Holly Recreation Area: hunting and access
Holly Recreation Area is 8,091 acres in Oakland County, next to Holly, listed by the DNR as "Open" 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 game and wildlife areasState forest and other DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landHolly Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 8,091 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oakland County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oakland County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Metro Detroit |
| Nearest towns | Holly (next to it), Ortonville (next to it) and Goodrich (3 mi) |
What are the rules on Holly Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Holly Recreation Area as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
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 Holly Recreation Area?
Holly Recreation Area lies in Oakland County. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland County in 2025, against 2,973 in 2024.
| County | Holly Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 8,091 | 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 Holly Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Holly (next to it), Ortonville (next to it), Goodrich (3 miles) and Lake Fenton (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-75, M 15 and M 54.
What other public land is near Holly Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Holly Wildlife Unit of Holly State Recreation Area: 3,226 acres, next to it
- Ortonville Recreation Area: 4,783 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Seven Lakes State Park: 1,482 acres, 2 miles away
- Davisburg State Game Area: 110 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: 3,760 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area: 719 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Holly Recreation Area
Counting Holly Recreation Area itself, 6,567 of the 75,494 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Land trusts and other open land | 3,322 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,972 |
| County, city and regional land | 1,173 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 100 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Holly Recreation Area?
In Oakland County, next to Holly.
Can you hunt in Holly Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Holly Recreation Area?
6,567 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Holly Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Holly Wildlife Unit of Holly State Recreation Area (next to it).
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.