Ionia Recreation Area: hunting and access
Ionia Recreation Area is 4,238 acres in Ionia County, next to Ionia, listed by the DNR as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 6,145 deer in Ionia 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 parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landIonia Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,238 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Ionia County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ionia County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open-Restricted |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Rose Lake |
| Nearest towns | Ionia (next to it), Saranac (2 mi) and Clarksville (7 mi) |
What are the rules on Ionia Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Ionia 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 Ionia Recreation Area?
Ionia Recreation Area lies in Ionia County. Hunters reported 6,145 deer in Ionia County in 2025, against 6,171 in 2024.
| County | Ionia Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ionia County | 4,238 | 6,145 | 6,171 | 5,541 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Ionia Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Ionia (next to it), Saranac (2 miles), Clarksville (7 miles) and Lyons (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-96, M 21 and M 66.
What other public land is near Ionia Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Grand River State Game Area: 1,023 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Saranac-Lowell State Game Area: 2,154 acres, 4.9 miles away
- Portland State Game Area: 2,701 acres, 8.7 miles away
- Flat River State Game Area: 11,822 acres, 9.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ionia Recreation Area
Counting Ionia Recreation Area itself, 5,017 of the 46,147 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 4,453 |
| County, city and regional land | 421 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 143 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ionia Recreation Area?
In Ionia County, next to Ionia.
Can you hunt in Ionia 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 Ionia Recreation Area?
5,017 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ionia Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Grand River State Game Area (3.1 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.