Ionia County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Ionia County covers 580 square miles around Ionia. Hunters reported 6,145 deer here in the 2025 license year, 2,876 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is about the same as 2024. 3.6% of Ionia County is public land open to the public, the largest share state game and wildlife areas (6,802 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Hunting Access Program landIonia CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 371,206 acres (580 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 6,145 (2,876 antlered, 3,269 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 2,430 deer |
| Public land | 3.6% (13,405 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 6 (11,891 acres inside Ionia County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 2 sites, 266 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Ionia, Belding, Portland, Mulliken, Freeport and Sunfield |
How many deer are harvested in Ionia County?
Hunters reported 6,145 deer in Ionia County in 2025: 2,876 antlered and 3,269 antlerless. By season: 2,430 in the regular firearm season, 1,546 by archers (early and late segments) and 629 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,145 | 2,876 | 3,269 | 2,430 | 1,499 | 47 | 629 |
| 2024 | 6,171 | 3,020 | 3,151 | 2,701 | 1,571 | 58 | 570 |
| 2023 | 5,541 | 2,981 | 2,560 | 2,513 | 1,577 | 43 | 419 |
| 2022 | 6,183 | 3,544 | 2,639 | 2,747 | 1,914 | 55 | 582 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Ionia 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 Ionia County?
13,405 of Ionia County's 371,206 acres are public land open to the public (3.6%). The biggest share is state game and wildlife areas: 6,802 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Ionia County |
|---|---|---|
| State game and wildlife areas | 6,802 | 1.8% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 4,464 | 1.2% |
| County, city and regional land | 915 | 0.2% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 750 | 0.2% |
| State forest and other DNR land | 474 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 13,405 | 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 Ionia County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Ionia County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Ionia Recreation Area: 4,238 acres
- Flat River State Game Area: 2,600 acres
- Portland State Game Area: 2,518 acres
- Saranac-Lowell State Game Area: 1,267 acres
- Grand River State Game Area: 1,023 acres
- Maple River State Game Area: 245 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: MSU Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station (444 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Ionia County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 2 active Hunting Access Program properties in Ionia County, 266 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 Ionia County?
Highways through it: I-96 (about 51 miles inside), M 21 (about 26 miles inside), M 66 (about 25 miles inside), M 44 (about 12 miles inside) and M 50 (about 11 miles inside). Towns inside: Ionia, Belding, Portland, Hubbardston, Lyons and Saranac. Nearby: Mulliken (on the line), Freeport (on the line), Sunfield (on the line) and Lowell (2 miles).
Which counties border Ionia County?
Ionia County touches 6 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 4,222 | 2025 | 5.5% | 1 |
| Barry County | 3,695 | 2025 | 8.4% | |
| Eaton County | 5,870 | 2025 | 1% | |
| Clinton County | 6,947 | 2025 | 4% | |
| Gratiot County | 6,925 | 2025 | 5.5% | 10 |
| Montcalm County | 7,412 | 2025 | 6.3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Ionia County in 2025?
Hunters reported 6,145 deer: 2,876 antlered and 3,269 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 6,171.
Is there public hunting land in Ionia County?
Yes. 13,405 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 (6,802 acres). The DNR's maps show 6 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Ionia County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 2 active properties, 266 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 Kent County Barry County Eaton County Clinton County Gratiot County Montcalm County