Pinckney Recreation Area: hunting and access
Pinckney Recreation Area is 11,698 acres in Washtenaw and Livingston counties, next to Pinckney, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 4,412 deer in Washtenaw County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's state parks hunting 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 landPinckney Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 11,698 acres in 23 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Washtenaw County and Livingston County |
| Deer harvest unit | Washtenaw County, Livingston County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Rose Lake |
| Nearest towns | Pinckney (next to it), Chelsea (2 mi) and Stockbridge (6 mi) |
What are the rules on Pinckney Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Pinckney Recreation Area as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
Open for the early goose season (9/1 - 9/15), by the DNR's map.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown). No trapping within 50' of mowed portions of developed areas.
How many deer are taken around Pinckney Recreation Area?
Pinckney Recreation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 4,412 deer in Washtenaw County in 2025, against 5,070 in 2024.
| County | Pinckney Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washtenaw County | 8,088 | 4,412 | 5,070 | 4,505 |
| Livingston County | 3,610 | 5,472 | 4,875 | 4,525 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Pinckney Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Pinckney (next to it), Chelsea (2 miles), Stockbridge (6 miles) and Dexter (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94, M 36, M 52 and M 106.
What other public land is near Pinckney Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Waterloo Recreation Area: 20,463 acres, next to it
- Unadilla State Wildlife Area: 1,190 acres, 1 mile away
- Gregory State Game Area: 2,708 acres, 1 mile away
- Chelsea State Game Area: 803 acres, 2 miles away
- Waterloo Wildlife Unit of Waterloo State Recreation Area: 5,784 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Brighton Recreation Area: 4,572 acres, 3.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pinckney Recreation Area
Counting Pinckney Recreation Area itself, 27,494 of the 95,378 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (28.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 17,018 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 3,592 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,750 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2,362 |
| County, city and regional land | 1,772 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pinckney Recreation Area?
In Washtenaw and Livingston counties, next to Pinckney.
Can you hunt in Pinckney Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Pinckney Recreation Area?
27,494 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pinckney Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Waterloo Recreation Area (next to it).
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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.