U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Minnesota Valley

National Wildlife Refuge

Fall 2017/Spring 2018

Hunting Map & Regulations

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Bloomington Education and Visitor Center

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:

www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344-WILD

www.fws.gov

Contacts:

Emergencies......................................................911

To report violations:

Refuge Law Enforcement Officer..952/858-0711

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

Carver Rapids Unit - DNR...............651/259-5774

West Metro State Conservation

Office Dispatch.................................651/582-1511

Contact the refuge at 952/854-5900 for more information.

For other hunting opportunities on Waterfowl 

Production Areas visit our website at:

www.fws.gov/refuge/Minnesota_Valley_WMD/visit/

visitor_activities.html

EU

Rice Lake Area (from Eagle Creek west to the Highway 

169 bridge)

Big Game: Archery Only

White-tailed deer

Waterfowl Only: Closed to spring goose hunting

Goose, duck, merganser, moorhen, coot, rails.

Closed to hunting mourning dove, snipe and woodcock.

Upland Game: Archery Only

Ruffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, 

squirrel, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit, 

coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and and wild turkey

(spring and fall turkey seasons).

West of Highway 169 bridge

(including Fisher and Blue Lakes)

Big Game: Archery Only

White-tailed deer

Migratory Birds: Closed

Upland Game: Archery Only

Ruffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant,

squirrel, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit,

coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and wild turkey

(spring and fall turkey seasons).

Closed to crow hunting.

East of Eagle Creek

Closed to all hunting.

7701 County Road 101 East, Shakopee,

MN 55379

Lot is west of the Hwy 169/101 interchange 

on north side of the road.

7701 County Road 101 East, Shakopee,

MN 55379

Waterfowl hunter access. Drive .8 miles past 

the first gate to the second gate. Boat launch 

to Rice Lake is 50 yards east of the road. 

Vehicle and trailer parking is under the Hwy 

169 bridge to the west.

11255 Bloomington Ferry Road, 

Bloomington, MN 55348

Park in lot and walk across the pedestrian 

bridge to access the Wilkie Unit.

Jessenland and Blakeley 

Activities & Regulations

Big Game: Archery & Firearms 

White-tailed deer

Migratory Birds

(Closed to spring goose hunting)

Goose, duck, merganser, moorhen, coot, rails, mourning 

dove, snipe, and woodcock.

Upland Game: Archery & Firearms 

Ruffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant,

squirrel, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit

coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk and wild turkey

(spring and fall turkey seasons).

Open to crow hunting according to refuge-specific 

regulations.

30951 Scenic Byway Rd,

Henderson, MN 56044

Lot is on south side of road, 1 mile SW of 

Co. Rd. 5.

31147 Scenic Byway Rd, Henderson, MN 56044

Lot is on south side of road, 2 miles SW of Co. 

Rd. 5.

Approximately one mile east of Henderson on 

Hwy 19. Lot is on north side of road.

Big Game: Archery Only

White-tailed deer

Waterfowl Only. Closed to spring goose hunting)

Goose, duck, merganser, moorhen, coot, rails

Closed to hunting mourning dove, snipe and woodcock. 

Upland Game 

Ruffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, 

squirrel, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit 

and wild turkey (spring and fall turkey seasons).

Archery only hunting for coyote, fox, raccoon and 

skunk.

Closed to crow hunting.

20801 Johnson Memorial Drive (US-169), 

Jordan, MN 55352

Lot is on north side of highway.

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Wilkie Hunting 

Activities & Regulations

St. Lawrence Hunting 

Activities & Regulations

General Hunting Regulations

 You may only hunt species listed in this brochure. 

- Minnesota state regulations and refuge-specific regula

- tions will be enforced. Refuge-specific regulations super

sede state regulations. Hunting is allowed only on refuge 

units described in this brochure.

Each unit offers specific hunting opportunities during 

e prohibit the use of motor- Minnesota state seasons. W

e allow non-motorized ized (gas or electric) boats. W

fowl hunting during the boats in areas open to water

fowl hunting seasons. water

Hunters may use bicycles and game carts on designatvice roads during the hunting seasons. ed trails and ser

We prohibit hunting on, from, across, or within 100 feet 

(30 m) of any road, parking area, or designated trail. 

All property brought onto the refuge must be removed 

ter each day. This includes all vehicles, boats, decoys, af

blinds, stands, trail cameras and trash.

y into the refuge earlier than 2 hours before Entr

legal shooting time is prohibited. Hunters must leave 

ter legal shooting the refuge no later than 1 hour af

ou may only hunt coyotes, skunks, fox, opossum time. Y

and raccoon from 1⁄2 hour before legal sunrise until 

legal sunset.

night parking are Camping, campfires and over

prohibited.

The use of hunting dogs is allowed during the State-

, approved hunting season and for non-furbearers only

provided the dog is under the immediate control of the 

raining and allowing pets off leash hunter at all times. T

are prohibited.

Hunters may use or possess only approved non-toxic 

shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used 

. for hunting wild turkey

Single projectile ammunition is prohibited on all refuge 

units except: 1) for upland game and furbearers, .22 

caliber and smaller rim-fire rifles and handguns are 

allowed on Jessenland and Blakely units and 2) where 

ms deer hunting is allowed, shotgun and muzzle- firear

mitted. loading rifles are per

arget shooting of The use of air guns is prohibited. T

any kind is prohibited.

Small game hunters must wear an article of blaze 

orange consistent with state regulations.

Some areas are posted as No Hunting Zones to protect 

buildings, private property or critical habitat areas.

irearms and weapons must be cased and unloaded F

while accessing hunting areas through No Hunting 

Zones.

Motorized vehicles are prohibited except on designated 

parking areas, access roads and public roads.

manent stands are permitted. Hunting from a No per

tree into which a metal object has been driven is 

prohibited. Do not use nails, wire, screws or bolts to 

attach a stand or steps to a tree.

 Distribution of feed or bait, or hunting over bait is 

prohibited. This includes salts and minerals.

 The possession of alcohol while hunting is prohibited.

 Trapping is prohibited on the refuge, except by permit 

. issued by the refuge manager

Refuge Season Species

No hunting during the State spring ................................ Goose

goose hunt ...........................................

State fall crow season only ................ American crow

September 1—February 28 .............................. Coyote

Beginning of State season—February 28 ......... Fox (red and gray)

Beginning of State season—February 28 ........................... Raccoon

Beginning of State season—February 28 .......................... Opossum

September 1—February 28 ................. Striped skunk

The following refuge hunting 

seasons differ from State seasons.

Consider switching to lead free ammunition.

Bald eagles live on Minnesota Valley National 

Wildlife Refuge during the fall and winter.

Eagles are scavengers. They eat deer 

carcasses and gut piles. When those remains 

contain lead bullet fragments, eagles may eat 

lead and can die.

- Hunters have been on the forefront of conser

vation for more than a century. Continue that 

tradition by changing to lead free ammunition!

For Hunting Regulations on the DNR Carver Rapids www.fws.gov/midwest/refuges/leadfree.html Unit please call 651/259-5774.

3898 145th St. W., Shakopee, MN 55379

Lot is .5 miles west of Hwy 169.

16210 Jordan Ave., Jordan, MN 55352

Near Bluff Drive & Hwy 169. Please respect

 private property stay and on road to 

refuge entrance.

17000 Valley View Drive, 

Jordan, MN 5535

Lot is located near 173rd Street & Hwy 169.

17401 Duck Lane, Jordan, MN 55352

 Parking is located at gate 1 mile north 

 of Mendoza Avenue. 4-wheel drive is 

recommended until freeze-up.

(Includes Carver Rapids DNR)

North of Middle Road

y Only Big Game: Archer

White-tailed deer

y Birds: CLOSED Migrator

y only Upland Game: Archer

 uffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, R

 rel, snowshoe hare, cottontail gray and fox squir

 rabbit, jackrabbit and wild turkey (spring and fall 

turkey seasons).

, coyote, red fox, raccoon, skunk. Closed to hunting crow

South of Middle Road

y and Firearms Big Game: Archer

White-tailed deer

y Birds Migrator

(Closed to spring goose hunting) Goose, duck, 

 , moorhen, coot, rails, mourning dove, snipe, merganser

and woodcock.

y and Firearms Upland Game: Archer

 uffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, R

 rel, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, gray and fox squir

jack rabbit, coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and wild turkey 

(spring and fall turkey seasons).

Closed to crow hunting.

Louisville Swamp Hunting

Activities & Regulations

102 Carver Bluffs Parkway, Carver, MN 55315

Lot is located in Carver Bluffs Park 

14901 Jonathan Carver Parkway, 

Carver, MN 55315

 Lot is on east side of road approximately 

3 miles south of Hwy 212.

15847 Rapids Lake Road, Carver, MN 55315

Lot is on north side of road 1 mile east of 

Co. Rd. 11.

16899 Jonathan Carver Parkway, 

Carver, MN 55315

Lot is on east side of road, north of the 

Minnesota River Bridge.

y & firearms Big Game: archer

White-tailed deer

y Birds Migrator

Closed to spring goose hunting. Goose, duck, 

, moorhen, coot, rails, mourning dove, merganser

snipe, and woodcock.

y & Firearms Upland Game: Archer

uffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, R

rel, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, jack rabbit, squir

coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and wild turkey

(spring and fall turkey seasons). 

Closed to crow hunting.

Please Note:

 in the No Hunting Zones There are several 

Rapids Lake Unit near housing developments, trails, 

and buildings.

Rapids Lake Hunting

Activities & Regulations

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