Murphy Lake State Game Area: hunting and access
Murphy Lake State Game Area is 2,717 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Tuscola County, next to Otter Lake, a state game area by the DNR's map. 2,717 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 7,100 deer in Tuscola 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 areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Murphy Lake State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,717 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Tuscola County |
| Deer harvest unit | Tuscola County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Southeast Lower Peninsula |
| Open to general hunting | 2,717 acres (100%) |
| Nearest towns | Otter Lake (next to it), Millington (3 mi) and Fostoria (4 mi) |
What is Murphy Lake State Game Area like?
The DNR's map names 2 units within Murphy Lake State Game Area: South and North.
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Murphy Lake State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Murphy Lake State Game Area: 2,717 acres open to general hunting.
How many deer are taken around Murphy Lake State Game Area?
Murphy Lake State Game Area lies in Tuscola County. Hunters reported 7,100 deer in Tuscola County in 2025, against 7,136 in 2024.
| County | Murphy Lake State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscola County | 2,716 | 7,100 | 7,136 | 6,208 |
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 Murphy Lake State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Otter Lake (next to it), Millington (3 miles), Fostoria (4 miles) and Otisville (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 15, M 57 and M 24.
What other public land is near Murphy Lake State Game Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Lapeer State Game Area: 8,603 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Vassar State Game Area: 3,435 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Tuscola State Game Area: 9,097 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Murphy Lake State Game Area
Counting Murphy Lake State Game Area itself, 4,015 of the 49,093 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 | 2,697 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,134 |
| County, city and regional land | 184 |
Another 80 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 Murphy Lake State Game Area?
In Tuscola County, next to Otter Lake.
How much of Murphy Lake State Game Area is open to hunting?
2,717 acres are marked general hunting, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Murphy Lake State Game Area?
4,015 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Murphy Lake 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 Lapeer State Game Area (4.4 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.