Minnesota 

Valley

National Wildlife Refuge

Fall 2008/Spring 2009

Hunting Map & Regulations

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

3815 American Boulevard E.

Bloomington, MN 55425-1600

952/854-5900 

People with hearing impairments 

may reach Minnesota Valley NWR through 

the Federal Information Relay System at 

1 800/877 8339

Minnesota Valley's website address:

http://midwest.fws.gov/minnesotavalley

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

 Rapids Lake 

 Louisville Swamp 

 (North of Middle Rd) 

 Louisville Swamp - 

 (South of Middle Rd) 

•••

 Wilkie 

 Wilkie-Rice Lake •••

Deer (Bow/arrow)

Deer (shotgun)

Deer (muzzleloader)Waterfowl

Small GameTurkey

Hunting at 

Minnesota Valley NWR

General Hunting Regulations

Minnesota state regulations and 

refuge-specific regulations will be 

enforced. Hunting is allowed only on 

refuge units described in this bro-

chure. Each unit offers specific hunting 

opportunities during Minnesota state 

seasons. You may only hunt species 

listed in this brochure. For authorized hunting, refuge is open 

two hours before legal shooting time to 

one hour after legal shooting time.

Non-toxic shot must be used for all 

species. Possession of toxic shot is 

illegal.

Some areas have been posted as No 

Hunting Zones to protect buildings, 

private property or critical habitat 

areas. Please respect any signed area 

you encounter in the field.

The possession of alcohol while hunting 

is prohibited.

Gas or electric boat motors are prohib-

ited on the refuge.

It is unlawful to drive a metal object 

into a tree or to hunt from a tree in 

which a metal object has been driven. 

Screw-in steps are prohibited.

All items, including boats and stands, 

must be removed at the end of the 

day. It is unlawful to hunt from a 

permanent stand.

Furbearers and crows may not be 

harvested on the refuge at any time.

Single projectiles for small game are 

prohibited.

The distribution of bait and hunting 

over bait, including salt licks, mineral 

blocks or any chemical substance ap-

plied to the ground or vegetation is 

prohibited on National Wildlife Refuge 

Units.

No motorized vehicles are allowed 

within the hunting units except at des-

ignated parking areas.

No hunting on, across or within 50 feet 

of any road, parking lot or marked 

trail. Target shooting is prohibited.

The use or possession of riĐes, pistols 

or air guns is prohibited on the refuge. Waterfowl Hunting will be held in 

accordance with all state and federal 

hunting regulations and seasons.

Allowed hunting activities by unit and 

unit specic regulations

Rapids Lake Unit

The unit is open to the following:

Deer Hunting

• Arche

ry, shotgun and muzzleloading

Waterfowl Hunting

Ducks, geese and coots

Small Game Hunting

Cottontail rabbit, pheasant, gray and

fox squirrel, ruffed grouse and 

hungarian partridge Turkey Hunting Fall and spring state seasons.

Louisville Swamp Unit

(North of Middle Road)

Archery deer hunting only

(South of Middle Road)

Archery deer hunting

Waterfowl Hunting

Small Game Hunting

Cottontail rabbit, pheasant, gray and

fox squirrel, ruffed grouse and 

hungarian partridge Turkey Hunting Fall and spring state seasons. Wilkie Unit

Archery deer hunting allowed 

west of Eagle Creek ONLY.

Waterfowl Hunting

Ducks, geese and coots (Restricted to the Rice Lake area:

Contacts:

Emergencies..................................................... 911 To report violations

Refuge Law Enforcement Ofcer. 952-361-4508

TIP Line.......................................... 1-800-652-9093

Carver Rapids Unit - DNR.............. 952-492-6400 West Metro State Concervation

Ofce Dispatch............................... 651-582-1511

East of old Hwy 18 and Hwy 169 and

west of Eagle Creek and south of the 

Minnesota River and north of 

Hwy 13. See brochure map for 

details)

Trapping Various refuge units are open to quali

-

fied trappers with a refuge permit.

Contact the refuge at 952-854-5900

for more information. 

Special Note

Other areas of the refuge may be 

hunted with a special refuge permit by 

people with disabilities or participants 

of the Young Waterfowlers Program.

For other hunting opportunities on Waterfowl Production Areas visit our 

website at: http://midwest.fws.gov/

minnesotavalley/
Duck Lane. Turn right on Duck 

Lane. Hunter Parking Area is at the 

gate 1 mile N. 4-wheel drive is

recommended until freeze-up. 

Wilkie Unit

Refuge land east of Valleyfair and 

west of Eagle Creek.

Parking lot is 1/4 mile west of 

the HWY 169/101 interchange. 

Proceed west on HWY 101 to the

first stoplight and turn right. 

Waterfowl hunter access only. 

Drive through the gate at P8 .8

miles to the second gate. The boat

launch to Rice Lake is 50 yards east

of the road. Parking for your vehicle

and trailer is under the HWY 169

bridge to the west.

Parking is immediately north of the 

Minnesota River at the end of 

Bloomington Ferry Circle. You must 

cross the river on the bridge to

reach the Wilkie Unit. 

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Getting There

Rapids Lake Unit

DNR and Refuge land south of the 

Carver Bluffs development, mostly 

east of Co. Rd. 45, west of the Minnesota River, and downstream from the 

Co. Rd. 9 bridge near Jordan.

From the Twin Cities, exit HWY 212

on Co. Rd. 40 to Carver. From the

Carver Village Hall near the center 

of town, continue driving on Co. Rd.

40 south from town 2.2 miles to Co.

Rd. 45. Turn left. Drive .8 miles to

P1 on your left.

As for P1 above, but continue

driving another 1.1 miles south on

Co. Rd. 45 to Carver Highlands

Drive. Turn left. Drive straight

about a half-mile to P2.

Same as P1 and P2, but continue 

driving south on CR 45 to the south 

end of the Rapids Lake Unit. The lot 

is just before the bridge on the left.

Same as P1,but from the city of

Carver continue on CR 40, then turn 

left into Carver Bluffs Parkway. 

parking is on left near city soccer 

fields.

 

Louisville Swamp/Carver Rapids

State Park and Refuge land between 

the railroad and the Minnesota

River, south of the Bryan Rock

Quarry, and north of Duck Lane and

the Valley View Nursing Home.

Exit HWY 169 at 145th St. W. 

approximately 4.75 miles south of

Shakopee. Parking is 1/2 mile in.

Drive past the main entrance to the

Renaissance Festival, over the next

set of railroad tracks, and bear left.

Exit HWY 169 6-1/2 miles south of 

Shakopee on Bluff Drive. Drive 

1/4-mile in to Jordan Ave., and turn 

right. Park on the right edge of the

road, at least 100 yards from the

house. You’ll need to walk through

private property to get to the gate.

Please do so quietly.

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Exit HWY 169 7.5 miles south of

Shakopee. Turn right on 173rd

St. Drive 1/4 mile on 173rd St. W. to 

a “T” intersection at Valley View 

Drive. Turn right. Drive over 

the railroad tracks carefully. 

Parking is 1/8 mile beyond the

tracks.

Exit HWY 169 as described for P5 

above. Turn left at the “T” 

intersection. Drive 1.5 miles south 

on Valley View Drive, past the Scott 

County Jail Annex, over the railroad 

tracks, and then turn right on Circle

Drive. Drive 1 block uphill to Highview Drive. Turn left and drive 1 

block to Mendoza Ave. Turn right 

on Mendoza and drive 1 block to 

Rapids Lake and Louisville Swamp Units 

Wilkie Unit

NOTE: Maps are 

not to scale!

Please Note:

There are several No Hunting Zones in the 

Rapids Lake Unit near housing developments, 

trails, and buildings. Areas are posted on site.

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