Arenac County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Arenac County covers 368 square miles around Au Gres. Hunters reported 3,671 deer here in the 2025 license year, 2,027 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 9% from 2024, and the most in the 4 years shown. 14.7% of Arenac County is public land open to the public, the largest share state forest and other DNR land (26,853 acres), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: the DNR's reported deer totals, 2022 to 2025. Land: PAD-US 4.1, the DNR's land ownership records and its wildlife, parks, Commercial Forest and HAP layers.
State game and wildlife areasState forest and other DNR landNational wildlife refugesCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landHunting Access Program landArenac CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 235,236 acres (368 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 3,671 (2,027 antlered, 1,644 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 1,559 deer |
| Public land | 14.7% (34,676 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 2 (4,755 acres inside Arenac County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 5 sites, 319 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Au Gres, Standish, Omer, Prescott, Pinconning and Whittemore |
How many deer are harvested in Arenac County?
Hunters reported 3,671 deer in Arenac County in 2025: 2,027 antlered and 1,644 antlerless. By season: 1,559 in the regular firearm season, 1,065 by archers (early and late segments) and 345 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,671 | 2,027 | 1,644 | 1,559 | 1,004 | 61 | 345 |
| 2024 | 3,368 | 1,909 | 1,459 | 1,538 | 871 | 37 | 237 |
| 2023 | 2,940 | 1,757 | 1,183 | 1,505 | 928 | 40 | 112 |
| 2022 | 3,193 | 1,941 | 1,252 | 1,653 | 1,011 | 44 | 109 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Arenac County. These are deer hunters reported; seasons not shown (youth, Liberty, antlerless and others) are in the total. The DNR's survey estimates, which count deer that were not reported, are higher.
How much public land is in Arenac County?
34,676 of Arenac County's 235,236 acres are public land open to the public (14.7%). The biggest share is state forest and other DNR land: 26,853 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Arenac County |
|---|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 26,853 | 11.4% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 3,362 | 1.4% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 3,190 | 1.4% |
| County, city and regional land | 1,033 | 0.4% |
| National wildlife refuges | 238 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 34,676 | 14.7% |
Measured by FilledTag inside the county line from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's land ownership records (state forest). Hunting rules differ by manager: state game areas and state forest land are open to hunting in season unless posted; national forests are open; refuges follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules; state parks and recreation areas are open, open with restrictions or closed by the DNR's map; national park land is closed to most hunting; city and county land sets its own rules.
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Arenac County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Arenac County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area: 3,791 acres
- Lame Duck Grouse Enhanced Management System: 964 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (238 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Arenac County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 5 active Hunting Access Program properties in Arenac County, 319 acres of private land leased for public hunting. Each property's listing says which hunting it allows and how to check in. DNR Hunting Access Program.
How do you get to Arenac County?
Highways through it: US 23 (about 39 miles inside), I-75 (about 39 miles inside), M 65 (about 8 miles inside), M 61 (about 4 miles inside) and M 13 (about 3 miles inside). Towns inside: Au Gres, Standish, Omer, Turner, Sterling and Twining. Nearby: Prescott (2 miles), Pinconning (4 miles), Whittemore (5 miles) and Tawas City (7 miles).
Which counties border Arenac County?
Arenac County touches 4 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay County | 2,573 | 2025 | 4.2% | 2 |
| Iosco County | 2,895 | 2025 | 41% | 3 |
| Ogemaw County | 4,009 | 2025 | 28.7% | |
| Gladwin County | 4,585 | 2025 | 27.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Arenac County in 2025?
Hunters reported 3,671 deer: 2,027 antlered and 1,644 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 3,368.
Is there public hunting land in Arenac County?
Yes. 34,676 acres, 14.7% of the county, are public land open to the public by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records, the largest share state forest and other DNR land (26,853 acres). The DNR's maps show 2 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Arenac County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 5 active properties, 319 acres, on the DNR's 2026 layer.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's land ownership records (state forest). state game areas: Michigan DNR wildlife property project areas. Hunting Access Program land: Michigan DNR Hunting Access Program properties.
- Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 cartographic county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Numbers are copied from the DNR and the federal sources above, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Michigan hunting Bay County Iosco County Ogemaw County Gladwin County