South Higgins Lake State Park: hunting and access
South Higgins Lake State Park is 1,369 acres in Roscommon County, 5 miles from Roscommon, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 1,993 deer in Roscommon 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 forest and other DNR landNational forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landSouth Higgins Lake State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,369 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Roscommon County |
| Deer harvest unit | Roscommon County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Roscommon |
| Nearest towns | Roscommon (5 mi), Prudenville (7 mi) and Houghton Lake (8 mi) |
What are the rules on South Higgins Lake State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists South Higgins Lake State Park 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).
How many deer are taken around South Higgins Lake State Park?
South Higgins Lake State Park lies in Roscommon County. Hunters reported 1,993 deer in Roscommon County in 2025, against 2,201 in 2024.
| County | South Higgins Lake State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roscommon County | 1,369 | 1,993 | 2,201 | 2,013 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to South Higgins Lake State Park?
Nearest towns: Roscommon (5 miles), Prudenville (7 miles), Houghton Lake (8 miles) and St. Helen (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-75, M 18 and US 27.
What other public land is near South Higgins Lake State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Robinson Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 2,574 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Backus Creek State Game Area: 4,855 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Houghton Lake Flats North Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 839 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Houghton Lake Flats South Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 992 acres, 6.3 miles away
- North Higgins Lake State Park: 166 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Dead Stream Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 1,024 acres, 6.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of South Higgins Lake State Park
Counting South Higgins Lake State Park itself, 15,572 of the 32,147 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (48.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 13,094 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,347 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 571 |
| County, city and regional land | 330 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 230 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is South Higgins Lake State Park?
In Roscommon County, 5 miles from Roscommon.
Can you hunt in South Higgins Lake State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around South Higgins Lake State Park?
15,572 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, South Higgins 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 Robinson Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area (2.6 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.