Pentwater River State Game Area: hunting and access
Pentwater River State Game Area is 2,601 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Oceana County, next to Pentwater, a state game area by the DNR's map. 2,601 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 4,589 deer in Oceana 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 landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Pentwater River State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,601 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oceana County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oceana County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Southwest Lower Peninsula |
| Open to general hunting | 2,601 acres (100%) |
| Nearest towns | Pentwater (next to it), Hart (3 mi) and Mears (3 mi) |
What is Pentwater River State Game Area like?
The DNR's map names one unit within Pentwater River State Game Area: main/NE.
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Pentwater River State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Pentwater River State Game Area: 2,601 acres open to general hunting.
How many deer are taken around Pentwater River State Game Area?
Pentwater River State Game Area lies in Oceana County. Hunters reported 4,589 deer in Oceana County in 2025, against 4,607 in 2024.
| County | Pentwater River State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceana County | 2,601 | 4,589 | 4,607 | 4,811 |
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 Pentwater River State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Pentwater (next to it), Hart (3 miles), Mears (3 miles) and Shelby (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 31.
What other public land is near Pentwater River State Game Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Silver Lake State Park: 2,964 acres, 2.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pentwater River State Game Area
Counting Pentwater River State Game Area itself, 3,576 of the 43,006 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 2,413 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 448 |
| County, city and regional land | 398 |
| National forest | 317 |
Another 169 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 Pentwater River State Game Area?
In Oceana County, next to Pentwater.
How much of Pentwater River State Game Area is open to hunting?
2,601 acres are marked general hunting, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Pentwater River State Game Area?
3,576 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pentwater 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 Silver Lake State Park (2.4 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.