Iosco County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Iosco County covers 566 square miles around East Tawas. Hunters reported 2,895 deer here in the 2025 license year, 1,574 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 1% from 2024. 41% of Iosco County is public land open to the public, the largest share national forest (114,522 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 landHunting Access Program landIosco CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 362,374 acres (566 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 2,895 (1,574 antlered, 1,321 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 1,485 deer |
| Public land | 41% (148,418 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | None mapped |
| Hunting Access Program land | 3 sites, 696 acres |
| Towns in and near it | East Tawas, Tawas City, Whittemore, Turner, Prescott and Twining |
How many deer are harvested in Iosco County?
Hunters reported 2,895 deer in Iosco County in 2025: 1,574 antlered and 1,321 antlerless. By season: 1,485 in the regular firearm season, 735 by archers (early and late segments) and 305 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,895 | 1,574 | 1,321 | 1,485 | 688 | 47 | 305 |
| 2024 | 2,875 | 1,575 | 1,300 | 1,444 | 788 | 51 | 307 |
| 2023 | 2,789 | 1,546 | 1,243 | 1,558 | 791 | 50 | 91 |
| 2022 | 3,386 | 1,788 | 1,598 | 1,930 | 945 | 67 | 118 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Iosco 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 Iosco County?
148,418 of Iosco County's 362,374 acres are public land open to the public (41%). The biggest share is national forest: 114,522 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Iosco County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 114,522 | 31.6% |
| State forest and other DNR land | 23,763 | 6.6% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 9,257 | 2.6% |
| County, city and regional land | 782 | 0.2% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 94 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 148,418 | 41% |
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.
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Huron National Forest (112,187 acres) and Huron Purchase Unit (2,352 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Iosco County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 3 active Hunting Access Program properties in Iosco County, 696 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 Iosco County?
Highways through it: M 65 (about 31 miles inside) and M 55 (about 19 miles inside). Towns inside: East Tawas, Tawas City, Whittemore, Sand Lake, Au Sable and Oscoda. Nearby: Turner (on the line), Prescott (2 miles), Twining (3 miles) and Omer (8 miles).
Which counties border Iosco County?
Iosco 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | 4,071 | 2025 | 27.9% | 2 |
| Arenac County | 3,671 | 2025 | 14.7% | 5 |
| Ogemaw County | 4,009 | 2025 | 28.7% | |
| Oscoda County | 1,605 | 2025 | 58.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Iosco County in 2025?
Hunters reported 2,895 deer: 1,574 antlered and 1,321 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 2,875.
Is there public hunting land in Iosco County?
Yes. 148,418 acres, 41% 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 (114,522 acres).
Does Iosco County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 3 active properties, 696 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 Alcona County Arenac County Ogemaw County Oscoda County