Huron County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Huron County covers 836 square miles around Bad Axe. Hunters reported 5,455 deer here in the 2025 license year, 2,761 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 2% from 2024, and the most in the 4 years shown. 3.6% of Huron County is public land open to the public, the largest share state game and wildlife areas (12,705 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 areasState forest and other DNR landNational wildlife refugesState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landHunting Access Program landHuron CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 535,293 acres (836 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 5,455 (2,761 antlered, 2,694 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 2,566 deer |
| Public land | 3.6% (19,037 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 9 (14,132 acres inside Huron County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 3 sites, 167 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Bad Axe, Harbor Beach, Sebewaing, Minden City, Gagetown and Unionville |
How many deer are harvested in Huron County?
Hunters reported 5,455 deer in Huron County in 2025: 2,761 antlered and 2,694 antlerless. By season: 2,566 in the regular firearm season, 1,203 by archers (early and late segments) and 552 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,455 | 2,761 | 2,694 | 2,566 | 1,171 | 32 | 552 |
| 2024 | 5,362 | 2,703 | 2,659 | 2,524 | 1,117 | 36 | 520 |
| 2023 | 4,794 | 2,717 | 2,077 | 2,621 | 1,110 | 26 | 340 |
| 2022 | 4,579 | 2,654 | 1,925 | 2,437 | 1,205 | 38 | 341 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Huron 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 Huron County?
19,037 of Huron County's 535,293 acres are public land open to the public (3.6%). The biggest share is state game and wildlife areas: 12,705 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Huron County |
|---|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 12,705 | 2.4% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 3,781 | 0.7% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,519 | 0.3% |
| County, city and regional land | 1,032 | 0.2% |
| All public land open to the public | 19,037 | 3.6% |
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 Huron County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Huron County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Verona State Game Area: 7,527 acres
- Rush Lake State Game Area: 2,276 acres
- Wildfowl Bay State Wildlife Area: 2,139 acres
- Gagetown State Game Area: 737 acres
- Port Crescent State Park: 643 acres
- Albert E. Sleeper State Park: 438 acres
- Brookfield Township No. 1 State Game Area: 203 acres
- Oliver Township State Game Area: 130 acres
- Brookfield Township No. 2 State Game Area: 39 acres
Hunting Access Program land in Huron County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 3 active Hunting Access Program properties in Huron County, 167 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 Huron County?
Highways through it: M 25 (about 78 miles inside), M 142 (about 39 miles inside), M 53 (about 29 miles inside) and M 19 (about 9 miles inside). Towns inside: Bad Axe, Harbor Beach, Sebewaing, Ubly, Kinde and Caseville. Nearby: Minden City (on the line), Gagetown (on the line), Unionville (on the line) and Forestville (2 miles).
Which counties border Huron County?
Huron 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanilac County | 8,784 | 2025 | 2.5% | 7 |
| Tuscola County | 7,100 | 2025 | 6.9% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Huron County in 2025?
Hunters reported 5,455 deer: 2,761 antlered and 2,694 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 5,362.
Is there public hunting land in Huron County?
Yes. 19,037 acres, 3.6% 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 (12,705 acres). The DNR's maps show 9 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Huron County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 3 active properties, 167 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.