Part of Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Opener and 75th anniversary of Wildlife Management Areas
The public is invited to attend the dedication of new public hunting land in Rice County at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, as part of the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener.
The ceremony celebrates a 101-acre island added in 2025 to the Circle Lake Wildlife Management Area in rural Rice County between Northfield, Faribault and Lonsdale.
Onsite parking will not be available at the WMA. Instead, participants should park at Forest Township Hall, 3625 Millersburg Blvd., Faribault by 3:45 p.m. and board a bus to travel to the site. The event will end around 5:30 p.m., and attendees will then be bused back to their vehicles. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather.
“With the acquisition of the island on Circle Lake and associated habitat enhancements taking place on the main unit, the property will provide excellent hunting opportunities for a variety of wildlife game species, including pheasants, waterfowl, deer and turkeys,” said Joe Stangel, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources southern region wildlife manager. “The land will provide wildlife-related recreational opportunities and ecological benefits for future generations.”
The Circle Lake WMA consists of 262 acres in total, including the island and a mainland tract off the northwest arm of the lake. The Minnesota DNR acquired the mainland tract in 2017 and the island in 2025, both with the assistance of Trust for Public Land.
“Protecting this island and the shores of Circle Lake is an investment in the long-term health of this special place and in the people who enjoy it,” said Sophie Harris Vorhoff, Minnesota state director at Trust for Public Land. “For 75 years, Minnesota’s WMAs have provided places for people to hunt, fish, explore and experience the outdoors while protecting critical habitat. This project builds on that remarkable legacy and demonstrates what we can accomplish when partners come together to conserve Minnesota’s treasured landscapes.”
Shallow marshes and ponds are dominant features of the mainland tract. Upland cover consists of grassland, brushland with stands of young woodland, conifer plantings and a small area of hardwood forest. Maple basswood forest rings the large island as it rises up from the lake. The interior of the island is gently rolling land with brushland, grassland and small wetlands.
The island has a storied history. In the 1920s, a golf course was developed on it, and visitors would ferry over to play. After the golf course failed to survive the Great Depression era, the island was used for pasture and farmland for much of the mid-20th century before being left to return to a natural state.
The dedication ceremony will include comments from state leaders, local officials, conservationists, and representatives from The Trust for Public Land and Clean River Partners. After the dedication, the public is also invited to the Rooster Round-Up community celebration in Bridge Square in downtown Northfield from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Northfield is located in south central Minnesota, about 40 miles south of the Twin Cities. The community is known for its scenic river valley setting and offers access to high‑quality outdoor recreation, including nearby hunting opportunities. Northfield has a population of approximately 20,907 (2020 census) and spans both Rice and Dakota counties.
The Minnesota DNR and Explore Minnesota are assisting the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism in planning the event.
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 history, learn about the diverse experiences and habitats on Minnesota’s WMAs, and use the WMA Finder tool at the Minnesota DNR WMA webpage.