Bay City State Park: hunting and access
Bay City State Park is 1,044 acres in Bay County, 6 miles from Bay City, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 2,573 deer in Bay 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 landBay City State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,044 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Bay County |
| Deer harvest unit | Bay County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Roscommon |
| Nearest towns | Bay City (6 mi), Essexville (6 mi) and Auburn (8 mi) |
What are the rules on Bay City State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Bay City State Park 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 Bay City State Park?
Bay City State Park lies in Bay County. Hunters reported 2,573 deer in Bay County in 2025, against 2,321 in 2024.
| County | Bay City State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay County | 1,044 | 2,573 | 2,321 | 1,844 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Bay City State Park?
Nearest towns: Bay City (6 miles), Essexville (6 miles), Auburn (8 miles) and Pinconning (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 23, I-75, M 13, M 25 and M 247.
What other public land is near Bay City State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Tobico Marsh Unit of Bay City State Park: 2,089 acres, next to it
- Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area: 4,310 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Fraser Township No. 2 State Game Area: 33 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Quanicassee State Wildlife Area: 5,209 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bay City State Park
Counting Bay City State Park itself, 2,957 of the 35,742 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 2,390 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 402 |
| County, city and regional land | 148 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 17 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bay City State Park?
In Bay County, 6 miles from Bay City.
Can you hunt in Bay City State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Bay City State Park?
2,957 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bay City State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Tobico Marsh Unit of Bay City State Park (next to it).
Get a Michigan hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Michigan are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.