Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex is accepting applications on 26 units ranging in size from 34-573 acres for cooperative grazing. Interested persons need to fill out and submit an application for consideration. Application materials and color maps of grazing areas are available below.
2026 Long Lake Grazing Package with Maps
All applications must be returned to the Long Lake NWR by close of business on March 13, 2026 to be considered. Cooperators will be selected for each unit beginning March 16, 2026, and all applicants will be notified of their application status by March 20, 2026.
Please call the main line (701-387-4397) with any questions about these grazing opportunities.
Visit Us
The echo of the sandhill cranes through the rolling prairie hills of Long Lake invites today’s visitors to follow in the footsteps of the Plains Indians. Refuge stewards work collaboratively to understand, restore, and protect biological communities. Through wildlife dependent recreation and environmental education opportunities, the Refuge staff hopes to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the mixed-grass prairie ecosystem and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Location and Contact Information
About Us
The area that is now Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge was once home to Plains Indians and early European settlers who camped and hunted waterfowl and other game around Long Lake. The Refuge was established on February 25, 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to provide sanctuary and habitat for migratory birds that use the Central Flyway migration corridor. The Refuge has 22,300 acres and the dominant habitat feature is a 16,000-acre natural, alkaline lake created within the prairie landscape during the most recent ice age. The lake is two miles wide, eighteen miles long and has been separated into three units using dikes and spillways in an attempt to manage water levels and control avian botulism disease outbreaks that have historically occurred.
What We Do
At Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, staff work to provide the life requirements for waterfowl, other migratory birds, and resident wildlife. Habitat management activities include livestock grazing, prescribed burning, haying, weed control, water level management, and rest. Visitors can enjoy many wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities here.
