John A. Scharf Memorial Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
John A. Scharf Memorial Wildlife Management Area is 209 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Stevens County, near Chokio, inside Deer Permit Area 275. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for it. Hunters registered 997 deer in DPA 275 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 areasWalk-In AccessJohn A. Scharf Memorial WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 209 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Stevens County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 275 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Chokio |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Chokio (5 mi), Johnson (7 mi) and Alberta (8 mi) |
What is John A. Scharf Memorial WMA like?
This unit features a wetland complex with a large, open and basin and nearby emergent wetlands. The unit also has grassland, food plots, and winter woody cover. It is located in the Red River Prairie Landscape.
This is one of the few large, non-meandered wetlands remaining in Stevens County. On its south boundary, the unit abuts a federal Waterfowl Production Area also open to public hunting.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for John A. Scharf Memorial WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
John A. Scharf Memorial WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 275. The DNR registered 997 deer in DPA 275 in 2025, against 880 in 2024.
| DPA | John A. Scharf Memorial WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 275 | 209 | 997 | 880 | 775 |
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 John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
From Chokio, go 5 miles S on TWP RD.
Nearest towns: Chokio (5 miles), Johnson (7 miles), Alberta (8 miles) and Clinton (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 28. 2 Walk-In Access sites within 3 miles.
What other public land is near John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Dismal Swamp WMA: 142 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Eul WMA: 90 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Freed WMA: 40 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Orville Erickson WMA: 160 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Robertson WMA: 76 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Old Gravel Pit WMA: 81 acres, 5.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of John A. Scharf Memorial WMA
Counting John A. Scharf Memorial WMA itself, 700 of the 23,612 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 491 |
| State wildlife management areas | 209 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
In Stevens County, near Chokio. The DNR's directions: From Chokio, go 5 miles S on TWP RD.
Which deer permit area is John A. Scharf Memorial WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 275. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around John A. Scharf Memorial WMA?
700 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, John A. Scharf Memorial WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Dismal Swamp WMA (3.1 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, John A. Scharf Memorial 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.