Rifle River Recreation Area: hunting and access
Rifle River Recreation Area is 4,197 acres in Ogemaw County, next to Lupton, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 4,009 deer in Ogemaw 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 landRifle River Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,197 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Ogemaw County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ogemaw County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, Day After Labor Day - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Roscommon |
| Nearest towns | Lupton (next to it), Rose City (3 mi) and West Branch (11 mi) |
What are the rules on Rifle River Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Rifle River Recreation Area 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). No trapping within 50' of mowed portions of developed areas.
How many deer are taken around Rifle River Recreation Area?
Rifle River Recreation Area lies in Ogemaw County. Hunters reported 4,009 deer in Ogemaw County in 2025, against 4,096 in 2024.
| County | Rifle River Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogemaw County | 4,197 | 4,009 | 4,096 | 3,558 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Rifle River Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Lupton (next to it), Rose City (3 miles), West Branch (11 miles) and Skidway Lake (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 33.
What other public land is near Rifle River Recreation Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Rifle River Recreation Area
Counting Rifle River Recreation Area itself, 8,216 of the 46,571 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 4,522 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,203 |
| National forest | 1,182 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 307 |
| County, city and regional land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rifle River Recreation Area?
In Ogemaw County, next to Lupton.
Can you hunt in Rifle River Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Rifle River Recreation Area?
8,216 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rifle River Recreation Area 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.