Hunting
A variety of species can be hunted on Big Stone NWR, but most hunters come here to pursue pheasant. On a good year, sportsmen find birds throughout the grassland habitat that surrounds the refuge's marshes and lakes. The first two weekends of the season can be crowded, but hunters who come later in the season will still find plenty of pheasant. A hunter willing to put in some effort should have a decent chance of taking a deer as well. Waterfowl may be taken from Unit B only. Accessing areas with waterfowl on this unit may be challenging, but well worth the effort. An often-overlooked opportunity is turkey hunting. Few turkey hunters visit the refuge, but those who do have good success. Flocks of birds can be seen moving about the prairie in the fall, and in the spring, gobblers roost in the hardwood stands.
Safety
Hunters must wear an article of blaze orange or pink consistent with state regulations.
Firearms
Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32).
Vehicles
Licensed motor vehicles are permitted only on public use roads and parking lots as shown on the map. Snowmobiles, ATVs and UTVs are prohibited.
Boats
Boats using electric motors are permitted only in the Minnesota River channel. Other non-motorized boats are allowed in the Minnesota River, East Pool, and West Pool. West Pool is closed to all watercraft during the migratory waterfowl hunting season. No other motorized boats are allowed on the Refuge. All boats must be invasive species free.
Hunting and Fishing Regulations
Hunting and fishing regulations are designed to provide safe recreational opportunities through wise use of renewable wildlife resources. Hunting and fishing are permitted in accordance with Federal regulations governing public use on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Hunters and anglers are required to hold all applicable state and federal licenses, endorsements, and stamps.
Hunting and fishing will be in accordance with applicable State of Minnesota regulations subject to the conditions stated in this brochure. Brochures may be obtained by mail, at the refuge headquarters, or from the refuge website.
Access
Refuge hunting hours follow those set by the State of Minnesota hunting regulations, except where noted.
Hunters and anglers must park in designated parking areas, as identified on the map, to access the Refuge for hunting. It is illegal to retrieve game from areas closed to hunting. Access to the Refuge from private property is prohibited.
Waterfowl taken outside the refuge boundary may be retrieved without a firearm, up to 100 yards (90m) inside areas of the refuge that are open to all other hunting. Waterfowl may not be retrieved from areas closed to waterfowl hunting.
Migratory bird hunting is restricted to Hunt Unit B on the map.
Species
Game species include all state-listed migratory game birds (except sandhill cranes), all state-listed fur-bearers, small game including wild turkey, and unprotected animals except coyotes and gophers on designated areas of the refuge. Hunting hours for these species are one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset. Refuge is closed to coyote hunting and the conservation goose and March crow.
Hunting and Fishing Structures
We prohibit constructing or occupying permanent stands or blinds. We also prohibit the use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree or hunting from a tree, into which a metal object has been driven to support a hunter. Bringing vegetation onto the refuge is prohibited. Portable hunting stands must be set up and removed each day. Ice fishing shelters and equipment must be removed at the end of each day.
Trapping
Permitted by special use permit only. Contact Refuge Manager for details and information.
To Report Violations
- Refuge Law Enforcement Officer: 320-288-3419
- Report Wildlife Crimes 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477)
- fws_tips@fws.gov
| Activity | Season Dates | Areas | Regulation |
| Small Game | Skunk: 1st - last day of Feb. |
Units A and B 1/2 hour before legal sunrise to sunset | State species apply. |
| Small Game | Badger, Fox, Opossum, Raccoon, and Weasels: Sept 1st day of state season - last day of Feb. |
Units A and B 1/2 hour before legal sunrise to sunset | Must possess and use only approved nontoxic shot. Hunting dogs must be under the immediate control of the hunter (dog use prohibited for raccoons). State species apply. |
| Wild Turkey | Spring and fall wild turkey hunting in accordance with Federal and State hunting regulations | Units A and B | Must possess and use only approved nontoxic shot. |
| Deer | Entry into the refuge is prohibited earlier than two hours before legal shooting hours |
Units A and B See State regulations for map and permit requirements | State and Federal regulations apply. |
| Bear | State Seasons | Units A and B | Hunting dog use prohibited for bears, baiting is prohibited. State and federal regulations apply. |
| Migratory Bird | State Seasons |
Unit B 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset. | Must possess and use only approved nontoxic shot. Hunting dogs must be under the immediate control of the hunter. Closed to sandhill crane hunting, the March crow hunt season and Conservation Light Goose order. |
| Sport and Ice Fishing | State Seasons - daylight hours only | All refuge waters, daylight hours only | State and Federal Regulations apply. Open for all game species except mussels (clams), crayfish, leech, frog, toad, salamander, snake, lizard, turtle and other non-fish species. Non-motorized boats only. |
| State limits for game species and state creel and length limits for fishing apply. | |||
Prohibited Activities
By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted.
- Possession of alcoholic beverages or any illegal drug or drug paraphernalia.
- Camping and fires.
- Night hunting activities.
- Overnight parking, parking in front of gates, water access points, water control structures, or on bridges.
- All types of motorized vehicles on all refuge land and closed roads - to include frozen bodies of water - except on designated parking areas and public roads.
- Target shooting, shooting from or over roads, from road right-of ways or parking areas.
- Training pets and allowing pets off leash.
- Destroying or removing any natural items such as antlers, bison skulls, plants, historic, and archaeological features, which are protected by Federal law.
- Marking or flagging any tree or other Refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or other substance.
- Introducing, liberating or placing plants or animals, or their parts taken elsewhere, on refuge lands or waters.
- Abandoning or disposing of personal property, animal carcasses, trash, refuse, rocks, wood or other debris.
- Cutting, mowing, sawing, digging, collecting, injuring or removing vegetation.
- Permanent tree stands, nails, screw-in steps, or other items that penetrate the outer bark of a tree.
- Leaving up blinds or ice fishing equipment overnight.
- Use of electronic or photographic trail monitoring devices.
- Use a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light to spot, locate or take any wild animal.
- Use of any aircraft, drones, and other unmanned aerial vehicles on the refuge - for either recreational or commercial purposes.
- Distribution of feed or bait, or hunting over bait.
- Commercial enterprise without a special use permit.
- Access to the Refuge from private property.
- Hunting within 200 yards of any building.
