Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: hunting and access
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is 59,550 acres in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, 2 miles from White Pine, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 712 deer in Ontonagon 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 forest and other DNR landNational forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 59,550 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Ontonagon County and Gogebic County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ontonagon County, Gogebic County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, Day After Labor Day - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Western UP |
| Nearest towns | White Pine (2 mi), Ontonagon (8 mi) and Bergland (11 mi) |
What are the rules on Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
Open for the early goose season (Day After Labor Day - 9/15), by the DNR's map.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
How many deer are taken around Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 712 deer in Ontonagon County in 2025, against 676 in 2024.
| County | Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontonagon County | 49,353 | 712 | 676 | 600 |
| Gogebic County | 9,701 | 444 | 379 | 316 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
Nearest towns: White Pine (2 miles), Ontonagon (8 miles), Bergland (11 miles) and Lake Gogebic (11 miles).
What other public land is near Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
Public land within 3 miles of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Counting Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park itself, 81,039 of the 204,574 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (39.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 62,612 |
| National forest | 18,347 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 40 |
| County, city and regional land | 40 |
Another 35,917 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 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
In Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, 2 miles from White Pine.
Can you hunt in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park?
81,039 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
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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.