Rockport Recreation Area: hunting and access
Rockport Recreation Area is 4,280 acres in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, 6 miles from Presque Isle Harbor, listed by the DNR as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 3,989 deer in Alpena 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 landRockport Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,280 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Alpena County and Presque Isle County |
| Deer harvest unit | Alpena County, Presque Isle County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open-Restricted |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Gaylord |
| Nearest towns | Presque Isle Harbor (6 mi), Alpena (7 mi) and Posen (13 mi) |
What are the rules on Rockport Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Rockport Recreation Area as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping, with restrictions.
Restrictions the DNR lists: Local Controls: No Firearms from 4/1 - 9/15 and No Rifles.
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 Rockport Recreation Area?
Rockport Recreation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 3,989 deer in Alpena County in 2025, against 4,299 in 2024.
| County | Rockport Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena County | 2,406 | 3,989 | 4,299 | 3,374 |
| Presque Isle County | 1,844 | 3,630 | 3,837 | 3,156 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Rockport Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Presque Isle Harbor (6 miles), Alpena (7 miles), Posen (13 miles) and Ossineke (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 23.
What other public land is near Rockport Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Thompson's Harbor State Park: 5,398 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rockport Recreation Area
Counting Rockport Recreation Area itself, 4,605 of the 57,382 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 4,457 |
| County, city and regional land | 104 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 44 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rockport Recreation Area?
In Alpena and Presque Isle counties, 6 miles from Presque Isle Harbor.
Can you hunt in Rockport Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Restrictions: Local Controls: No Firearms from 4/1 - 9/15 and No Rifles.
How much public land is around Rockport Recreation Area?
4,605 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rockport Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Thompson's Harbor State Park (7.6 miles).
Get a Michigan hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Michigan included.
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.