Silver Lake State Park: hunting and access
Silver Lake State Park is 2,964 acres in Oceana County, 3 miles from Mears, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 4,589 deer in Oceana 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 game and wildlife areasState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Silver Lake State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,964 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Oceana County |
| Deer harvest unit | Oceana County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, Day After Labor Day - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Cadillac |
| Nearest towns | Mears (3 mi), Hart (6 mi) and Pentwater (7 mi) |
What are the rules on Silver Lake State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake State Park?
Silver Lake State Park lies in Oceana County. Hunters reported 4,589 deer in Oceana County in 2025, against 4,607 in 2024.
| County | Silver Lake State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceana County | 2,962 | 4,589 | 4,607 | 4,811 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Silver Lake State Park?
Nearest towns: Mears (3 miles), Hart (6 miles), Pentwater (7 miles) and Shelby (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 31.
What other public land is near Silver Lake State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Pentwater River State Game Area: 2,601 acres, 2.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Silver Lake State Park
Counting Silver Lake State Park itself, 3,666 of the 44,126 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 3,041 |
| County, city and regional land | 438 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 187 |
Another 217 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 Silver Lake State Park?
In Oceana County, 3 miles from Mears.
Can you hunt in Silver Lake State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Silver Lake State Park?
3,666 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Silver Lake State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Pentwater River State Game Area (2.4 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.