Minnesota DNR hosts open house at the Hubbel Pond WMA

The Minnesota DNR is celebrating 75 years of WMAs in Minnesota in 2026. Events like the Hubbel Pond WMA open house encourage people to visit Minnesota’s diverse WMAs to see all they have to offer. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ open house event Saturday, Aug. 29 at Hubbel Pond Wildlife Management Area in Becker County. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include:

A guided nature hike along the North County Trail

A wild rice harvesting demonstration at the historic dam site on the Otter Tail River

A tour of recent forest management activities and discussion on the historic role Hubble Pond played in transporting lumber to mills in Becker County

75th anniversary themed prizes

DNR staff will be available to answer questions and provide information about Hubbel Pond WMA. 

Hubbel Pond WMA has more than 3,500 acres of northern hardwood forests, prairies and wetlands. The main Hubbel Pond pool is a semi-permanent wetland totaling 600 acres that was used during the logging era in the late 1880s. Today the pool is managed for wild rice. Wild rice is a high protein food source for migrating waterfowl and other wildlife, and an important social and cultural component for Native American Tribes and rural Minnesota communities. Hubbel Pond WMA is heavily used by the public for hunting, birdwatching, hiking, trapping and foraging.

RSVPs are preferred but not required. To RSVP, reach Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife at detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us or leave a message at 218-846-8470.

Minnesota WMAs

Minnesota’s WMAs provide access to 1,521 public wildlife areas encompassing 1.39 million acres of field, forest and wetlands across Minnesota. Developed specifically for public use, these habitat-rich areas provide havens for wildlife and recreational opportunities for people.

On Sept. 17, 1951, the Save the Wetlands program began in Minnesota with an initial budget of $50,000. On Jan. 12, 1954, former Minnesota DNR Supervisor of Game, Richard Dorer, established the Save Minnesota’s Wetlands Fund, which allowed private donations to finance wetland purchases.

See more WMA history, learn about the diverse experiences and habitats on Minnesota’s WMAs, and use the WMA Finder tool at the Minnesota DNR WMA webpage (mndnr.gov/wmas).