Hillsdale County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Hillsdale County covers 607 square miles around Hillsdale. Hunters reported 6,767 deer here in the 2025 license year, 3,247 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 7% from 2024, and the most in the 4 years shown. 1.1% of Hillsdale County is public land open to the public, the largest share state game and wildlife areas (3,397 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 game and wildlife areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landHunting Access Program landHillsdale CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 388,438 acres (607 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 6,767 (3,247 antlered, 3,520 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 2,997 deer |
| Public land | 1.1% (4,235 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 3 (3,431 acres inside Hillsdale County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 4 sites, 201 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Hillsdale, Jonesville, Litchfield, Addison, Hudson and Cement City |
How many deer are harvested in Hillsdale County?
Hunters reported 6,767 deer in Hillsdale County in 2025: 3,247 antlered and 3,520 antlerless. By season: 2,997 in the regular firearm season, 1,725 by archers (early and late segments) and 761 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,767 | 3,247 | 3,520 | 2,997 | 1,669 | 56 | 761 |
| 2024 | 6,318 | 3,004 | 3,314 | 2,857 | 1,549 | 70 | 600 |
| 2023 | 5,685 | 3,045 | 2,640 | 2,749 | 1,626 | 58 | 390 |
| 2022 | 5,635 | 3,042 | 2,593 | 2,684 | 1,755 | 36 | 490 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County?
4,235 of Hillsdale County's 388,438 acres are public land open to the public (1.1%). The biggest share is state game and wildlife areas: 3,397 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Hillsdale County |
|---|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 3,397 | 0.9% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 604 | 0.2% |
| County, city and regional land | 234 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 4,235 | 1.1% |
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 Hillsdale County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Hillsdale County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Lost Nation State Game Area: 2,502 acres
- Somerset State Game Area: 748 acres
- Adams Township State Game Area: 181 acres
Hunting Access Program land in Hillsdale County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 4 active Hunting Access Program properties in Hillsdale County, 201 acres of private land leased for public hunting. Each property's listing says which hunting it allows and how to check in. DNR Hunting Access Program.
How do you get to Hillsdale County?
Highways through it: M 99 (about 33 miles inside), M 49 (about 26 miles inside), US 12 (about 26 miles inside), US 127 (about 14 miles inside) and M 34 (about 11 miles inside). Towns inside: Hillsdale, Jonesville, Litchfield, Reading, Waldron and Montgomery. Nearby: Addison (on the line), Hudson (on the line), Cement City (2 miles) and Hanover (2 miles).
Which counties border Hillsdale County?
Hillsdale County touches 4 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch County | 5,674 | 2025 | 0.3% | |
| Calhoun County | 5,784 | 2025 | 1.1% | 2 |
| Jackson County | 6,674 | 2025 | 4.5% | 1 |
| Lenawee County | 5,768 | 2025 | 1.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Hillsdale County in 2025?
Hunters reported 6,767 deer: 3,247 antlered and 3,520 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 6,318.
Is there public hunting land in Hillsdale County?
Yes. 4,235 acres, 1.1% 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 state game and wildlife areas (3,397 acres). The DNR's maps show 3 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Hillsdale County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 4 active properties, 201 acres, on the DNR's 2026 layer.
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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.
Michigan hunting Branch County Calhoun County Jackson County Lenawee County