger town nearby at 697 people. Directions on the DNR page begin at Syre. Detroit Lakes has the nearest DNR office to Twin Valley WMA, 33 mi away.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulen | Clay | 472 | 6.5 mi | south |
| Twin Valley | Norman | 697 | 6.5 mi | north |
| Borup | Norman | 93 | 9.8 mi | west |
| Felton | Clay | 169 | 12 mi | southwest |
| Hitterdal | Clay | 202 | 13 mi | south |
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 Twin Valley WMA
Our Norman County list runs to 23 public areas, including Twin Valley WMA. Deer feeding and attractants are banned in Norman County. No bear lottery in Norman County: it is no-quota ground. Turkey permit area here: 509. The county's nearest wildlife office is Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office in Detroit Lakes. Norman County also has 4 closed places, Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area among them.
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 Twin Valley Wildlife Management Area
Wild Rice Conservation Club sits 7 miles from Twin Valley 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.
Twin Valley WMA country, seen through a lens
Twin Valley WMA: sunrise, sunset and legal hours
These Twin Valley 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 | 7:06 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:35 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:47 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:11 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:41 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:41 a.m. | 8:11 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. | 8:41 p.m. | 8:11 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.
Twin Valley WMA: what hunters usually ask
Who should I contact about Twin Valley WMA?
Twin Valley WMA belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Detroit Lakes office looks after it.
Is Twin Valley WMA inside a CWD zone?
Twin Valley WMA sits in DPA 666, which is in the CWD management zone.
What time can you shoot deer at Twin Valley WMA on Nov. 7?
Nov. 7: 6:46 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. for deer, sunrise 7:16 a.m..
What other public tracts sit near Twin Valley WMA?
Twin Valley WMA neighbors on our list: Cupido WMA (1.6 mi), Syre WMA (2.0 mi) and Neal WMA (2.1 mi).
Twin Valley WMA: what are the stand and blind rules?
Take it down each evening. Twin Valley WMA follows the WMA rule on daily removal of stands, blinds and other gear.
Are there campsites on Twin Valley WMA?
WMA rules allow camping only in designated areas or with a permit.
Is Twin Valley WMA public ground you can hunt?
Yes. A Minnesota license for the game you hunt is all you need on Twin Valley WMA; WMA rules cover vehicles, stands and camping.
What size is the Twin Valley WMA unit?
Agency maps put it at 1,628 acres.
Twin Valley WMA: which DPA sets the deer rules?
DPA 666, either-sex for 2026. The rifle and shotgun season goes Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What is there to hunt on Twin Valley WMA?
On the Twin Valley WMA record the game list reads deer, small game, ruffed grouse and woodcock and waterfowl.
Where do you park at Twin Valley WMA?
From Syre, go 1¼ m. W on CSAH #39 No parking point is mapped.
Twin Valley 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: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0).