Waterloo Recreation Area: hunting and access
Waterloo Recreation Area is 20,463 acres in Jackson and Washtenaw counties, 2 miles from Chelsea, listed by the DNR as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 6,674 deer in Jackson 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 wildlife refugesState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landHunting Access Program landWaterloo Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 20,463 acres in 47 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Jackson County and Washtenaw County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jackson County, Washtenaw County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open-Restricted |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Closed |
| DNR parks district | Rose Lake |
| Nearest towns | Chelsea (2 mi), Stockbridge (2 mi) and Grass Lake (3 mi) |
What are the rules on Waterloo Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists Waterloo Recreation Area as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping, with restrictions.
Restrictions the DNR lists: Open to Waterfowl Only.
The DNR's note: Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
How many deer are taken around Waterloo Recreation Area?
Waterloo Recreation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 6,674 deer in Jackson County in 2025, against 7,748 in 2024.
| County | Waterloo Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 14,217 | 6,674 | 7,748 | 6,967 |
| Washtenaw County | 6,247 | 4,412 | 5,070 | 4,505 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to Waterloo Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Chelsea (2 miles), Stockbridge (2 miles), Grass Lake (3 miles) and Michigan Center (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94, M 106, M 52, US 127 and M 36.
What other public land is near Waterloo Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Waterloo Wildlife Unit of Waterloo State Recreation Area: 5,784 acres, next to it
- Malan Waterfowl Production Area: 142 acres, next to it
- Pinckney Recreation Area: 11,698 acres, next to it
- Unadilla State Wildlife Area: 1,190 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Chelsea State Game Area: 803 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Goose Lake State Game Area: 203 acres, 2.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Waterloo Recreation Area
Counting Waterloo Recreation Area itself, 24,124 of the 127,980 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 20,414 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 1,628 |
| County, city and regional land | 976 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 872 |
| National wildlife refuges | 138 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 96 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Waterloo Recreation Area?
In Jackson and Washtenaw counties, 2 miles from Chelsea.
Can you hunt in Waterloo Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open-Restricted" for hunting and trapping. Restrictions: Open to Waterfowl Only.
How much public land is around Waterloo Recreation Area?
24,124 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Waterloo Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Waterloo Wildlife Unit of Waterloo State Recreation Area (next to it).
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.