Newaygo County, Michigan: deer harvest and public hunting land
Newaygo County covers 862 square miles around Newaygo. Hunters reported 5,727 deer here in the 2025 license year, 2,937 of them antlered, through the DNR's harvest reporting. That is down 17% from 2024, and the fewest in the 4 years shown. 21.9% of Newaygo County is public land open to the public, the largest share national forest (111,680 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 forestState parks and recreation areasCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landCommercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law)Hunting Access Program landNewaygo CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 551,550 acres (862 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer reported, 2025 | 5,727 (2,937 antlered, 2,790 antlerless) |
| Regular firearm season, 2025 | 2,539 deer |
| Public land | 21.9% (120,873 acres) |
| Wildlife areas and parks | 1 (6,073 acres inside Newaygo County) |
| Hunting Access Program land | 2 sites, 200 acres |
| Towns in and near it | Newaygo, Fremont, White Cloud, Hesperia, Sand Lake and Pierson |
How many deer are harvested in Newaygo County?
Hunters reported 5,727 deer in Newaygo County in 2025: 2,937 antlered and 2,790 antlerless. By season: 2,539 in the regular firearm season, 1,701 by archers (early and late segments) and 457 in the muzzleloader season.
| License year | Deer reported | Antlered | Antlerless | Regular firearm | Archery, early | Archery, late | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,727 | 2,937 | 2,790 | 2,539 | 1,662 | 39 | 457 |
| 2024 | 6,895 | 3,325 | 3,570 | 3,143 | 1,755 | 71 | 682 |
| 2023 | 6,568 | 3,409 | 3,159 | 3,382 | 1,804 | 76 | 451 |
| 2022 | 7,422 | 3,938 | 3,484 | 3,758 | 2,221 | 98 | 498 |
Source: Michigan DNR reported deer harvest (license years 2022 to 2025), Newaygo 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 Newaygo County?
120,873 of Newaygo County's 551,550 acres are public land open to the public (21.9%). The biggest share is national forest: 111,680 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Newaygo County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 111,680 | 20.2% |
| State game and wildlife areas | 5,938 | 1.1% |
| County, city and regional land | 1,621 | 0.3% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,573 | 0.3% |
| State parks and recreation areas | 54 | under 0.1% |
| State forest and other DNR land | 7 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 120,873 | 21.9% |
| Commercial Forest (private, open to hunting by law) | 593 | 0.1% |
593 acres of Newaygo 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 Newaygo County
DNR wildlife areas and parks open to hunting in Newaygo County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Muskegon State Game Area: 6,073 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Manistee National Forest (111,681 acres).
Hunting Access Program land in Newaygo County
The DNR's 2026 layer shows 2 active Hunting Access Program properties in Newaygo County, 200 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 Newaygo County?
Highways through it: M 37 (about 39 miles inside), M 20 (about 31 miles inside), M 82 (about 29 miles inside) and M 120 (about 4 miles inside). Towns inside: Newaygo, Fremont, White Cloud and Grant. Nearby: Hesperia (on the line), Sand Lake (2 miles), Pierson (3 miles) and Big Rapids (4 miles).
Which counties border Newaygo County?
Newaygo County touches 8 other counties. Their latest DNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land | Hunting Access Program land sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | 4,222 | 2025 | 5.5% | 1 |
| Lake County | 1,820 | 2025 | 46.9% | |
| Mason County | 4,294 | 2025 | 20.2% | |
| Oceana County | 4,589 | 2025 | 18.4% | |
| Mecosta County | 4,353 | 2025 | 5.7% | |
| Osceola County | 4,180 | 2025 | 8.1% | |
| Montcalm County | 7,412 | 2025 | 6.3% | |
| Muskegon County | 2,819 | 2025 | 11.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Newaygo County in 2025?
Hunters reported 5,727 deer: 2,937 antlered and 2,790 antlerless (DNR reported deer totals). In 2024: 6,895.
Is there public hunting land in Newaygo County?
Yes. 120,873 acres, 21.9% 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 (111,680 acres). The DNR's maps show 1 wildlife area or park open to hunting here.
Does Newaygo County have Hunting Access Program land?
Yes. 2 active properties, 200 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 Kent County Lake County Mason County Oceana County Mecosta County Osceola County Montcalm County Muskegon County