Indian Lake State Park: hunting and access
Indian Lake State Park is 360 acres in Schoolcraft County, 4 miles from Manistique, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 790 deer in Schoolcraft 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 forest and other DNR landNational forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Indian Lake State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 360 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Schoolcraft County |
| Deer harvest unit | Schoolcraft County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, Day After Labor Day - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Western UP |
| Nearest towns | Manistique (4 mi), Garden (16 mi) and Rapid River (30 mi) |
What are the rules on Indian Lake State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Indian Lake State Park as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
Open for the early goose season (Day After Labor Day - 9/15), by the DNR's map.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
How many deer are taken around Indian Lake State Park?
Indian Lake State Park lies in Schoolcraft County. Hunters reported 790 deer in Schoolcraft County in 2025, against 769 in 2024.
| County | Indian Lake State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schoolcraft County | 360 | 790 | 769 | 710 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Indian Lake State Park?
Nearest towns: Manistique (4 miles), Garden (16 miles) and Rapid River (30 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 2, M 149 and M 94.
What other public land is near Indian Lake State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Palms Book State Park: 287 acres, 2 miles away
- Rainey Wildlife Area (SWMA): 115 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Garden Grade Grouse Enhanced Management System: 6,174 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Indian Lake State Park
Counting Indian Lake State Park itself, 11,540 of the 32,737 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (35.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 10,367 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 919 |
| National forest | 252 |
| County, city and regional land | 2 |
Another 1,230 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 Indian Lake State Park?
In Schoolcraft County, 4 miles from Manistique.
Can you hunt in Indian Lake State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Indian Lake State Park?
11,540 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Indian Lake State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Palms Book State Park (2 miles).
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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.