Highland Recreation Area: hunting and access
Highland Recreation Area is 4,460 acres in Oakland County, next to Milford, listed by the DNR as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland 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 parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landHighland Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,460 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oakland County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oakland County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open-Restricted |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Metro Detroit |
| Nearest towns | Milford (next to it), Wolverine Lake (5 mi) and Wixom (6 mi) |
What are the rules on Highland Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Highland Recreation Area as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping, with restrictions.
Restrictions the DNR lists: Quail may be harvested only by field trial participants in the field trial area on days with authorized field trials.
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 Highland Recreation Area?
Highland Recreation Area lies in Oakland County. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland County in 2025, against 2,973 in 2024.
| County | Highland Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 4,460 | 3,783 | 2,973 | 3,222 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Highland Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Milford (next to it), Wolverine Lake (5 miles), Wixom (6 miles) and Walled Lake (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 59.
What other public land is near Highland Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Proud Lake Recreation Area: 2,435 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: 3,760 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Island Lake Recreation Area: 4,114 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Davisburg State Game Area: 110 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Holly Recreation Area: 8,091 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Highland Recreation Area
Counting Highland Recreation Area itself, 9,879 of the 49,535 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (19.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 7,167 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,493 |
| County, city and regional land | 1,219 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Highland Recreation Area?
In Oakland County, next to Milford.
Can you hunt in Highland Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Restrictions: Quail may be harvested only by field trial participants in the field trial area on days with authorized field trials.
How much public land is around Highland Recreation Area?
9,879 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Highland Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Proud Lake Recreation Area (1.7 miles).
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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.