Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt Wildlife Management Area is 702 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Morrison County, near Swanville, inside Deer Permit Area 215. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 5,267 deer in DPA 215 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 landClare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 702 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Morrison County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 215 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Swanville |
| DNR area office | Little Falls |
| Special restrictions | Yes, see the rules below |
| Nearest towns | Swanville (2 mi), Burtrum (3 mi) and Upsala (4 mi) |
What is Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA like?
This WMA consists of two separate subunits. This subunit, named the South Tract, is oak - aspen woods with lowland spawns and wet grassy areas. This WMA consists of two separate subunits. This subunit, named the Carl Schmidt Large Marsh, is a large wetland with cattails and lowland grass.
Management of this subunit focuses on maintaining and improving the habitat for a diversity of native plants and wildlife.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA: Closed to waterfowl hunting.
Special restriction the DNR lists for Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the WMA except on designated routes and parking lots. OHVs, ATVs and snowmobiles are prohibited anywhere on the WMA. Closed to waterfowl hunting.
How many deer are taken around Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 215. The DNR registered 5,267 deer in DPA 215 in 2025, against 4,913 in 2024.
| DPA | Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 215 | 702 | 5,267 | 4,913 | 4,318 |
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 Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
1 mile south and east of Swanville on County Road 15. From Swanville, go 1 mile south and east on county road 15.
There is no parking lot on this WMA. Limited access with no parking areas provided.
Nearest towns: Swanville (2 miles), Burtrum (3 miles), Upsala (4 miles) and Flensburg (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 28, MN 238 and MN 27.
What other public land is near Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Sponsa WMA: 218 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Oak Ridge WMA: 450 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Ireland WMA: 79 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Buckhorn Lake WMA: 157 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Culdrum WMA: 31 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Ostendorff WMA: 54 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA
Counting Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA itself, 972 of the 30,430 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 972 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
In Morrison County, near Swanville. The DNR's directions: 1 mile south and east of Swanville on County Road 15. From Swanville, go 1 mile south and east on county road 15.
Which deer permit area is Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 215. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA?
972 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Sponsa WMA (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Clare Johnson - Carl W. Schmidt 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.