Hunters enjoy a wide variety of opportunities to hunt on Waterfowl Production Areas in the District. The most popular game species are pheasant, waterfowl and deer. The most common waterfowl species include the Canada goose, mallard, teal, wood duck and pintail. Fall migration brings several other species of waterfowl to the District.
Pheasant populations have increased dramatically in the southwest portion of Minnesota with two consecutive mild winters in 2001 and 2002. WPAs in Cottonwood and Jackson counties were especially popular in the fall of 2003. Pheasant populations are greatly affected by winter weather and WPAs provide excellent cover for pheasants in the cattail marshes and thick native grass plantings.
WPAs provide excellent cover for pheasants.
Whitetail deer are common throughout the District. WPAs in the District are open for shotgun, muzzleloader and archery seasons. Hunters enjoy a very good success rate.
Contact the District Headquarters for further information on Waterfowl Production Areas. State license information is available from the 
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Information on lodging in the communities within the District is available at www.exploreminnesota.com.
Hunting and trapping activities are subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Steel shot must be used in accordance with current Federal regulations. Firearms may only be used during the hunting seasons. All WPAs are open to public hunting except where they are posted "Closed." For more detailed information, please see the Regulations page.
You will find clickable county maps showing the locations of the WPAs on the County Maps page.
