Berskow Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Berskow Wildlife Management Area is 166 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Grant County, near Erdahl, inside Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for it. Hunters registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's wildlife management area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Harvest Reports, 2021 to 2025.
State wildlife management areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasBerskow WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 166 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Grant County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 273 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Erdahl |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Elbow Lake (5 mi), Barrett (5 mi) and Ashby (7 mi) |
What is Berskow WMA like?
The Berskow WMA has extensive open water and cattail filled wetlands. Grasslands are a combination of restored natives and brome dominated non native grasses. There is an small woody cover planting that provides limited winter cover. This WMA will be managed primarily through prescribed burning.
This WMA provides waterfowl hunting with the best access from the south end of WMA. The combination of cattails and woody cover make this a good late season pheasant hunting WMA.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Berskow WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese, mourning doves and small game for Berskow WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Berskow WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Berskow WMA?
Berskow WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 273. The DNR registered 1,013 deer in DPA 273 in 2025, against 978 in 2024.
| DPA | Berskow WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 273 | 166 | 1,013 | 978 | 968 |
Harvest for the whole deer permit area, not the WMA alone: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
How do you get to Berskow WMA?
From Erdahl, go 2 miles W on SH 79.
Nearest towns: Elbow Lake (5 miles), Barrett (5 miles), Ashby (7 miles) and Evansville (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94, US 52, MN 79, MN 55 and US 59.
What other public land is near Berskow WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Strom-Bordson WMA: 35 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Pomme De Terre WMA: 35 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Jenson WMA: 112 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Anderson WMA: 41 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Alvstad WMA: 118 acres, 6 miles away
- Satterlie WMA: 25 acres, 6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Berskow WMA
Counting Berskow WMA itself, 2,363 of the 22,141 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,014 |
| State wildlife management areas | 349 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Berskow WMA?
In Grant County, near Erdahl. The DNR's directions: From Erdahl, go 2 miles W on SH 79.
Which deer permit area is Berskow WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 273. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Berskow WMA?
2,363 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Berskow WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Strom-Bordson WMA (0.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Berskow WMA; Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, publicly accessible.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.