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WMA · DPA 666
Hunting on Ulen Wildlife Management Area in 2026-27
Wildlife management area hunting in Clay County: rules, season dates, parking and nearby public land.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Ulen Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Ulen Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 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.
The record behind Ulen WMA, summed up
The mapped area of Ulen WMA is 480 acres, in Clay County. Clay County has 19 wildlife management areas on our list; this one is the 7th largest. Deer rules come from DPA 666, an either-sex area in 2026.
Detroit Lakes is the DNR wildlife area office for Ulen WMA (detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us). DNR records Pittman-Robertson funding for Ulen WMA.
The WMA page says: Upland birds and waterfowl, as well as deer hunting opportunities.
Species named: deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- 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 Ulen Wildlife Management Area
Ulen WMA regulations in short
Read these before a first trip to Ulen 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 666 dates for Ulen WMA
For 2026, DNR made DPA 666 either-sex; its firearms deer season is the 200-series window. Either-sex in DPA 666 means the regular license covers a buck or a doe.
| 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 |
DPA 666 is in the CWD management zone. Carcass disposal rules apply. DPA 666 takes in 625 square miles. Part of Clay, Becker and Norman falls in DPA 666.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunting seasons at Ulen WMA
43 season windows for 20 species reach Ulen WMA, filtered by its game species list.
| Game | Season | Area | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 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 |
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.
Ulen WMA directions and parking
The DNR route text for each subunit of Ulen WMA, with 2 mapped lots.
| Unit | Size | Closest town | Hunting | Parking spots | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulen WMA | 480 | Ulen | Open | 2 | DNR |
- Ulen WMA: From Ulen, go 3 miles W on CSAH 34 Access and parking areas on south side of the unit off highway 34, and 230th St. N on east side.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Other places to hunt near Ulen WMA
The closest other public land to Ulen WMA is Fuglie WPA, 1.1 mi to the southeast; the table lists 8 neighbors with 4,577 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Deer area | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuglie WPA | WPA | 632 | 666 | 1.1 mi | southeast |
| Flickertail Prairie WPA | WPA | 978 | 666 | 1.6 mi | southwest |
| Felton Prairie SNA | SNA | 1,350 | 666 | 4.0 mi | west |
| Gjerve WPA | WPA | 36 | 666 | 4.1 mi | southeast |
| Goose Lake WPA | WPA | 217 | 666 | 4.6 mi | south |
| Ashmore WPA | WPA | 157 | 666 | 4.8 mi | southeast |
| Cupido WMA | WMA | 1,197 | 666 | 5.5 mi | north |
| Zilmer Prairie WPA | WPA | 11 | 666 | 5.7 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Towns and offices around Ulen WMA
The town nearest Ulen WMA is Ulen at 3.3 mi. Twin Valley (697 in 2024) is the largest of these towns. DNR names Ulen as the nearest town on its unit page. Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office (Detroit Lakes) is the closest DNR office, 29 mi off.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulen | Clay | 472 | 3.3 mi | east |
| Hitterdal | Clay | 202 | 8.1 mi | southeast |
| Felton | Clay | 169 | 8.4 mi | west |
| Borup | Norman | 93 | 11 mi | northwest |
| Twin Valley | Norman | 697 | 12 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.
The county setting of Ulen WMA
Clay County holds 82 public hunting records on this site; Ulen WMA is one of them. No deer feeding or attractants in Clay County (DNR ban). Rifles are legal statewide since 2025, but Clay County has a shotgun-only ordinance (partial shotgun-only ordinance). Bear: Clay County is in the no-quota area, with licenses over the counter. For turkey the county is in permit area 509 and 506. Wildlife office for Clay County: Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office. Unlike Ulen WMA, Beva Paulson Memorial Hardwood Forest Scientific and Natural Area and Blanket Flower Prairie Scientific and Natural Area are shut to hunters.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Ulen WMA: first legal light and last
Calculated for the exact spot of Ulen 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. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 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 | 7:35 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 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 | 7:46 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 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. |
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.
Ulen Wildlife Management Area hunters: nearest gun clubs on file
Before a hunt on Ulen Wildlife Management Area, the closest range on file is Wild Rice Conservation Club, 12 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.
Ulen WMA and country like it, in photos
Ulen WMA FAQ for 2026-27
When does firearms deer season open on Ulen WMA?
Deer permit area 666; the 2026 designation is either-sex. Firearms dates in that DPA are Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
What game is on Ulen WMA?
The record for Ulen WMA lists deer, small game, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove.
What are the directions to Ulen WMA?
From Ulen, go 3 miles W on CSAH 34 2 mapped lots.
Which office should I call about Ulen WMA?
The Detroit Lakes office of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs Ulen WMA.
What are the CWD rules on Ulen WMA?
CWD status: DPA 666 is in the CWD management zone.
Ulen WMA: deer hours on opening day?
About 6:46 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. on opening day of firearms deer.
Any other public ground within a short drive of Ulen WMA?
Closest on the map: Fuglie WPA (1.1 mi), Flickertail Prairie WPA (1.6 mi) and Felton Prairie SNA (4.0 mi).
Are permanent stands allowed on Ulen WMA?
No overnight gear on Ulen WMA: stands and blinds go home each day unless the northwest exception covers the unit.
Can I stay the night on Ulen WMA?
No, except designated sites or by permit.
Ulen WMA: is hunting allowed there?
Open to hunting in regular seasons, under the general WMA rules and any notes on the unit page.
Is Ulen WMA a big piece of land?
About 480 acres, per the agency GIS.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).