Mackinac County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Mackinac County covers 1,075 square miles around Mackinac Island. Hunters reported 786 deer here in the 2025 license year, 698 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 1% from 2024. 54.1% of Mackinac County is public land open to the public, the largest share state forest and other DNR land (209,928 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 forestNational wildlife refugesState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Hunting Access Program landMackinac CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 687,831 acres (1,075 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 786 (698 antlered, 88 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 530 deer |
| Public land | 54.1% (372,411 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 3 (4,966 acres inside Mackinac County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 3 sites, 486 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, Naubinway, Mackinaw City, Cheboygan and Newberry |
How many deer are harvested in Mackinac County?
Hunters reported 786 deer in Mackinac County in 2025: 698 antlered and 88 antlerless. By season: 530 in the regular firearm season, 182 by archers (early and late segments) and 63 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 786 | 698 | 88 | 530 | 149 | 33 | 63 |
| 2024 | 775 | 699 | 76 | 539 | 137 | 29 | 62 |
| 2023 | 713 | 540 | 173 | 500 | 137 | 24 | 43 |
| 2022 | 835 | 626 | 209 | 538 | 186 | 53 | 49 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Mackinac 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 Mackinac County?
372,411 of Mackinac County's 687,831 acres are public land open to the public (54.1%). The biggest share is state forest and other DNR land: 209,928 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Mackinac County |
|---|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 209,928 | 30.5% |
| National forest | 152,786 | 22.2% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 5,043 | 0.7% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 2,751 | 0.4% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,827 | 0.3% |
| County, city and regional land | 76 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 372,411 | 54.1% |
| Commercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law) | 21,603 | 3.1% |
21,603 acres of Mackinac County (3.1%) are Commercial Forest land: privately owned, but under state law (MCL 324.51113) the owner may not deny the public hunting and fishing unless the DNR or the legislature closes it.
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 Mackinac County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Mackinac County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Black Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 2,752 acres
- Strickler Grouse Enhanced Management System: 2,180 acres
- -99: 34 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Hiawatha National Forest (152,793 acres), Mixed Forest Natural Area, Bois Blanc (991 acres), Northshore Natural Area, Bois Blanc I (816 acres), Natural Area Little Brevort Lake Scenic Site (737 acres), Natural Area Crow River Mouth (511 acres), Snake Island-Mud Lake Natural Area (264 acres) and Father Marquette National Memorial (187 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Mackinac County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 3 active Hunting Access Program properties in Mackinac County, 486 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 Mackinac County?
Highways through it: US 2 (about 62 miles inside), I-75 (about 50 miles inside), M 134 (about 28 miles inside), M 123 (about 19 miles inside) and M 117 (about 10 miles inside). Towns inside: Mackinac Island, St. Ignace and Naubinway. Nearby: Mackinaw City (4 miles), Cheboygan (6 miles), Newberry (7 miles) and De Tour Village (10 miles).
Which counties border Mackinac County?
Mackinac County touches 3 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luce County | 260 | 2025 | 56.5% | |
| Chippewa County | 983 | 2025 | 46.6% | 25 |
| Schoolcraft County | 790 | 2025 | 66% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Mackinac County in 2025?
Hunters reported 786 deer: 698 antlered and 88 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 775.
Is there public hunting land in Mackinac County?
Yes. 372,411 acres, 54.1% 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 forest and other DNR land (209,928 acres). The DNR's maps show 3 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Mackinac County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 3 active properties, 486 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 Luce County Chippewa County Schoolcraft County