Montmorency County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Montmorency County covers 563 square miles around Hillman. Hunters reported 2,465 deer here in the 2025 license year, 1,199 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is down 12% from 2024. 40.4% of Montmorency County is public land open to the public, the largest share state forest and other DNR land (144,366 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 landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Hunting Access Program landMontmorency CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 360,118 acres (563 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 2,465 (1,199 antlered, 1,266 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 1,535 deer |
| Public land | 40.4% (145,486 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 5 (3,321 acres inside Montmorency County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 4 sites, 1,170 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Hillman, Atlanta, Lewiston, Millersburg, Posen and Onaway |
How many deer are harvested in Montmorency County?
Hunters reported 2,465 deer in Montmorency County in 2025: 1,199 antlered and 1,266 antlerless. By season: 1,535 in the regular firearm season, 423 by archers (early and late segments) and 245 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,465 | 1,199 | 1,266 | 1,535 | 403 | 20 | 245 |
| 2024 | 2,802 | 1,401 | 1,401 | 1,730 | 507 | 29 | 242 |
| 2023 | 1,986 | 1,046 | 940 | 1,395 | 380 | 10 | 66 |
| 2022 | 2,787 | 1,233 | 1,554 | 1,876 | 607 | 27 | 103 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Montmorency 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 Montmorency County?
145,486 of Montmorency County's 360,118 acres are public land open to the public (40.4%). The biggest share is state forest and other DNR land: 144,366 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Montmorency County |
|---|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 144,366 | 40.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 357 | 0.1% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 344 | 0.1% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 280 | 0.1% |
| County, city and regional land | 99 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuges | 40 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 145,486 | 40.4% |
| Commercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law) | 312 | 0.1% |
312 acres of Montmorency County (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 Montmorency County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Montmorency County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Rainey River Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 1,422 acres
- Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management System: 1,080 acres
- Tomahawk Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area: 408 acres
- Sage Lakes State Wildlife Management Area: 248 acres
- Sportsman's Lake State Wildlife Management Area: 163 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Atlanta State Forest Area (123,486 acres), Kirtland Warbler Unit Clear Lake (9,442 acres) and Pigeon River Country State Forest Area (3,289 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Montmorency County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 4 active Hunting Access Program properties in Montmorency County, 1,170 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 Montmorency County?
Highways through it: M 32 (about 46 miles inside) and M 33 (about 30 miles inside). Towns inside: Hillman, Atlanta, Lewiston and Canada Creek Ranch. Nearby: Millersburg (9 miles), Posen (10 miles), Onaway (11 miles) and Wolverine (13 miles).
Which counties border Montmorency County?
Montmorency 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | 4,071 | 2025 | 27.9% | 2 |
| Alpena County | 3,989 | 2025 | 13.8% | 10 |
| Oscoda County | 1,605 | 2025 | 58.2% | |
| Otsego County | 1,200 | 2025 | 30.8% | |
| Crawford County | 1,535 | 2025 | 59.8% | |
| Cheboygan County | 1,874 | 2025 | 40.1% | 3 |
| Presque Isle County | 3,630 | 2025 | 20.9% | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Montmorency County in 2025?
Hunters reported 2,465 deer: 1,199 antlered and 1,266 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 2,802.
Is there public hunting land in Montmorency County?
Yes. 145,486 acres, 40.4% 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 (144,366 acres). The DNR's maps show 5 wildlife areas and parks open to hunting here.
Does Montmorency County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 4 active properties, 1,170 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 Alpena County Oscoda County Otsego County Crawford County Cheboygan County Presque Isle County