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Hunting Walk-In Access (WIA) Program, Minnesota public land
What this program opens to public hunting, and how.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Walk-In Access at a glance for hunters
You get 22,000 acres at Walk-In Access, which lies in Blue Earth, Brown and 27 other counties. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs this land.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
What is allowed on Walk-In Access
Short version of the rules that apply on Walk-In Access, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| Validation | $3, every user |
| Open | Sep 1-May 31 |
| Hours | Half hour each side |
| Landowner contact | Not needed |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed |
| Target practice | Not allowed |
| Trapping | Not allowed |
| Dog training | Not allowed |
| Camping, fires | Not allowed |
| Horseback riding | Not allowed |
| No signs | No access |
- $3 Walk-In Access validation (ELS code 190) required for every user; sites open Sept. 1-May 31, half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset, no landowner contact needed; all hunting laws apply. No motor vehicles, target practice, trapping, dog training, camping, horseback riding or fires. Landowners may opt out at any time; "No signs means no access."
Sources: record; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Walk-In Access region in a few frames
Walk-In Access sites by county
The DNR Walk-In Access layer holds 221 sites with 21,373 acres in 29 counties; the 2026 atlas speaks of approximately 22,000 acres on more than 255 sites in west, central and southern Minnesota. Each site is private land leased for public hunting and marked by number (for example "Blue Earth WIA #1001"); no landowner contact is needed, but every user buys the $3 validation. Sites are open Sept. 1 to May 31, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; 19 sites have a 2026 status change on the DNR status page.
| County | Sites | Acres | Site numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 37 | 3,659 | WIA #1005, WIA #1006, WIA #1010, WIA #1025, WIA #1026, WIA #… |
| Yellow Medicine County | 26 | 3,146 | WIA #410, WIA #522, WIA #523, WIA #524, WIA #526, WIA #548, … |
| Wilkin County | 20 | 2,725 | WIA #1041, WIA #306, WIA #307, WIA #309, WIA #313, WIA #315,… |
| Lyon County | 18 | 1,606 | WIA #142, WIA #411, WIA #616, WIA #690, WIA #691, WIA #781, … |
| Murray County | 12 | 1,126 | WIA #144, WIA #146, WIA #148, WIA #150, WIA #160, WIA #397, … |
| Lac qui Parle County | 12 | 1,038 | WIA #924, WIA #925, WIA #989, WIA #990, WIA #1002, WIA #1067… |
| Brown County | 11 | 1,029 | WIA #170, WIA #171, WIA #323, WIA #324, WIA #442, WIA #634, … |
| Traverse County | 7 | 746 | WIA #722, WIA #762, WIA #772, WIA #773, WIA #820, WIA #1108,… |
| Rock County | 8 | 737 | WIA #1000, WIA #852, WIA #854, WIA #857, WIA #859, WIA #868,… |
| Kandiyohi County | 8 | 728 | WIA #236, WIA #253, WIA #254, WIA #260, WIA #378, WIA #431, … |
| Watonwan County | 8 | 680 | WIA #581, WIA #639, WIA #1013, WIA #1016, WIA #1017, WIA #10… |
| Pipestone County | 5 | 518 | WIA #226, WIA #358, WIA #400, WIA #1034, WIA #1088 |
| Stevens County | 6 | 424 | WIA #1061, WIA #369, WIA #791, WIA #876, WIA #877, WIA #1050 |
| Douglas County | 4 | 362 | WIA #291, WIA #461, WIA #684, WIA #1125 |
| McLeod County | 4 | 340 | WIA #154, WIA #424, WIA #468, WIA #615 |
| Martin County | 4 | 301 | WIA #715, WIA #912, WIA #913, WIA #915 |
| Pope County | 4 | 291 | WIA #180, WIA #894, WIA #1042, WIA #1058 |
| Redwood County | 5 | 285 | WIA #471, WIA #607, WIA #1068, WIA #1075, WIA #1080 |
| Swift County | 2 | 280 | WIA #432, WIA #699 |
| Nobles County | 3 | 265 | WIA #510, WIA #767, WIA #934 |
| Meeker County | 3 | 203 | WIA #513, WIA #717, WIA #900 |
| Grant County | 2 | 202 | WIA #476, WIA #719 |
| Chippewa County | 2 | 192 | WIA #1007, WIA #823 |
| Le Sueur County | 2 | 157 | WIA #802, WIA #599 |
| Cottonwood County | 4 | 109 | WIA #1020, WIA #163, WIA #249, WIA #1027 |
| Sibley County | 1 | 101 | WIA #774 |
| Blue Earth County | 1 | 49 | WIA #1001 |
| Renville County | 1 | 38 | WIA #694 |
| Jackson County | 1 | 37 | WIA #176 |
2026 site status changes
| Site | Atlas page | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln #969 | 20 (20) | Grazed or Hayed | 22 acres hayed |
| Lincoln #970 | 19 (19) | Grazed or Hayed | 57 acres hayed |
| Lincoln #981 | 19 (19) | Grazed or Hayed | 33 acres hayed |
| Pipestone #400 | 24 (24) | Grazed or Hayed | 92 acres (entire site) hayed |
| Lincoln #600 | 20 (20) | Prescribed Management | 40 acres |
| Lyon #1089 | 20 (20) | Grazed or Hayed | 127 acres (entire site) hayed |
| Douglas #446 | 7 (7) | Closed | contract terminated |
| Lincoln #348 | 19 (19) | Closed | contract terminated |
| Meeker #1086 | 14 (14) | Closed | contract terminated |
| Wilkin #308 | 5 (5) | Closed | contract expired |
| Wilkin #760 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | 46 acres hayed |
| Wilkin #1023 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | entire site hayed |
| Wilkin #1030 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | 86 acres hayed |
| Wilkin #1031 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | 52 acres hayed |
| Wilkin #309 | 6 (6) | Partially Mowed | Huntable woody cover |
| Wilkin #419 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | Partially hayed |
| Wilkin #420 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | Partially hayed |
| Wilkin #831 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | Partially hayed |
| Wilkin #965 | 5 (5) | Grazed or Hayed | Partially hayed |
DNR Walk-In Access, WIA layer and status page; checked October 28, 2026.
Hunter questions about Walk-In Access, short answers
Walk-In Access acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 22,000 acres.
Does Walk-In Access allow public hunting?
Yes. Walk-In Access is on the list of Minnesota places open to some hunting; the rules band says how.
How do you get to Walk-In Access?
The agency page carries the maps.
What game species does Walk-In Access list?
The Walk-In Access record gives no species list; follow the state seasons.
What does a Walk-In Access validation cost?
A $3 Walk-In Access validation is required for every user, bought where licenses are sold.
Walk-In Access: who is the land manager?
Walk-In Access belongs to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Do I need to contact the landowner?
No. Walk-In Access sites need no landowner contact; landowners may opt out at any time, and a site with no signs means no access.
When are Walk-In Access sites open?
Sept. 1 to May 31, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
Which counties have the most Walk-In Access acres?
Lincoln (3,659 acres, 37 sites), Yellow Medicine (3,146 acres, 26 sites) and Wilkin (2,725 acres, 20 sites).
Can I trap or train dogs on Walk-In Access land?
No. Trapping, dog training, target practice, motor vehicles, camping, horseback riding and fires are not allowed.
How many Walk-In Access sites are there?
The DNR layer maps 221 sites with 21,373 acres; the 2026 atlas says more than 255 sites and about 22,000 acres.
Other photos on this page: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0).