Midland County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Midland County covers 528 square miles around Midland. Hunters reported 5,031 deer here in the 2025 license year, 2,508 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is up 18% from 2024, and the most in the 4 years shown. 14.5% of Midland County is public land open to the public, the largest share state forest and other DNR land (38,245 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 landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Hunting Access Program landMidland CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 337,944 acres (528 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 5,031 (2,508 antlered, 2,523 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 1,819 deer |
| Public land | 14.5% (48,915 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 2 (3,726 acres inside Midland County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 3 sites, 453 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Midland, Sanford, Coleman, St. Louis, Breckenridge and Shepherd |
How many deer are harvested in Midland County?
Hunters reported 5,031 deer in Midland County in 2025: 2,508 antlered and 2,523 antlerless. By season: 1,819 in the regular firearm season, 1,442 by archers (early and late segments) and 522 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,031 | 2,508 | 2,523 | 1,819 | 1,325 | 117 | 522 |
| 2024 | 4,281 | 2,125 | 2,156 | 1,629 | 1,169 | 117 | 337 |
| 2023 | 3,411 | 1,932 | 1,479 | 1,586 | 1,048 | 88 | 274 |
| 2022 | 4,305 | 2,481 | 1,824 | 2,095 | 1,325 | 137 | 316 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Midland 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 Midland County?
48,915 of Midland County's 337,944 acres are public land open to the public (14.5%). The biggest share is state forest and other DNR land: 38,245 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Midland County |
|---|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 38,245 | 11.3% |
| County, city and regional land | 4,070 | 1.2% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 3,804 | 1.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2,796 | 0.8% |
| All public land open to the public | 48,915 | 14.5% |
| Commercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law) | 96 | under 0.1% |
96 acres of Midland County (under 0.1%) 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 Midland County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Midland County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Kawkawlin Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 2,935 acres
- Bluff Creek / US-10 / M-18 Floodings State Wildlife Management Area: 791 acres
Hunting Access Program land in Midland County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 3 active Hunting Access Program properties in Midland County, 453 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 Midland County?
Highways through it: US 10 (about 52 miles inside), M 20 (about 27 miles inside), M 30 (about 10 miles inside) and M 18 (about 6 miles inside). Towns inside: Midland, Sanford and Coleman. Nearby: St. Louis (4 miles), Breckenridge (4 miles), Shepherd (4 miles) and Merrill (4 miles).
Which counties border Midland County?
Midland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay County | 2,573 | 2025 | 4.2% | 2 |
| Clare County | 4,230 | 2025 | 18.7% | |
| Gladwin County | 4,585 | 2025 | 27.6% | |
| Gratiot County | 6,925 | 2025 | 5.5% | 10 |
| Saginaw County | 9,369 | 2025 | 7.1% | 4 |
| Isabella County | 5,455 | 2025 | 1.5% | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Midland County in 2025?
Hunters reported 5,031 deer: 2,508 antlered and 2,523 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 4,281.
Is there public hunting land in Midland County?
Yes. 48,915 acres, 14.5% 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 forest and other DNR land (38,245 acres). The DNR's maps show 2 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Midland County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 3 active properties, 453 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 Bay County Clare County Gladwin County Gratiot County Saginaw County Isabella County