Chippewa County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Chippewa County covers 1,635 square miles around Sault Ste. Marie. Hunters reported 983 deer here in the 2025 license year, 856 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is down 7% from 2024, and the fewest in the 4 years shown. 46.6% of Chippewa County is public land open to the public, the largest share national forest (243,486 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 forestNational wildlife refugesState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Hunting Access Program landChippewa CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 1,046,289 acres (1,635 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 983 (856 antlered, 127 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 652 deer |
| Public land | 46.6% (487,390 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 7 (52,182 acres inside Chippewa County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 25 sites, 4,505 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Sault Ste. Marie, De Tour Village, Brimley, Newberry, St. Ignace and Mackinac Island |
How many deer are harvested in Chippewa County?
Hunters reported 983 deer in Chippewa County in 2025: 856 antlered and 127 antlerless. By season: 652 in the regular firearm season, 276 by archers (early and late segments) and 39 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 983 | 856 | 127 | 652 | 247 | 29 | 39 |
| 2024 | 1,061 | 934 | 127 | 728 | 258 | 22 | 42 |
| 2023 | 1,000 | 825 | 175 | 665 | 250 | 22 | 45 |
| 2022 | 1,142 | 928 | 214 | 762 | 279 | 31 | 51 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Chippewa 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 Chippewa County?
487,390 of Chippewa County's 1,046,289 acres are public land open to the public (46.6%). The biggest share is national forest: 243,486 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Chippewa County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 243,486 | 23.3% |
| State forest and other DNR land | 183,883 | 17.6% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 32,762 | 3.1% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 13,557 | 1.3% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 11,943 | 1.1% |
| County, city and regional land | 891 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuges | 868 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 487,390 | 46.6% |
| Commercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law) | 52,172 | 5% |
52,172 acres of Chippewa County (5%) are Commercial Forest land: privately owned, but under state law (MCL 324.51113) the owner may not deny the public hunting and fishing unless the DNR or the legislature closes it.
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 Chippewa County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Chippewa County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Tahquamenon Falls State Park: 31,368 acres
- Munuscong State Wildlife Management Area: 13,900 acres
- Drummond Island Grouse Enhanced Management System: 3,026 acres
- Potagannissing Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 2,563 acres
- Lime Island Recreation Area: 902 acres
- Cranberry Lake Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 263 acres
- Drummond Island Pigeon Cove Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 160 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Hiawatha National Forest (243,498 acres), Newberry State Forest Area (68,992 acres), University of Michigan Property (1,971 acres) and Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge (729 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Chippewa County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 25 active Hunting Access Program properties in Chippewa County, 4,505 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 Chippewa County?
Highways through it: I-75 (about 55 miles inside), M 28 (about 44 miles inside), M 48 (about 43 miles inside), M 123 (about 32 miles inside) and M 129 (about 25 miles inside). Towns inside: Sault Ste. Marie, De Tour Village, Brimley and Kincheloe. Nearby: Newberry (13 miles), St. Ignace (19 miles) and Mackinac Island (19 miles).
Which counties border Chippewa County?
Chippewa County touches 2 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luce County | 260 | 2025 | 56.5% | |
| Mackinac County | 786 | 2025 | 54.1% | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Chippewa County in 2025?
Hunters reported 983 deer: 856 antlered and 127 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 1,061.
Is there public hunting land in Chippewa County?
Yes. 487,390 acres, 46.6% 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 national forest (243,486 acres). The DNR's maps show 7 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Chippewa County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 25 active properties, 4,505 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.