Island Lake Recreation Area: hunting and access
Island Lake Recreation Area is 4,114 acres in Livingston and Oakland counties, 2 miles from Brighton, listed by the DNR as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 5,472 deer in Livingston 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landIsland Lake Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,114 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Livingston County and Oakland County |
| Deer harvest unit | Livingston County, Oakland County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open-Restricted |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Closed |
| DNR parks district | Rose Lake |
| Nearest towns | Brighton (2 mi), South Lyon (3 mi) and Whitmore Lake (4 mi) |
What are the rules on Island Lake Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Island Lake Recreation Area as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping, with restrictions.
Restrictions the DNR lists: Local Controls: No Firearms.
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 Island Lake Recreation Area?
Island Lake Recreation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 5,472 deer in Livingston County in 2025, against 4,875 in 2024.
| County | Island Lake Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston County | 3,932 | 5,472 | 4,875 | 4,525 |
| Oakland County | 182 | 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 Island Lake Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Brighton (2 miles), South Lyon (3 miles), Whitmore Lake (4 miles) and Milford (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-96, US 23 and M 36.
What other public land is near Island Lake Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Brighton Recreation Area: 4,572 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Proud Lake Recreation Area: 2,435 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Highland Recreation Area: 4,460 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Pinckney Recreation Area: 11,698 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Island Lake Recreation Area
Counting Island Lake Recreation Area itself, 10,675 of the 47,551 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County, city and regional land | 5,477 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 4,450 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 707 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 41 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Island Lake Recreation Area?
In Livingston and Oakland counties, 2 miles from Brighton.
Can you hunt in Island Lake Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Restrictions: Local Controls: No Firearms.
How much public land is around Island Lake Recreation Area?
10,675 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Island Lake Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Brighton Recreation Area (2.3 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.