Orville Erickson Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Orville Erickson Wildlife Management Area is 160 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Stevens County, near Alberta, 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 AccessOrville Erickson WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 160 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Stevens County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 275 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Alberta |
| DNR area office | Fergus Falls |
| Nearest towns | Chokio (10 mi), Alberta (11 mi) and Johnson (12 mi) |
What is Orville Erickson WMA like?
The Orville Erickson WMA is covered with grassland and wetland habitat. The wetlands support dense stands of cattails with very little open water. The northern portion of the WMA provides grassland nesting cover and cattail cover. The southern tract provides more extensive winter cover with a small tree planting as well as a large, dense cattail marsh.
The Orville Erickson WMA provides grassland nesting cover and good wintering cover. This WMA is managed with periodic Prescribed burning.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Orville Erickson WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game for Orville Erickson WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Orville Erickson WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Orville Erickson WMA?
Orville Erickson WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 275. The DNR registered 997 deer in DPA 275 in 2025, against 880 in 2024.
| DPA | Orville Erickson WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 275 | 160 | 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 Orville Erickson WMA?
From Alberta, go 10 miles S on CSAH 9 then 4 miles W on CSAH 4.
Nearest towns: Chokio (10 miles), Alberta (11 miles), Johnson (12 miles) and Correll (13 miles).
What other public land is near Orville Erickson WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Robertson WMA: 76 acres, next to it
- Old Gravel Pit WMA: 81 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Eul WMA: 90 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Dablow WMA: 42 acres, 4.1 miles away
- John A. Scharf Memorial WMA: 209 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Reimers WMA: 26 acres, 4.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Orville Erickson WMA
Counting Orville Erickson WMA itself, 1,382 of the 23,576 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,065 |
| State wildlife management areas | 317 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Orville Erickson WMA?
In Stevens County, near Alberta. The DNR's directions: From Alberta, go 10 miles S on CSAH 9 then 4 miles W on CSAH 4.
Which deer permit area is Orville Erickson WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 275. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Orville Erickson WMA?
1,382 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Orville Erickson WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Robertson WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Orville Erickson 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.