Choice Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Choice Wildlife Management Area is 1,665 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Fillmore County, near Choice, inside Deer Permit Areas 649 and 648. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,806 deer in DPA 649 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 areasState forest and other DNR landChoice WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,665 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Fillmore County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 649, DPA 648 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Choice |
| DNR area office | Rochester |
| Nearest towns | Whalan (8 mi), Peterson (8 mi) and Mabel (8 mi) |
What is Choice WMA like?
This WMA is bluff top with planted native grasses on ridge tops and oak and central hardwoods on side slopes. Most of the bottom cropland has been converted to hardwood forest. A large bluff prairie has been cleared for maintaining this unique habitat. Opened up access to over 3 miles of trout fishing access to the south fork of root river.
This unit is managed primarily for deer, turkey and pheasants, with some small game hunting as well. Management activities include use of prescribed fire on native grasses, direct seeding of hardwoods and timber sales. Primary species on this unit deer, turkey, small game and pheasants. Recreation is dominated by hunters, trappers and general wildlife observations.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Choice WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Choice WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Choice WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Choice WMA?
Choice WMA lies in 2 deer permit areas. The DNR registered 3,806 deer in DPA 649 in 2025, against 3,455 in 2024.
| DPA | Choice WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 649 | 1,629 | 3,806 | 3,455 | 3,383 |
| DPA 648 | 36 | 1,763 | 1,789 | 1,669 |
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 Choice WMA?
From Choice take County Road 13 east 1 mile, turn south on township road for 1/4 mile to parking lot (west access point) or continue on County road 13 for additional 1 1/2 miles to north end of WMA (both sides of road).
Access from County Road 13 that divides the WMA. Parking lots exist throughout the WMA.
Nearest towns: Whalan (8 miles), Peterson (8 miles), Mabel (8 miles) and Spring Grove (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 43.
What other public land is near Choice WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Yucatan WMA: 967 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Dr. Johan C. Hvoslef WMA: 295 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Chisholm Valley WMA: 80 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Ferndale Ridge WMA: 658 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Choice WMA
Counting Choice WMA itself, 3,692 of the 39,472 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 2,733 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 959 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Choice WMA?
In Fillmore County, near Choice. The DNR's directions: From Choice take County Road 13 east 1 mile, turn south on township road for 1/4 mile to parking lot (west access point) or continue on County road 13 for additional 1 1/2 miles to north end of WMA (both sides of road).
Which deer permit area is Choice WMA in?
DPA 649 (1,629 acres) and DPA 648 (36 acres). Each part follows its own permit area's bag limit.
How much public land is around Choice WMA?
3,692 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Choice WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 4 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Yucatan WMA (1.2 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Choice 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.