Betsie River State Game Area: hunting and access
Betsie River State Game Area is 742 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Benzie County, next to Elberta, a state game area by the DNR's map. 742 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 1,323 deer in Benzie 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 landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Betsie River State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 742 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Benzie County |
| Deer harvest unit | Benzie County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Northern Lower Peninsula |
| Open to general hunting | 742 acres (100%) |
| Nearest towns | Elberta (next to it), Frankfort (next to it) and Pilgrim (3 mi) |
What are the rules on Betsie River State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Betsie River State Game Area: 742 acres open to general hunting.
How many deer are taken around Betsie River State Game Area?
Betsie River State Game Area lies in Benzie County. Hunters reported 1,323 deer in Benzie County in 2025, against 1,410 in 2024.
| County | Betsie River State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benzie County | 742 | 1,323 | 1,410 | 1,244 |
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 Betsie River State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Elberta (next to it), Frankfort (next to it), Pilgrim (3 miles) and Benzonia (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 22, M 115 and US 31.
What other public land is near Betsie River State Game Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Betsie River State Game Area
Counting Betsie River State Game Area itself, 1,815 of the 29,635 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Land trusts and other open land | 968 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 742 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 76 |
| County, city and regional land | 29 |
Another 40 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 Betsie River State Game Area?
In Benzie County, next to Elberta.
How much of Betsie River State Game Area is open to hunting?
742 acres are marked general hunting, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Betsie River State Game Area?
1,815 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Betsie River State Game Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
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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.