Proud Lake Recreation Area: hunting and access
Proud Lake Recreation Area is 2,435 acres in Oakland County, next to Milford, 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 forest and other DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landProud Lake Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,435 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oakland County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oakland County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Metro Detroit |
| Nearest towns | Milford (next to it), Wolverine Lake (next to it) and Walled Lake (2 mi) |
What are the rules on Proud Lake Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Proud Lake 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 Proud Lake Recreation Area?
Proud Lake Recreation Area lies in Oakland County. Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Oakland County in 2025, against 2,973 in 2024.
| County | Proud Lake Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County | 2,435 | 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 Proud Lake Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Milford (next to it), Wolverine Lake (next to it), Walled Lake (2 miles) and Wixom (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-96, M 59 and M 5.
What other public land is near Proud Lake Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Highland Recreation Area: 4,460 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Island Lake Recreation Area: 4,114 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area: 3,760 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Proud Lake Recreation Area
Counting Proud Lake Recreation Area itself, 9,735 of the 43,285 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 5,179 |
| County, city and regional land | 3,369 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,187 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Proud Lake Recreation Area?
In Oakland County, next to Milford.
Can you hunt in Proud Lake Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Proud Lake Recreation Area?
9,735 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Proud 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 (1.7 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.