Shiawassee River State Game Area: hunting and access
Shiawassee River State Game Area is 10,153 acres of land the Michigan DNR manages for wildlife in Saginaw County, next to St. Charles, a state game area by the DNR's map. 5,038 acres are marked open to general hunting. Hunters reported 9,369 deer in Saginaw County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's state game area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR reported deer harvest, 2022 to 2025.
State game and wildlife areasState forest and other DNR landNational wildlife refugesCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landShiawassee River State Game AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 10,153 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Saginaw County |
| Deer harvest unit | Saginaw County |
| Kind (DNR) | state game area |
| DNR region | Southeast Lower Peninsula |
| Wildlife refuge (closed in season) | 1,239 acres (12.2%) |
| No hunting or safety zone | 277 acres (2.7%) |
| Managed waterfowl hunt area | 3,599 acres (35.4%) |
| Open to general hunting | 5,038 acres (49.6%) |
| Nearest towns | St. Charles (next to it), Shields (4 mi) and Chesaning (6 mi) |
What is Shiawassee River State Game Area like?
The DNR's map names 3 units within Shiawassee River State Game Area: wildlife refuge (seasonal), road and ditch/dike.
Counted by FilledTag from the unit names on the DNR's wildlife property map.
What are the rules on Shiawassee River State Game Area?
The DNR's map marks each piece of Shiawassee River State Game Area: 1,239 acres wildlife refuge (closed in season), 277 acres no hunting or safety zone, 3,599 acres managed waterfowl hunt area and 5,038 acres open to general hunting.
Managed waterfowl hunt areas are hunted under the DNR's managed-area rules (drawings and check stations for the waterfowl season); outside the waterfowl season they are open like the rest of the area unless posted.
Wildlife refuge pieces are closed to entry during the seasons the DNR posts for them.
No-hunting and safety-zone pieces are posted; Michigan's 450-foot safety zone around occupied buildings applies everywhere.
How many deer are taken around Shiawassee River State Game Area?
Shiawassee River State Game Area lies in Saginaw County. Hunters reported 9,369 deer in Saginaw County in 2025, against 7,932 in 2024.
| County | Shiawassee River State Game Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw County | 10,153 | 9,369 | 7,932 | 6,232 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the game area alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Shiawassee River State Game Area?
Nearest towns: St. Charles (next to it), Shields (4 miles), Chesaning (6 miles) and Saginaw (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: M 52, M 46, M 13 and M 47.
What other public land is near Shiawassee River State Game Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (cooperator): 10,256 acres, next to it
- Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area: 16,742 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shiawassee River State Game Area
Counting Shiawassee River State Game Area itself, 17,372 of the 65,702 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (26.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 9,876 |
| National wildlife refuges | 6,390 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 722 |
| County, city and regional land | 274 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 110 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shiawassee River State Game Area?
In Saginaw County, next to St. Charles.
How much of Shiawassee River State Game Area is open to hunting?
5,038 acres are marked general hunting, 3,599 acres are a managed waterfowl hunt area, 1,239 acres are wildlife refuge, and 277 acres are no-hunting or safety zones, by the DNR's map.
How much public land is around Shiawassee River State Game Area?
17,372 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shiawassee River State Game Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (cooperator) (next to it).
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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.