Cusino State Wildlife Research Area: hunting and access
Cusino State Wildlife Research Area is 1,538 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Alger County, 7 miles from Munising, a state wildlife research area by the DNR's map. 1,538 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 521 deer in Alger 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 forestState parks and recreation areasNational park landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Cusino State Wildlife Research AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,538 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Alger County |
| Deer harvest unit | Alger County |
| Kind (DNR) | state wildlife research area |
| DNR region | Upper Peninsula |
| Open to general hunting | 1,538 acres (100%) |
| Nearest towns | Munising (7 mi), Chatham (21 mi) and Manistique (28 mi) |
What is Cusino State Wildlife Research Area like?
The DNR's map names 2 units within Cusino State Wildlife Research Area: North (M28) and South (M28).
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Cusino State Wildlife Research Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Cusino State Wildlife Research Area: 1,538 acres open to general hunting.
How many deer are taken around Cusino State Wildlife Research Area?
Cusino State Wildlife Research Area lies in Alger County. Hunters reported 521 deer in Alger County in 2025, against 546 in 2024.
| County | Cusino State Wildlife Research Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alger County | 1,538 | 521 | 546 | 482 |
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 Cusino State Wildlife Research Area?
Nearest towns: Munising (7 miles), Chatham (21 miles) and Manistique (28 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 94.
What other public land is near Cusino State Wildlife Research Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Melstrand Grouse Enhanced Management System: 1,226 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Wagner Falls Scenic Site: 38 acres, 7.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cusino State Wildlife Research Area
Counting Cusino State Wildlife Research Area itself, 26,371 of the 34,550 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (76.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 15,914 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 8,897 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 1,560 |
Another 3,751 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 Cusino State Wildlife Research Area?
In Alger County, 7 miles from Munising.
How much of Cusino State Wildlife Research Area is open to hunting?
1,538 acres are marked general hunting, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Cusino State Wildlife Research Area?
26,371 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cusino State Wildlife Research Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Melstrand Grouse Enhanced Management System (4.1 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.