minnesota river valley around shakopee

[picksbigwagon]

I have heard people shooting down in the river bottoms, is it legal to hunt ducks and geese in that protected water way area between shakopee and Savage? IF so, could I coyote hunt there in the winter time with a shotgun and some non toxic loads???

[Dusty]

Some areas are open to hunting others are closed. The area you refer to is open to waterfowl only I think. The Minnesota valley federal wildlife refuge has an office near the Airport just off 34th Ave so. They are in the phone book or try a Google search.

[picksbigwagon]

Thanks Dusty, after digging through the DNR site I was goind to call the regional office in jordan.....I'll still do that.......

[gorrilla]

Hey guys I used to live down there and hunt the refuge alot. In the area west of 169 bridge, north of 101, south of the river and east of Valleyfair you can only archery hunt deer. East of 169 waterfowl is legal as well up until the border(eagle creek I believe). I've talked to CO's and the Refuge manager and although the Yote's are thick they're off limits on the refuge. I have hunted on the MN river east of Valleyfair out of my boat for ducks but I was told it was legal as long as I didn't set foot or anchor on refuge ground obviously and was in cover(trees). Also the touchy subject is discharging guns near city limits(ie Eden Prairie, Shakopee, and Bloomington). Don't go off the advice I'm giving you here but verify yourself. I was told by one CO that as long as no noise complaints were given he didn't see why I couldn't hunt within the river banks (in cover of course, and not shooting over land and not too close to buildings...) So I'd just stick to archery for deer. I only got a couple of teal anyway.

[USPENAMC]

try the PARK RAPIDS AREA its open to slug deer hunting, turkey and other things there is a lake there RAPID LAKE its very well hidden if you all dont know i was scouting for deer and heard Shotgun and went to check it out looking down from a hill i sat and watched guys hunt for duck? geese? do a research on rapids lake unit its on the opposite side of valley fair and the other units thats why they allow slug gun hunting its also surrounded by farms and stuff might be worthwhile. youll probably need non toxic shot for everything there

[protrapper]

Rice lake in The Willkie unit is open to waterfowl, so is Lousiville swamp. There are both open to archery deer hunting. I used to trap the refuge alot. I also use to shoot a few ducks when I was on Rice Lake, but now its to crowded.