Manistee River State Game Area: hunting and access
Manistee River State Game Area is 4,381 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Manistee County, next to Parkdale, a state game area by the DNR's map. 4,381 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 2,439 deer in Manistee County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's state game area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR reported deer harvest, 2022 to 2025.
State game and wildlife areasNational forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Manistee River State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,381 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Manistee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Manistee County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Northern Lower Peninsula |
| Open to general hunting | 4,381 acres (100%) |
| Nearest towns | Parkdale (next to it), Eastlake (next to it) and Manistee (next to it) |
What are the rules on Manistee River State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Manistee River State Game Area: 4,381 acres open to general hunting.
How many deer are taken around Manistee River State Game Area?
Manistee River State Game Area lies in Manistee County. Hunters reported 2,439 deer in Manistee County in 2025, against 2,780 in 2024.
| County | Manistee River State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manistee County | 4,381 | 2,439 | 2,780 | 2,751 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the game area alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Manistee River State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Parkdale (next to it), Eastlake (next to it), Manistee (next to it) and Oak Hill (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 31, M 55, M 22 and M 110.
What other public land is near Manistee River State Game Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Manistee River State Game Area
Counting Manistee River State Game Area itself, 13,614 of the 56,043 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (24.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National forest | 9,230 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 3,918 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 202 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 159 |
| County, city and regional land | 105 |
Another 40 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 Manistee River State Game Area?
In Manistee County, next to Parkdale.
How much of Manistee River State Game Area is open to hunting?
4,381 acres are marked general hunting, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Manistee River State Game Area?
13,614 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Manistee River State Game Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
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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.