Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: hunting and access
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area is 3,760 acres in Oakland County, 3 miles from Village of Clarkston, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland 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 parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landPontiac Lake Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,760 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oakland County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oakland County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open-Restricted, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Metro Detroit |
| Nearest towns | Village of Clarkston (3 mi), Lake Angelus (5 mi) and Keego Harbor (6 mi) |
What are the rules on Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Pontiac Lake Recreation Area as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
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 Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area lies in Oakland County. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland County in 2025, against 2,973 in 2024.
| County | Pontiac Lake Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 3,760 | 3,783 | 2,973 | 3,222 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Village of Clarkston (3 miles), Lake Angelus (5 miles), Keego Harbor (6 miles) and Orchard Lake Village (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-75, M 59, US 24 and M 15.
What other public land is near Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Highland Recreation Area: 4,460 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Davisburg State Game Area: 110 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Proud Lake Recreation Area: 2,435 acres, 5.8 miles away
- Holly Recreation Area: 8,091 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Bald Mountain Recreation Area: 4,520 acres, 8.3 miles away
- Holly Wildlife Unit of Holly State Recreation Area: 3,226 acres, 8.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
Counting Pontiac Lake Recreation Area itself, 8,076 of the 43,497 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 3,645 |
| County, city and regional land | 2,804 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,627 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
In Oakland County, 3 miles from Village of Clarkston.
Can you hunt in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Pontiac Lake Recreation Area?
8,076 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Highland Recreation Area (2.9 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.