Van Riper State Park: hunting and access
Van Riper State Park is 1,063 acres in Marquette County, next to Michigamme, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 1,502 deer in Marquette 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 areasLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Van Riper State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,063 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Marquette County |
| Deer harvest unit | Marquette County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Western UP |
| Nearest towns | Michigamme (next to it), Republic (7 mi) and Three Lakes (8 mi) |
What are the rules on Van Riper State Park?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Van Riper 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 Van Riper State Park?
Van Riper State Park lies in Marquette County. Hunters reported 1,502 deer in Marquette County in 2025, against 1,666 in 2024.
| County | Van Riper State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette County | 1,063 | 1,502 | 1,666 | 1,248 |
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 Riper State Park?
Nearest towns: Michigamme (next to it), Republic (7 miles), Three Lakes (8 miles) and West Ishpeming (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 41, M 28 and M 95.
What other public land is near Van Riper State Park?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Craig Lake State Park: 10,808 acres, 4.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Van Riper State Park
Counting Van Riper State Park itself, 3,287 of the 31,266 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 2,188 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,099 |
Another 7,746 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 Van Riper State Park?
In Marquette County, next to Michigamme.
Can you hunt in Van Riper State Park?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around Van Riper State Park?
3,287 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Van Riper State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Craig Lake State Park (4.1 miles).
Get a Michigan hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Michigan are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.