Petobego State Game Area: hunting and access
Petobego State Game Area is 787 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Grand Traverse and Antrim counties, 3 miles from Elk Rapids, a state game area by the DNR's map. 787 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 1,837 deer in Grand Traverse 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 landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Petobego State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 787 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Grand Traverse County and Antrim County |
| Deer harvest unit | Grand Traverse County, Antrim County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Northern Lower Peninsula |
| Open to general hunting | 787 acres (100%) |
| Nearest towns | Elk Rapids (3 mi), Rapid City (6 mi) and Alden (8 mi) |
What are the rules on Petobego State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Petobego State Game Area: 787 acres open to general hunting.
How many deer are taken around Petobego State Game Area?
Petobego State Game Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 1,837 deer in Grand Traverse County in 2025, against 2,184 in 2024.
| County | Petobego State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse County | 627 | 1,837 | 2,184 | 1,928 |
| Antrim County | 61 | 2,153 | 2,588 | 2,004 |
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 Petobego State Game Area?
Nearest towns: Elk Rapids (3 miles), Rapid City (6 miles), Alden (8 miles) and Traverse City (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 31, M 72 and M 37.
What other public land is near Petobego State Game Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Skegemog Lake State Wildlife Management Area: 3,617 acres, 4.6 miles away
- Old Mission Peninsula State Park: 668 acres, 7.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Petobego State Game Area
Counting Petobego State Game Area itself, 761 of the 31,154 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 565 |
| County, city and regional land | 154 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 23 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 19 |
Another 39 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 Petobego State Game Area?
In Grand Traverse and Antrim counties, 3 miles from Elk Rapids.
How much of Petobego State Game Area is open to hunting?
787 acres are marked general hunting, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Petobego State Game Area?
761 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Petobego 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 Skegemog Lake State Wildlife Management Area (4.6 miles).
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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.