Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area: hunting and access
Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area is 43,450 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Charlevoix and Leelanau counties, next to St. James, a state wildlife research area by the DNR's map. 740 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 1,380 deer in Charlevoix 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 landNational wildlife refugesState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landBeaver Islands State Wildlife Research AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 43,450 acres in 38 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Charlevoix County and Leelanau County |
| Deer harvest unit | Charlevoix County, Leelanau County |
| Kind (DNR) | state wildlife research area |
| DNR region | Northern Lower Peninsula |
| Managed waterfowl hunt area | 42,250 acres (97.2%) |
| Open to general hunting | 740 acres (1.7%) |
| Nearest towns | St. James (next to it), Cross Village (17 mi) and Naubinway (18 mi) |
What is Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area like?
The DNR's map names 9 units within Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area: Hog Is, Garden Is, Tims Is, Horseshoe Is, High Is, Beaver Is, S.Fox Is, N.Fox Is and Whiskey Is.
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area: 42,250 acres managed waterfowl hunt area and 740 acres open to general hunting, and 461 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.
How many deer are taken around Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area?
Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 1,380 deer in Charlevoix County in 2025, against 1,661 in 2024.
| County | Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlevoix County | 22,926 | 1,380 | 1,661 | 1,487 |
| Leelanau County | 2,107 | 1,698 | 1,611 | 1,252 |
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 Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area?
Nearest towns: St. James (next to it), Cross Village (17 miles), Naubinway (18 miles) and Northport (20 miles).
What other public land is near Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area
Counting Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area itself, 25,640 of the 327,897 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 22,916 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,212 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 428 |
| County, city and regional land | 65 |
| National wildlife refuges | 19 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area?
In Charlevoix and Leelanau counties, next to St. James.
How much of Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area is open to hunting?
740 acres are marked general hunting, 42,250 acres are a managed waterfowl hunt area, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area?
25,640 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
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.