Van Buren State Park: hunting and access
Van Buren State Park is 227 acres in Van Buren County, 5 miles from South Haven, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 3,648 deer in Van Buren 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 parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVan Buren State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 227 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Van Buren County |
| Deer harvest unit | Van Buren County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Closed |
| DNR parks district | Plainwell |
| Nearest towns | South Haven (5 mi), Paw Paw Lake (8 mi) and Lake Michigan Beach (9 mi) |
What are the rules on Van Buren State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Van Buren State Park as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
How many deer are taken around Van Buren State Park?
Van Buren State Park lies in Van Buren County. Hunters reported 3,648 deer in Van Buren County in 2025, against 3,743 in 2024.
| County | Van Buren State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County | 212 | 3,648 | 3,743 | 4,463 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Van Buren State Park?
Nearest towns: South Haven (5 miles), Paw Paw Lake (8 miles), Lake Michigan Beach (9 miles) and Bangor (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 31, I-196, M 140 and M 43.
What other public land is near Van Buren State Park?
Public land within 3 miles of Van Buren State Park
Counting Van Buren State Park itself, 700 of the 23,689 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 396 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 263 |
| County, city and regional land | 41 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Van Buren State Park?
In Van Buren County, 5 miles from South Haven.
Can you hunt in Van Buren State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Van Buren State Park?
700 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Van Buren State Park 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.