Bald Mountain Recreation Area: hunting and access
Bald Mountain Recreation Area is 4,520 acres in Oakland County, next to Lake Orion, listed by the DNR as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's state parks hunting 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 landBald Mountain Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,520 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oakland County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oakland County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open-Restricted |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Metro Detroit |
| Nearest towns | Lake Orion (next to it), Oxford (2 mi) and Lake Angelus (4 mi) |
What are the rules on Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Bald Mountain Recreation Area as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping, with restrictions.
Restrictions the DNR lists: Local Controls: No firearms on the waters of Tommys lake, or on the land within 450 feet of the water's edge.
Open for the early goose season (9/1 - 9/15), by the DNR's map.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown). No trapping within 50' of mowed portions of developed areas.
How many deer are taken around Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
Bald Mountain Recreation Area lies in Oakland County. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland County in 2025, against 2,973 in 2024.
| County | Bald Mountain Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 4,520 | 3,783 | 2,973 | 3,222 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Lake Orion (next to it), Oxford (2 miles), Lake Angelus (4 miles) and Auburn Hills (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 24 and I-75.
What other public land is near Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Horseshoe Lake State Game Area: 420 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: 3,760 acres, 8.3 miles away
- Ortonville Recreation Area: 4,783 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bald Mountain Recreation Area
Counting Bald Mountain Recreation Area itself, 5,529 of the 57,738 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County, city and regional land | 2,820 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2,675 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 33 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
In Oakland County, next to Lake Orion.
Can you hunt in Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Restrictions: Local Controls: No firearms on the waters of Tommys lake, or on the land within 450 feet of the water's edge.
How much public land is around Bald Mountain Recreation Area?
5,529 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bald Mountain Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Horseshoe Lake State Game Area (4.8 miles).
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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.