Maple River State Game Area: hunting and access
Maple River State Game Area is 9,966 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Clinton, Gratiot and Ionia counties, next to Maple Rapids, a state game area by the DNR's map. 8,938 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 6,947 deer in Clinton 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 areasState forest and other DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landMaple River State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 9,966 acres in 7 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Clinton County, Gratiot County and Ionia County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clinton County, Gratiot County, Ionia County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Southwest Lower Peninsula |
| Wildlife refuge (closed in season) | 289 acres (2.9%) |
| No hunting or safety zone | 15 acres (0.2%) |
| Managed waterfowl hunt area | 724 acres (7.3%) |
| Open to general hunting | 8,938 acres (89.7%) |
| Nearest towns | Maple Rapids (next to it), Hubbardston (next to it) and Pewamo (2 mi) |
What is Maple River State Game Area like?
The DNR's map names 4 units within Maple River State Game Area: East, Main/Central, SW-Ionia and road.
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Maple River State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Maple River State Game Area: 289 acres wildlife refuge (closed in season), 15 acres no hunting or safety zone, 724 acres managed waterfowl hunt area and 8,938 acres open to general hunting.
Managed waterfowl hunt areas are hunted under the DNR's managed-area rules (drawings and check stations for the waterfowl season); outside the waterfowl season they are open like the rest of the area unless posted.
Wildlife refuge pieces are closed to entry during the seasons the DNR posts for them.
No-hunting and safety-zone pieces are posted; Michigan's 450-foot safety zone around occupied buildings applies everywhere.
How many deer are taken around Maple River State Game Area?
Maple River State Game Area lies in 3 counties. Hunters reported 6,947 deer in Clinton County in 2025, against 6,613 in 2024.
| County | Maple River State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 4,895 | 6,947 | 6,613 | 5,935 |
| Gratiot County | 4,826 | 6,925 | 6,676 | 5,373 |
| Ionia County | 245 | 6,145 | 6,171 | 5,541 |
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 Maple River State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Maple Rapids (next to it), Hubbardston (next to it), Pewamo (2 miles) and Eureka (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 57, US 27 and M 21.
What other public land is near Maple River State Game Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Maple River/Gratiot-Saginaw Connector State Game Area: 310 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area: 16,742 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Portland State Game Area: 2,701 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Grand River State Game Area: 1,023 acres, 6.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Maple River State Game Area
Counting Maple River State Game Area itself, 10,391 of the 126,092 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 9,545 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 613 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 197 |
| County, city and regional land | 36 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Maple River State Game Area?
In Clinton, Gratiot and Ionia counties, next to Maple Rapids.
How much of Maple River State Game Area is open to hunting?
8,938 acres are marked general hunting, 724 acres are a managed waterfowl hunt area, 289 acres are wildlife refuge, and 15 acres are no-hunting or safety zones, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Maple River State Game Area?
10,391 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Maple River State Game Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Maple River/Gratiot-Saginaw Connector State Game Area (1.1 miles).
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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.