Lake Hudson Recreation Area: hunting and access
Lake Hudson Recreation Area is 2,714 acres in Lenawee County, 2 miles from Clayton, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 5,768 deer in Lenawee 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.
National wildlife refugesState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landLake Hudson Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,714 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Lenawee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lenawee County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, Day After Labor Day - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Rose Lake |
| Nearest towns | Clayton (2 mi), Hudson (3 mi) and Morenci (6 mi) |
What are the rules on Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Lake Hudson Recreation Area 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). No trapping within 50' of mowed portions of developed areas.
How many deer are taken around Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
Lake Hudson Recreation Area lies in Lenawee County. Hunters reported 5,768 deer in Lenawee County in 2025, against 4,717 in 2024.
| County | Lake Hudson Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenawee County | 2,714 | 5,768 | 4,717 | 4,204 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Clayton (2 miles), Hudson (3 miles), Morenci (6 miles) and Manitou Beach-Devils Lake (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 34, US 127 and M 156.
What other public land is near Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Schoonover Waterfowl Production Area: 95 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Seneca State Game Area: 452 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Lost Nation State Game Area: 2,502 acres, 8.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Hudson Recreation Area
Counting Lake Hudson Recreation Area itself, 2,953 of the 39,845 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 2,760 |
| National wildlife refuges | 96 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 93 |
| County, city and regional land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
In Lenawee County, 2 miles from Clayton.
Can you hunt in Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Lake Hudson Recreation Area?
2,953 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Hudson Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Schoonover Waterfowl Production Area (1.2 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.