Gogebic County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Gogebic County covers 1,144 square miles around Wakefield. Hunters reported 444 deer here in the 2025 license year, 381 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 17% from 2024. 51.7% of Gogebic County is public land open to the public, the largest share national forest (315,026 acres), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: the DNR's reported deer totals, 2022 to 2025. Land: PAD-US 4.1, the DNR's land ownership records and its wildlife, parks, Commercial Forest and HAP layers.
State forest and other DNR landNational forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Gogebic CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 732,041 acres (1,144 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 444 (381 antlered, 63 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 291 deer |
| Public land | 51.7% (378,343 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 3 (20,601 acres inside Gogebic County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | None mapped this year |
| Towns in and near it | Wakefield, Ironwood, Bessemer, Iron River, Caspian and Gaastra |
How many deer are harvested in Gogebic County?
Hunters reported 444 deer in Gogebic County in 2025: 381 antlered and 63 antlerless. By season: 291 in the regular firearm season, 133 by archers (early and late segments) and 17 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 444 | 381 | 63 | 291 | 116 | 17 | 17 |
| 2024 | 379 | 341 | 38 | 249 | 101 | 8 | 15 |
| 2023 | 316 | 272 | 44 | 204 | 80 | 9 | 14 |
| 2022 | 517 | 468 | 49 | 393 | 88 | 6 | 17 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Gogebic County. These are deer hunters reported; seasons not shown (youth, Liberty, antlerless and others) are in the total. The DNR's survey estimates, which count deer that were not reported, are higher.
How much public land is in Gogebic County?
378,343 of Gogebic County's 732,041 acres are public land open to the public (51.7%). The biggest share is national forest: 315,026 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Gogebic County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 315,026 | 43% |
| County, city and regional land | 50,518 | 6.9% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 11,649 | 1.6% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,150 | 0.2% |
| All public land open to the public | 378,343 | 51.7% |
| Commercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law) | 175,023 | 23.9% |
175,023 acres of Gogebic County (23.9%) 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.
Measured by FilledTag inside the county line from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's land ownership records (state forest). Hunting rules differ by manager: state game areas and state forest land are open to hunting in season unless posted; national forests are open; refuges follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules; state parks and recreation areas are open, open with restrictions or closed by the DNR's map; national park land is closed to most hunting; city and county land sets its own rules.
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Gogebic County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Gogebic County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Blue Bill Creek Grouse Enhanced Management System (Ottawa National Forest): 9,769 acres
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: 9,701 acres
- Mosinee Grouse Enhanced Management System: 1,131 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Ottawa National Forest (315,026 acres).
How do you get to Gogebic County?
Highways through it: US 2 (about 65 miles inside), US 45 (about 12 miles inside) and M 28 (about 12 miles inside). Towns inside: Wakefield, Ironwood, Bessemer, Watersmeet, Marenisco and Ramsay. Nearby: Iron River (17 miles), Caspian (18 miles) and Gaastra (19 miles).
Which counties border Gogebic County?
Gogebic County touches 2 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | 1,605 | 2025 | 35.8% | |
| Ontonagon County | 712 | 2025 | 42.8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Gogebic County in 2025?
Hunters reported 444 deer: 381 antlered and 63 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 379.
Is there public hunting land in Gogebic County?
Yes. 378,343 acres, 51.7% of the county, are public land open to the public by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's state forest records, the largest share national forest (315,026 acres). The DNR's maps show 3 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Gogebic County have Hunting Access Program land?
Not on the DNR's 2026 layer of active HAP properties.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025).
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's land ownership records (state forest). state game areas: Michigan DNR wildlife property project areas. Hunting Access Program land: Michigan DNR Hunting Access Program properties.
- Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 cartographic county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Numbers are copied from the DNR and the federal sources above, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.