WMA

[WalleyeWrangler]

Two questions. 1) Do I need to check with local regulations regarding using a firearm or are all WMAs ok to shoot in? 2) I am in South St. Paul - Any good WMAS in the South metro or lower? Trying my hand at upland and small game this year with my son. His first year hunting. Thanks!

[rundrave]

my experience with WMA's when I lived up in the cities was the farther away from the cities you go, the better luck you will have, and less walked WMA areas you will find.

Its worth the time to drive an hr or 2hrs or further to see some birds.

Good luck to you and your son, hopefully this will be the start to many good years of hunting together. I will always remember my first.

[captkev]

All WMA's are open to pubic hunting, there should be a designated parking area somewhere with signs listing the do's and dont's. If a WMA would be closed for some strange reason I think this is where you would find that info too.

Check out the DNR web site to find out more, and to be shure. I wish you lots of luck and hope you find many birds.

[riverrat56]

Some are closed, but they say so on the sign, there is a sticker over the "open to public hunting" part that reads, suprise, "Closed to public hunting"

[captkev]

Thanks for pionting that out riverratt, I hunt just a few WMA's early in the year then switch to mostly state or private land later in the season.

One more thing I do know about WMA's is that Open to public hunting means hunting! and not target shooting! I was hunting Ducks on one once and started hearing shooting towards the truck, at first I thought someone realy got into the birds, then the shooting continued! By the time I could collect my gear and get to the truck, the Warden was there with three guns, a box of clays and thrower on the hood of his truck. He had three guys standing next to a sign reading it to them. I don't know if he gave their equipment back or gave them a ticket, but he did'nt even ask how I did or to see my licance. I'm glad I was'nt in those other guys shoes.

[PikeTipper]

WMA also means no lead so I bet those guys REALLY got into trouble.

[mpester]

You CAN use lead for upland and big game on a WMA. You CAN'T use lead on a WPA for upland and I do not know if you can use it for big game. If you want to hunt doves or pheasant on a WMA, you can use lead shot.

[riverrat56]

Mpester said it exactly. lead shot is legal on Wildlife Managment Areas for game legal to take with lead shot, it is illegal to use lead on Waterfowl Production areas, for any game, although I've never even seen a WPA?

[CodyDawg]

RR56,

WPAs are common in western MN.

[Powerstroke]

Just to clarify further, its not just WPA's, its any federal land open to hunting requires non-toxic shot. This includes the National Wildlife refuges too.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

If you get a chance stop by the DNR main office in St. Paul. They have a company store that sells all the WMA maps by regions. I have quite a collection. Unfortunately they are not free but worth it.

[jbell1981]

Quote:

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If you get a chance stop by the DNR main office in St. Paul. They have a company store that sells all the WMA maps by regions. I have quite a collection. Unfortunately they are not free but worth it.

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I believe he is talking about a PRIM map. Some sporting goods stores sell them to. I know Capra's in Blaine has them. They show alot more than just WMA's too. They are less than $10 for each map, which is well worth it as far as I am concerned.

~Josh

[WalleyeWrangler]

Suzuki,

Are those the PRIM maps - if so I just went there today and bought 6 of them - $6 a map. Now I just need to locate a couple to check out this weekend. Thanks!

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

Yea that's what they are. They show WMA WPA etc. They are OK but I have found the details to be innacurate on occasion and sometimes almost impossible to find the access to listed land. The further away from the Twin Cities the better.

[iceman16]

they have those PRIM maps at joes sporting goods in little canada for i thnk i paid 4 bucks a map.

iceman

[buffalomark]

Try buying a Minnesota Atlas A Sportsman's Guide to Public Lands and Water Accesses. It is compiled by John M. Hanson. I bought mine at Gander. They can be hard to find this time of year. Mine was published by Adventure Publications, Cambridge,MN 1-800-678-7006. My book is similar to PRIM maps, but has all of the counties in Minnesota. It is not complete, as they add new lands all the time. My notes that I have written into my book, make it more valuable than a good dog!