Little Jo Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Little Jo Wildlife Management Area is 301 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Pope County, near Brooten, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther federal landState parksLittle Jo WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 301 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Pope County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Brooten |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Sunburg (5 mi), Brooten (6 mi) and Belgrade (9 mi) |
What is Little Jo WMA like?
A mixture of oak woods, wetlands, and prairie that includes Little Lake Johanna. Old growth oaks provide roost areas for wild turkeys and nest sites for wood ducks. Managed primarily for deer and turkeys.
The edges between these diverse cover types are attractive wildlife habitat. Invasive sumac is mowed to preserve native prairie. This is a good area for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Look for woodland songbirds such as cardinals, orioles, vireos, and warblers.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Little Jo WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Little Jo WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Little Jo WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Little Jo WMA?
Little Jo WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Little Jo WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 301 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
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 Little Jo WMA?
From Brooten, go 3 miles W on CSAH 8 then 5 miles S on CSAH 37 then 1/2 mile W on TWP RD. From Brooten, go 3 miles W on CSAH 8 then 4.3 miles S on CSAH 37. WMA parking lot is on the west side of CSAH 37.
Nearest towns: Sunburg (5 miles), Brooten (6 miles), Belgrade (9 miles) and Sedan (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 9 and MN 104.
What other public land is near Little Jo WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Oleander WMA: 403 acres, 2 miles away
- Tamarac WMA: 615 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Skarpness WMA: 57 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Bangor WMA: 80 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Simon Lake WMA: 412 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Cabinrock WMA: 259 acres, 5.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little Jo WMA
Counting Little Jo WMA itself, 3,060 of the 27,195 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,344 |
| State wildlife management areas | 711 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little Jo WMA?
In Pope County, near Brooten. The DNR's directions: From Brooten, go 3 miles W on CSAH 8 then 5 miles S on CSAH 37 then 1/2 mile W on TWP RD. From Brooten, go 3 miles W on CSAH 8 then 4.3 miles S on CSAH 37. WMA parking lot is on the west side of CSAH 37.
Which deer permit area is Little Jo WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Little Jo WMA?
3,060 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little Jo WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Oleander WMA (2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Little Jo 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).
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