Allegan State Game Area: hunting and access
Allegan State Game Area is 51,518 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Allegan County, next to Allegan, a state game area by the DNR's map. 40,582 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 6,450 deer in Allegan County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's state game area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR reported deer harvest, 2022 to 2025.
State game and wildlife areasState forest and other DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Allegan State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 51,518 acres in 31 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Allegan County |
| Deer harvest unit | Allegan County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Southwest Lower Peninsula |
| Wildlife refuge (closed in season) | 2,588 acres (5%) |
| No hunting or safety zone | 254 acres (0.5%) |
| Managed waterfowl hunt area | 3,594 acres (7%) |
| Open to general hunting | 40,582 acres (78.8%) |
| Nearest towns | Allegan (next to it), Plainwell (next to it) and Otsego (next to it) |
What is Allegan State Game Area like?
The DNR's map names 10 units within Allegan State Game Area: Swan Creek, Turkey tract, Fenn.Farm, Bravo, Webster Mars, New Rich.Area, Ottawa Marsh, Rossman Rd, Plainw.dam and Kal.Riv.Bot.
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Allegan State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Allegan State Game Area: 2,588 acres wildlife refuge (closed in season), 254 acres no hunting or safety zone, 3,594 acres managed waterfowl hunt area and 40,582 acres open to general hunting, and 4,500 acres not marked.
Managed waterfowl hunt areas are hunted under the DNR's managed-area rules (drawings and check stations for the waterfowl season); outside the waterfowl season they are open like the rest of the area unless posted.
Wildlife refuge pieces are closed to entry during the seasons the DNR posts for them.
No-hunting and safety-zone pieces are posted; Michigan's 450-foot safety zone around occupied buildings applies everywhere.
How many deer are taken around Allegan State Game Area?
Allegan State Game Area lies in Allegan County. Hunters reported 6,450 deer in Allegan County in 2025, against 6,170 in 2024.
| County | Allegan State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegan County | 51,518 | 6,450 | 6,170 | 5,790 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the game area alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Allegan State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Allegan (next to it), Plainwell (next to it), Otsego (next to it) and Fennville (next to it). Highways within 5 miles: M 89, US 31, I-196, M 40 and US 131.
What other public land is near Allegan State Game Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Barry State Game Area: 17,393 acres, 9.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Allegan State Game Area
Counting Allegan State Game Area itself, 52,940 of the 282,752 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 50,586 |
| County, city and regional land | 977 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 943 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 323 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 110 |
| National forest | 1 |
Another 181 acres within 3 miles 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.
Questions hunters ask
Where is Allegan State Game Area?
In Allegan County, next to Allegan.
How much of Allegan State Game Area is open to hunting?
40,582 acres are marked general hunting, 3,594 acres are a managed waterfowl hunt area, 2,588 acres are wildlife refuge, and 254 acres are no-hunting or safety zones, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Allegan State Game Area?
52,940 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Allegan State Game Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Barry State Game Area (9.4 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Michigan included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Michigan DNR wildlife property project areas.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's land ownership records (state forest).
- Deer harvest: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
FilledTag is not part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.