U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

North Dakota

Waterfowl Production 

 Areas

 Public Use Regulations
Welcome

Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) 

are part of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System - a network of lands 

set aside specifically for wildlife. 

Managed by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the Refuge System 

is a living heritage, conserving 

wildlife and habitat for people today 

and for generations to come.

This goose, 

designed by J.N. 

“Ding” Darling, 

is the symbol of 

the National 

Wildlife Refuge 

System.

Boundary Signs

Wetland Management Districts 

(WMDs) were formed to manage 

WPAs and protect and restore 

waterfowl habitat.

Waterfowl Production Areas 

North Dakota has over 289,000 acres 

of habitat conserved as WPAs. These 

lands are purchased with funds from 

the sale of Federal Migratory Bird 

Hunting and Conservation Stamps, 

commonly known as the “Duck 

Stamp.” The wetland and grassland 

habitats on WPAs are managed 

to provide important resting and 

breeding grounds for migratory birds, 

waterfowl, and other wildlife. By 

providing permanent habitat, these WPAs help sustain 

North America’s waterfowl populations. 

Visitor Information

Wildlife-dependent recreational activities are allowed on 

WPAs. These activities include hunting, fishing, trapping, 

wildlife observation, photography, environmental 

education, and interpretation. 

General Regulations

Please observe the following regulations to protect 

natural resources and to help ensure your visit will be 

safe and enjoyable.

■ Vehicles are allowed only on designated roads, parking 

areas, and on the ice for ice fishing. 

■ Vehicle access to ice is limited to ice that is accessible 

from a right-of-way or designated road. 
■ Vehicles must be licensed in accordance with State laws 

and regulations.

■ Motorized boats are allowed for wildlife-dependent 

activities. Boats that must be launched from a trailer 

are limited to waters that are accessible from a 

right-of-way or designated road.

■ Collection of mature wild fruits, berries, seeds, 

above-ground portions of asparagus, mushrooms, and 

rhubarb for personal, daily, non-commercial use is 

allowed.

■ Commercial activities are not allowed unless authorized 

by a special use permit issued by the WMD manager.

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are prohibited on WPAs:

■ Overnight camping

■ Fires

■ Target and recreational shooting

■ Riding or using horses for any purpose

■ Dog training (personal or professional)

■ Removing or disturbing property, including artifacts

■ Removing natural objects or destroying plants, 

excluding the gathering of dead plant materials for 

on-site blind construction

■ Littering, including leaving trash, spent shotgun shells, 

or debris

■ Discarding of animal carcasses

Hunting Regulations 

Unless otherwise noted, hunting is allowed in accordance 

with State regulations.

Firearms

Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms 

on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply 

with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may 

only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge 

regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations 

in 50 CFR Part 32). 

Firearms may only be fired on the WPA in conjunction 

with a legal hunt for which the hunter is licensed. 

Ammunition

Small game hunters using shotguns are required to use 

and possess only non-toxic shot.
Big Game Hunting Equipment and Removal

Portable tree stands, portable ground blinds, and 

game cameras may be used for big game hunting from 

August 20 to January 31. Equipment not removed by 

January 31 will be considered abandoned property and 

subject to removal and confiscation by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. 

Equipment left unattended must have an identification 

tag that includes the owner’s name, address, and 

telephone number; or a unique identification number 

issued by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. 

The identification tag must be readable from the ground. 

The use of nails, wire, screws, or bolts to attach a stand 

or steps to a tree is prohibited. 

With the exception of the big game hunting equipment 

listed previously, all personal property must be removed 

at the end of each day.

Dogs

The use of dogs is encouraged for hunting upland 

game birds and waterfowl. Dogs are allowed for other 

activities only if the dog is confined to a vehicle, boat, 

fish house, or is on a leash controlled by the handler. 

Baiting

The distribution of bait and hunting over bait is prohibited.

Fishing Regulations

Unless otherwise noted, fishing is allowed in accordance 

with State regulations.

Fish Houses

Fish houses may be used for ice fishing in accordance 

with State regulations. Fish houses may not be left 

unattended in uplands or in parking areas.

Equipment Removal

Boats, motor vehicles, fishing equipment, and other 

personal property (excluding fish houses) must be 

removed at the end of each day.

Trapping Regulations

Trapping is allowed in accordance with Federal and 

State regulations. 
Bowman

Slope Hettinger

Adams

Grant

Billings

Golden

Valley

Stark

Dunn

McKenzie

Morton

Sioux

Emmons

Oliver Burleigh Kidder

Mercer

McLean

Sheridan

Wells

Mountrail

Ward

Williams

Divide Burke Renville

Bottineau

Rolette

Towner

Cavalier Pembina

Ramsey Walsh

Nelson Grand Forks

McHenry

Pierce

Benson

Eddy

Foster

Griggs Steele Traill

Barnes Cass

Stutsman

Williston

Minot

Grand

 Forks

Dickinson Mandan

Jamestown Fargo

Bismarck

MINNESOTA

Chase Lake

WMD

Audubon WMD

Long

Lake

WMD

Tewaukon WMD

Kulm WMD

Devils

Lake

WMD

Valley City WMD

Crosby WMD

83

94 94

Lostwood WMD

J. Clark Salyer WMD

83

83

2

2

52

52

281

281

81

29

29

85

85

85

12

SOUTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

CANADA

Kilometers

Miles

0 100

0 100

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

North Dakota Wetland Management Districts

Wetland Management District (WMD) Boundary

Wetland Management District Ofce

Interstate Highway

Federal Highway

94

85

Logan LaMoure Ransom

Dickey

Sargent

Richland

McIntosh

Missouri

River

N

Arrowwood 

WMD

Accessibility Information 

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical 

or mental ability. Dial 711 for a free connection to the State relay service for TTY 

and voice calls to and from people with hearing and speech disabilities. For more 

information or to address accessibility needs, please contact the U.S. Department of 

the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. 
Wetland Management District (WMD) Offices

Arrowwood WMD Kulm WMD

7780 10th St. SE 1 First St. SW

Pingree, ND 58476 Kulm, ND 58456

701 / 285 3341 701 / 647 2866

Audubon WMD Long Lake WMD

3275 11th St. NW 12000 353rd St. SE

Coleharbor, ND 58531 Moffit, ND 58560

701 / 442 5474 701 / 387 4397

Chase Lake WMD Lostwood WMD

5924 19th St. SE 8315 Highway 8

Woodworth, ND 58496 Kenmare, ND 58746

701 / 752 4218 701 / 848 2722

Crosby WMD Tewaukon WMD

10100 Highway 42 NW 9754 143 1⁄2 Ave. SE

Crosby, ND 58730 Cayuga, ND 58013

701 / 965 6488 701 / 724 3598

Devils Lake WMD Valley City WMD

221 2nd St. NW 11515 River Road

Devils Lake, ND 58301 Valley City, ND 58072

701 / 662 8611 701 / 845 3466

J. Clark Salyer WMD

681 Salyer Road

Upham, ND 58789

701 / 768 2548

Website Addresses

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/arrowwood_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/chase_lake_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/valley_city_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/audubon_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/devils_lake_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/j_clark_salyer_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/kulm_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/long_lake_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/lostwood_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/crosby_wmd

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/tewaukon_wmd

For State Relay Service

TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

For Refuge and WMD Information

1 800 / 344 WILD

August 2018