Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Access to the refuge is open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset

 We prohibit 

• Target shooting
• Training and allowing pets off leash
• All types of motorized vehicles on all refuge land (including on frozen bodies of water) except on designated parking areas, access roads and public roads
• Watercraft use is prohibited
• Camping, campfires and overnight parking is prohibited
• Abandoning, discarding or otherwise leaving any personal property. All property brought onto a refuge must be removed at the end of each day. This includes all common items like vehicles, decoys, trail cameras, blinds, geo-caching items, photography equipment, portable stands, climbing sticks, and trash.
• Destructing, defacing, disturbing or unauthorized removal of any natural object or government property
• Introducing, liberating, or placing animals on refuge lands or waters
• Disposing of animal carcasses, trash, refuse, rocks, wood or other debris
• Cutting, mowing, sawing, digging, collecting, injuring or removing vegetation
• Launching, landing or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (drones) on the refuge. This includes for recreational or commercial purposes.
• Commercial enterprise without a special use permit

The refuge is only open to the following hunting seasons: 

Waterfowl hunting during the state youth waterfowl season 

Muzzleloader deer hunting during the state muzzleloader season 

• The refuge is closed to small game hunting.
• While hunting, dogs must be under the immediate control of the hunter
• Hunters must wear an article of blaze orange or pink consistent with state regulations
• We prohibit constructing or occupying permanent stands or blinds. We also prohibit the use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree or hunting from a tree, into which a metal object has been driven to support a hunter. Portable hunting stands must be set up and removed each day.
• We prohibit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting
• We prohibit distribution of feed or bait or hunting over bait. This includes salts and minerals. 

Trapping is not allowed on the refuge.

Fishing is not allowed on the refuge.

You may not use a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light to spot, locate or take any wild animal in a refuge.

• The refuge is open to waterfowl hunting only during the State Youth Waterfowl season
• The refuge is open to deer hunting during the State Muzzleloader Deer season

• The above information is a partial list of rules and regulations. Consult the Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge public use brochure for more details
• Special-use permits may be issued for compatible secondary uses upon approval of the refuge manager. Contact the refuge office for application information at 218-847-4431.
• Please contact refuge law enforcement with any questions at 218-844-3423.