Return to Rydell National Wildlife Refuge
Rules and Policies
Updated November 10, 2026
Welcome to your national wildlife refuge. Discover new places to hunt, fish, take pictures, watch wildlife, walk, bicycle, cross-country ski and snowshoe. Enjoy spending time outdoors alone or with friends and family. Please consult the refuge manager at 218-687-2229 if you have questions. We may post additional site-specific regulations. To ensure your safety and protect wildlife and habitat, please be aware of regulations.
General Restrictions
Access to the refuge is open from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset (see exceptions under refuge-specific regulations below).
We prohibit
- Target shooting
- Off leash dog training, including the use of electronic collars, or allowing dogs off leash (see exceptions under hunting below)
- All types of motorized vehicles on all refuge land (including on frozen bodies of water) except on designated parking areas and public roads
- Motorized watercraft
- Camping, open fires and overnight parking
- Abandoning, discarding or otherwise leaving any personal property. All property brought onto a refuge must be removed at the end of each day. This includes all common items like vehicles, boats, decoys, trail cameras, blinds, geo-caching items, photography equipment, portable stands, climbing sticks and trash.
- Destructing, defacing, disturbing or unauthorized removal of any natural object, artifact, cultural resource or government property
- Introducing, liberating, or placing plants or animals or their parts taken elsewhere on refuge lands or waters
- Disposing of animal carcasses, trash, refuse, rocks, wood or other debris
- Cutting, mowing, sawing, digging, collecting, injuring or removing vegetation
- Launching, landing or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (drones) on the refuge. This includes for recreational or commercial purposes.
- Commercial enterprise without a special use permit
- Use or possession of any illegal drug or drug paraphernalia is prohibited
- Recreational trapping
- Horseback riding
Hunting
Artificial Lights
You may not use a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light to spot, locate or take any wild animal on the refuge.