Ludington State Park: hunting and access
Ludington State Park is 3,245 acres in Mason County, 3 miles from Ludington, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 4,294 deer in Mason 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)Ludington State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,245 acres in 9 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Mason County |
| Deer harvest unit | Mason County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, Day After Labor Day - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Cadillac |
| Nearest towns | Ludington (3 mi), Scottville (10 mi) and Custer (13 mi) |
What are the rules on Ludington State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Ludington 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 Ludington State Park?
Ludington State Park lies in Mason County. Hunters reported 4,294 deer in Mason County in 2025, against 4,321 in 2024.
| County | Ludington State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County | 3,200 | 4,294 | 4,321 | 4,126 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Ludington State Park?
Nearest towns: Ludington (3 miles), Scottville (10 miles), Custer (13 miles) and Oak Hill (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 116 and US 10.
What other public land is near Ludington State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Pere Marquette State Game Area: 399 acres, 4.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ludington State Park
Counting Ludington State Park itself, 8,399 of the 52,344 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 4,634 |
| National forest | 3,257 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 180 |
| County, city and regional land | 172 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 156 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ludington State Park?
In Mason County, 3 miles from Ludington.
Can you hunt in Ludington State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Ludington State Park?
8,399 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ludington State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Pere Marquette State Game Area (4.8 miles).
Get a Michigan hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Michigan are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.