Waubay Wetland Management District (WMD) is located in the "Coteau des Prairie," or prairie hills region of South Dakota. It includes more than 300 waterfowl production areas (WPA) in six counties of northeastern South Dakota. The WPAs range from 40 acres to more than 1,600 acres in size, comprising a total of 40,000 acres. WPAs provide vital wildlife habitat in a landscape of cropland and pasture. Access to all WPAs is limited to foot traffic only. Grass parking lots are available at many of the larger WPAs to provide off-road parking. There are no facilities or designated hiking trails. WPAs tend to be used very heavily during hunting seasons, but they also provide wonderful opportunities to explore the natural areas of South Dakota at other times of the year.

WPAs are found at various locations throughout the six counties that make up Waubay WMD: Clark, Codington, Day, Grant, Marshall, and Roberts. They are posted with green and white signs. Sportsmen's Atlases, which show the location of each WPA and other Federal and State public lands in great detail, can be purchased from the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.