A photographer taking pictures with a very large lens
Refuge Photo Blitz

Join us for a free event where local photographers Rob Rakow and Jim Foster, and Refuge Manager, Mike Budd, will share some of their favorite sites for photography on the refuge, as well as some tips and tricks for getting great shots. The event starts at 10 am with a presentation at refuge headquarters, followed by lunch, then a guided Refuge tour. Please RSVP for the event by calling Deb Hoffman at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge at 320-273-2191 or by emailing (deborah_hoffman@fws.gov) no later than June 6th. The refuge headquarters is located at 44843 County Hwy 19, Odessa, MN 56276.

Full Event Details

Big Stone NWR Seeking Public Comment

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment for a Draft Compatibility Determination for a water pipeline from the L.G. Everist quarry to the Minnesota River. The comment period is open from 12 - 30 May, 2023. 

To learn more and to access documents

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge was originally purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on May 21, 1975. The refuge currently includes 11,586 acres in Big Stone and Lac qui Parle Counties, in Minnesota.

Visit Us

The Auto Tour Route is open the first Monday in April to the first Monday in December unless otherwise noted in the alerts on our Home Page.  

Connect with your natural heritage as you experience wildlife, diverse habitats and magnificent granite outcrops at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Location and Contact Information

      A refuge volunteer helps repair a boardwalk
      Seeking Volunteers!

      We are seeking volunteers to help with seasonal activities on the Refuge. These include regular maintenance tasks, mowing, trail improvements, invasive species invasive species
      An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

      Learn more about invasive species
      treatment, and more. Come join us out on the prairie!

      What We Do

      Services
      Cows examine the camera while standing in a grassland

      Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge will be allowing cattle grazing on two units of the Refuge beginning in 2023. Grazing unit descriptions, requirements, and maps can be found in the bid packet. Cooperators are responsible for following all terms and conditions identified in the requirements and...

      An old, red, closed-cab tractor pulls a green round-baler on a waterfowl production area.

      Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District are offering 17 haying opportunities. Haying is used to manage grassland habitat by providing more diverse vegetation structure for nesting birds and other species. Hay units range in size from approximately 10 to 266 acres....

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 560 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.