Bass River Recreation Area: hunting and access
Bass River Recreation Area is 1,663 acres in Ottawa County, 2 miles from Allendale, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 3,610 deer in Ottawa 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 parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landBass River Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,663 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ottawa County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Plainwell |
| Nearest towns | Allendale (2 mi), Lamont (3 mi) and Coopersville (4 mi) |
What are the rules on Bass River Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Bass River Recreation Area as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
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 Bass River Recreation Area?
Bass River Recreation Area lies in Ottawa County. Hunters reported 3,610 deer in Ottawa County in 2025, against 3,263 in 2024.
| County | Bass River Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County | 1,663 | 3,610 | 3,263 | 3,443 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Bass River Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Allendale (2 miles), Lamont (3 miles), Coopersville (4 miles) and Nunica (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-96, M 45, M 231 and M 104.
What other public land is near Bass River Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Bakale Wildlife Unit of Bass River State Recreation Area: 653 acres, next to it
- Grand Haven State Game Area: 1,450 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Blendon Township State Game Area: 180 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Olive Township State Game Area: 247 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bass River Recreation Area
Counting Bass River Recreation Area itself, 1,476 of the 38,783 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County, city and regional land | 1,282 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 191 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bass River Recreation Area?
In Ottawa County, 2 miles from Allendale.
Can you hunt in Bass River Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Bass River Recreation Area?
1,476 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bass River Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Bakale Wildlife Unit of Bass River State Recreation Area (next to it).
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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.