Jackson County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Jackson County covers 723 square miles around Jackson. Hunters reported 6,674 deer here in the 2025 license year, 3,246 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is down 14% from 2024, and the fewest in the 4 years shown. 4.5% of Jackson County is public land open to the public, the largest share state parks and recreation areas (9,137 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 landJackson CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 463,024 acres (723 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 6,674 (3,246 antlered, 3,428 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 2,627 deer |
| Public land | 4.5% (20,901 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 7 (24,223 acres inside Jackson County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 1 site, 132 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Jackson, Concord, Springport, Cement City, Stockbridge and Leslie |
How many deer are harvested in Jackson County?
Hunters reported 6,674 deer in Jackson County in 2025: 3,246 antlered and 3,428 antlerless. By season: 2,627 in the regular firearm season, 1,929 by archers (early and late segments) and 769 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,674 | 3,246 | 3,428 | 2,627 | 1,843 | 86 | 769 |
| 2024 | 7,748 | 3,944 | 3,804 | 3,017 | 2,278 | 119 | 825 |
| 2023 | 6,967 | 3,829 | 3,138 | 2,983 | 2,332 | 100 | 488 |
| 2022 | 7,141 | 4,135 | 3,006 | 3,147 | 2,467 | 97 | 628 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Jackson 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 Jackson County?
20,901 of Jackson County's 463,024 acres are public land open to the public (4.5%). The biggest share is state parks and recreation areas: 9,137 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Jackson County |
|---|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 9,137 | 2% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 5,729 | 1.2% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 3,686 | 0.8% |
| County, city and regional land | 2,006 | 0.4% |
| National wildlife refuges | 298 | 0.1% |
| State forest and other DNR land | 45 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 20,901 | 4.5% |
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 Jackson County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Jackson County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Waterloo Recreation Area: 14,217 acres
- Waterloo Wildlife Unit of Waterloo State Recreation Area: 5,713 acres
- Sharonville State Game Area: 3,496 acres
- Watkins Lake State Park: 372 acres
- Schlee Waterfowl Production Area: 159 acres
- Malan Waterfowl Production Area: 142 acres
- Grass Lake State Game Area: 124 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Jackson County Waterfowl Production Area (298 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Jackson County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 1 active Hunting Access Program property in Jackson County, 132 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 Jackson County?
Highways through it: I-94 (about 61 miles inside), US 127 (about 48 miles inside), M 50 (about 40 miles inside), M 106 (about 20 miles inside) and M 60 (about 19 miles inside). Towns inside: Jackson, Concord, Springport, Parma, Brooklyn and Grass Lake. Nearby: Cement City (on the line), Stockbridge (2 miles), Leslie (2 miles) and Albion (2 miles).
Which counties border Jackson County?
Jackson County touches 7 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton County | 5,870 | 2025 | 1% | |
| Ingham County | 5,420 | 2025 | 3.7% | 3 |
| Calhoun County | 5,784 | 2025 | 1.1% | 2 |
| Lenawee County | 5,768 | 2025 | 1.6% | |
| Hillsdale County | 6,767 | 2025 | 1.1% | 4 |
| Washtenaw County | 4,412 | 2025 | 8.1% | |
| Livingston County | 5,472 | 2025 | 9.3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Jackson County in 2025?
Hunters reported 6,674 deer: 3,246 antlered and 3,428 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 7,748.
Is there public hunting land in Jackson County?
Yes. 20,901 acres, 4.5% 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 parks and recreation areas (9,137 acres). The DNR's maps show 7 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Jackson County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 1 active property, 132 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 Eaton County Ingham County Calhoun County Lenawee County Hillsdale County Washtenaw County Livingston County