Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area is 13,365 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Baraga County, 3 miles from Covington, a state wildlife management area by the DNR's map. 11,497 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 573 deer in Baraga 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 forest and other DNR landNational forestCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 13,365 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Baraga County |
| Deer harvest unit | Baraga County |
| Kind (DNR) | state wildlife management area |
| DNR region | Upper Peninsula |
| Wildlife refuge (closed in season) | 1,868 acres (14%) |
| Open to general hunting | 11,497 acres (86%) |
| Nearest towns | Covington (3 mi), L'Anse (6 mi) and Baraga (6 mi) |
What are the rules on Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area: 1,868 acres wildlife refuge (closed in season) and 11,497 acres open to general hunting.
Wildlife refuge pieces are closed to entry during the seasons the DNR posts for them.
How many deer are taken around Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area?
Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area lies in Baraga County. Hunters reported 573 deer in Baraga County in 2025, against 552 in 2024.
| County | Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraga County | 13,365 | 573 | 552 | 474 |
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 Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area?
Nearest towns: Covington (3 miles), L'Anse (6 miles), Baraga (6 miles) and Zeba (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 41, M 28 and US 141.
What other public land is near Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Net River Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 298 acres, 10 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area
Counting Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area itself, 42,877 of the 79,924 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (53.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 21,622 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 21,216 |
| County, city and regional land | 39 |
Another 18,821 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 Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area?
In Baraga County, 3 miles from Covington.
How much of Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area is open to hunting?
11,497 acres are marked general hunting, 1,868 acres are wildlife refuge, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area?
42,877 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Net River Flooding State Wildlife Management Area (10 miles).
Get a Michigan hunt plan when they open
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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.