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WMA in Dakota County
Hunting Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Dakota County, 1,493 acres.
Photo: Joe Passe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 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 · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 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.
Vermillion River WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,493 acres at Vermillion River WMA, which lies in Dakota County. By size it ranks 3rd of the 8 wildlife management areas we list in Dakota County. DPA 605 sets the deer limit here: 5-deer limit this year.
The managing office is South Metro (DNR Wildlife), vermillionriver.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists LAWCON as the federal aid source for Vermillion River WMA.
What the DNR page says about it: This unit has recently been seeded to native prairie. It will be mowed several times this year and will be slated for controlled burns in the future. This area offers great birding opportunities and a chance to view truly native remnant prairie species.
Listed game: deer, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey, mourning dove.
- White-tailed Deer
- Ruffed Grouse
- American Woodcock
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Ducks
- Canada Goose
- Wild Turkey
- Mourning Dove
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Vermillion River WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Vermillion River 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 |
- Portions are posted archery only for deer. All other game restricted to shotguns with BBB shot or smaller. Access to portions of this WMA is limited during winter/spring months. Gates located on 190th St. (E of Biscayne Ave) and Annette Ave. (.5 mi S of Station Trail) are closed from the end of pheasant season until the May 1st or when road conditions permit.
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on Vermillion River WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Vermillion River WMA fall under DPA 605: 5-deer limit, 600 series. Fill the DPA 605 limit of 5 with your license plus bonus permits.
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Early antlerless | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Late southeast firearms | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Late CWD hunt | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 |
DPA 605 falls within the CWD management zone. A late CWD hunt runs Dec. 18-20 in DPA 605. DNR enforces a carcass disposal rule here. DPA 605 spans 1,229 square miles. DPA 605 reaches Dakota, Rice, Scott, Goodhue and Le Sueur counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Vermillion River WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Vermillion River 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 605 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Early antlerless | DPA 605 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 605 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 605 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late southeast | DPA 605 | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Late CWD hunt | DPA 605 | Dec 18, 2026 | Dec 20, 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 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 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 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Central Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular ducks | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Spring light goose | Statewide | Feb 18, 2027 | Apr 30, 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.
Vermillion River WMA: access points
1 parking point and the route text DNR posts for Vermillion River WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermillion River WMA | 1,493 | Farmington | Open | 1 | DNR |
- Vermillion River WMA: From Farmington, go 0.5 miles N on State Highway 3, then go 2.7 miles E on County Highway 66 to the parking area on the left (north) side of the road.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Vermillion River WMA
When Vermillion River WMA is crowded, Vermillion River AMA sits 1.0 mi away to the southwest.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermillion River AMA | AMA | 398 | 605 | 1.0 mi | southwest |
| Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA | WMA | 2,838 | 605 | 1.6 mi | north |
| So. Branch Vermillion River AMA | AMA | 62 | 605 | 3.3 mi | east |
| Hampton Woods WMA | WMA | 207 | 605 | 3.7 mi | southeast |
| Spring Lake Islands WMA | WMA | 765 | 601 | 7.6 mi | northeast |
| Chub Lake WMA | WMA | 203 | 605 | 11 mi | southwest |
| Hastings WMA | WMA | 40 | 605 | 12 mi | east |
| Soberg WPA | WPA | 114 | 605 | 12 mi | west |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Vermillion River WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Empire lies 1.3 mi from Vermillion River WMA. For more services, Rosemount (30,581) is 5.2 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Farmington. Nearest DNR desk: Vermillion River Complex Area Wildlife Office, 3.9 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire | Dakota | 3,068 | 1.3 mi | northwest |
| Coates | Dakota | 136 | 3.6 mi | northeast |
| Farmington | Dakota | 24,464 | 4.9 mi | west |
| Rosemount | Dakota | 30,581 | 5.2 mi | north |
| Vermillion | Dakota | 429 | 5.3 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.
Vermillion River WMA: deer taken in DPA 605
3,115 deer were registered in DPA 605 during 2025, 2.61 per square mile of the unit.
| Year | Adult bucks | Other deer | DPA harvest | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,495 | 1,620 | 3,115 | 2.61 |
| 2024 | 1,374 | 1,452 | 2,826 | 2.37 |
| 2023 | 1,279 | 1,542 | 2,821 | 2.37 |
| 2022 | 1,326 | 1,606 | 2,932 | 2.46 |
| 2021 | 1,269 | 1,528 | 2,797 | 2.35 |
| 2020 | 1,508 | 2,070 | 3,578 | 3.00 |
DNR 2025 deer harvest report; earlier years from the DNR yearly reports. Checked October 28, 2026.
Vermillion River WMA and the rest of Dakota County
Dakota County has 13 public hunting areas on file, Vermillion River WMA among them. Dakota County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Dakota County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 503 and 510. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Vermillion River Complex Area Wildlife Office, (651) 322-4643. Not every public place in Dakota County is open: Chimney Rock Scientific and Natural 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 Vermillion River WMA
Sun times computed for Vermillion River 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 | 6:54 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:02 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 6:57 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:25 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 7:49 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:31 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. | 8:24 p.m. | 7:54 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.
Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area: hunts and banquets nearby
DU gun or purse bingo and NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser: 2 upcoming events, on site or a few miles away.
Booked dates
| Held on | Event | Miles off | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2026 | Japanese Whiskey Night Bingo @ Bourbon Butcher!, a DU gun or purse bingo | 5 | Bourbon Butcher (Farmington) | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Capital City Strutters – Sportsman's Fun Night Out NWTF Fundraiser, an NWTF hunting heritage fundraiser | 9 | Lakeville | Event details | Source |
Where Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area hunters zero a rifle
Drive about 7 miles from Vermillion River Wildlife Management Area to reach Spring Lake Park Archery Range, the nearest public lanes. Clubs within 30 miles take the remaining cards. 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.
Vermillion River WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Vermillion River WMA, short answers
What deer permit area is Vermillion River WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 605: 5-deer limit. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Vermillion River WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,493 acres.
How do you get to Vermillion River WMA?
From Farmington, go 0.5 miles N on State Highway 3, then go 2.7 miles E on County Highway 66 to the parking area on the left (north) side of the road. 1 parking spot on the DNR map.
What game species does Vermillion River WMA list?
The agency names deer, ruffed grouse and woodcock, pheasant, waterfowl, wild turkey and mourning dove for Vermillion River WMA.
Vermillion River WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 605 is in the CWD management zone.
Vermillion River WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Vermillion River WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its South Metro office.
Vermillion River WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Vermillion River AMA (1.0 mi), Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA (1.6 mi) and So. Branch Vermillion River AMA (3.3 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Vermillion River WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:27 a.m. and ends at 5:25 p.m. at the Vermillion River WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Vermillion River WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Vermillion River WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Does Vermillion River WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Vermillion River WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
Other photos on this page: fastfonz (CC BY 2.0); Chad Davis. (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).