W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area: hunting and access
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area is 911 acres in Macomb County, 2 miles from New Haven, listed by the DNR as "Open" for hunting and trapping. Hunters reported 2,360 deer in Macomb 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 landW.C. Wetzel Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 911 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Macomb County |
| Deer harvest unit | Macomb County |
| Hunting and trapping (DNR) | Open |
| Early goose season (DNR) | Open, 9/1 - 9/15 |
| DNR parks district | Metro Detroit |
| Nearest towns | New Haven (2 mi), New Baltimore (6 mi) and Richmond (6 mi) |
What are the rules on W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
The DNR's map of state parks open to hunting lists W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area 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). No trapping within 50' of mowed portions of developed areas.
How many deer are taken around W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area lies in Macomb County. Hunters reported 2,360 deer in Macomb County in 2025, against 2,167 in 2024.
| County | W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb County | 911 | 2,360 | 2,167 | 1,855 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the park alone: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
How do you get to W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: New Haven (2 miles), New Baltimore (6 miles), Richmond (6 miles) and Armada (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-94, M 19, M 29, M 59 and M 3.
What other public land is near W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting within 10 miles:
- Chesterfield Township State Game Area: 143 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Salt River Marsh State Wildlife Area: 60 acres, 5.2 miles away
- St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area: 30,160 acres, 8.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Counting W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area itself, 1,763 of the 30,126 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 900 |
| County, city and regional land | 611 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 219 |
| State game and wildlife areas | 33 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
In Macomb County, 2 miles from New Haven.
Can you hunt in W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
The DNR's map lists it as "Open" for hunting and trapping.
How much public land is around W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
1,763 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records. The closest other DNR area or park is Chesterfield Township State Game Area (2.8 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.