Brighton Recreation Area: hunting and access
Brighton Recreation Area is 4,572 acres in Livingston County, 2 miles from Brighton, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 5,472 deer in Livingston 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 landBrighton Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,572 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Deer harvest unit | Livingston County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open-Restricted, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Rose Lake |
| Nearest towns | Brighton (2 mi), Pinckney (3 mi) and Whitmore Lake (5 mi) |
What are the rules on Brighton Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Brighton Recreation Area as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
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 Brighton Recreation Area?
Brighton Recreation Area lies in Livingston County. Hunters reported 5,472 deer in Livingston County in 2025, against 4,875 in 2024.
| County | Brighton Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston County | 4,572 | 5,472 | 4,875 | 4,525 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Brighton Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Brighton (2 miles), Pinckney (3 miles), Whitmore Lake (5 miles) and Howell (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-96, US 23 and M 36.
What other public land is near Brighton Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Island Lake Recreation Area: 4,114 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Gregory State Game Area: 2,708 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Pinckney Recreation Area: 11,698 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Hillcrest State Game Area: 256 acres, 5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Brighton Recreation Area
Counting Brighton Recreation Area itself, 10,870 of the 56,618 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 5,389 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2,906 |
| County, city and regional land | 2,387 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 130 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 58 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Brighton Recreation Area?
In Livingston County, 2 miles from Brighton.
Can you hunt in Brighton Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Brighton Recreation Area?
10,870 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Brighton Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Island Lake Recreation Area (2.3 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.