Hampton Woods WMA

197.45 acres

There is a parking lot with designated spots for eight vehicles. Do not park along the entryway drive or on the road.

N44 37.664, W93 1.953

There are a few old forest roads in the site. A six-foot corridor has been cleared of trees and shrubs just inside the entire boundary of the WMA.

Deer, Small Game, Forest Upland Birds, Turkey, Doves

New for 2019...Only shotguns with fine shot (BBB or smaller diameter) may be used. There is a 500 ft. "No Hunting or Trapping" zone along the northern boundary and an additional 200 ft. zone along the southern boundary of this WMA. All weapons must be unloaded and cased within these zones. This WMA is open for archery deer hunting and spring/fall turkey hunting. Small game may be taken through November 30th, 2019. All trappers and predator hunters must, regardless of furbearers taken, obtain a permit from the area manager.

See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.

Minnesota DNR

Overview
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Dakota County is one of Minnesota’s newest WMAs. Designated on July 14, 2017, it came about through the collaborative efforts of the Minnesota DNR, Dakota County, Friends of the Mississippi River, and local landowners. It provides protection for the largest contiguous oak forest and one of the largest remaining wooded areas in Dakota County. Surrounded by mostly farm land, it is the only forest for miles and provides critical habitat for migrating birds. The Minnesota Biological Survey gives most of this WMA an Outstanding Biodiversity Significance rank.

There is some new plant growth to be seen this weekend (April 18-19, 2020), including numerous individual wild leeks, small clumps of fragrant bedstraw, small tufts of woodland sedges, large patches of cut-leaved toothwort, and a few lonely bloodroot. The cut-leaved toothwort and bloodroot had unopened buds on Friday, but those buds may produce the first spring flowers on Saturday or Sunday. Seventeen bird species were spotted on Friday, including migrating Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

History
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area was designated on 7/14/2017. An additional 7.02-acre parcel was added in 2018.

Ranking
The Minnesota Biological Survey gives most of this WMA an Outstanding Biodiversity Significance rank.

Entrance

WMA Sign

Parking

Information Sign

Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Basswood - (Bitternut Hickory) Forest

Forest Roads

Cleared Corridor around Boundary

One bird species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:

Two plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey vegetation releves Plant List