Michigan publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 91 hunt units. DMU-273 Shiawassee Unit (SRSGA and SNWR) is highest at 22.6 deer harvested per square mile in 2020. DMU-062 Newaygo County has 16.6 in 2020 and DMU-053 Mason County has 16.1 in 2020. For success rate DMU-029 Gratiot County leads at 100% in 2020 and DMU-013 Calhoun County has 95% in 2020. Harvest in a hunt unit includes private land, so the public share is shown next to each unit. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- DMU-273 Shiawassee Unit (SRSGA and SNWR) has the highest harvest per square mile at 22.6. The agency reported 623 deer on 17,670 acres in 2020.
- DMU-029 Gratiot County has the best success rate at 100%. Its harvest per square mile ranks 6 of 91.
- 91 hunt units are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured in 2020 and each row shows its own newest year.
Michigan public land rankings
Best public land in Michigan
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Season measured 2020. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Hunt units
Top 15 of 91 ranked hunt units by deer harvest per square mile. Hunt units include private land, so the public share column shows how much of each unit is public land open to hunting.
15 of 91 hunt units shown
| 1 | DMU-273 Shiawassee Unit (SRSGA and SNWR) | 17,670 | 2020 | 623 | 22.6 | 48% | 55 | 27.1 | 98.1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | DMU-062 Newaygo County | 536,789 | 2020 | 13,937 | 16.6 | 73% | 18 | 182.7 | 21.8% |
| 3 | DMU-053 Mason County | 316,765 | 2020 | 7,961 | 16.1 | 76% | 14 | 101.7 | 20.5% |
| 4 | DMU-054 Mecosta County | 355,299 | 2020 | 8,335 | 15.0 | 72% | 20 | 25.8 | 4.7% |
| 5 | DMU-056 Midland County | 331,110 | 2020 | 7,595 | 14.7 | 75% | 16 | 6.2 | 1.2% |
| 6 | DMU-029 Gratiot County | 363,747 | 2020 | 8,295 | 14.6 | 100% | 1 | 27.7 | 4.9% |
| 7 | DMU-019 Clinton County | 362,090 | 2020 | 8,184 | 14.5 | 90% | 6 | 16.0 | 2.8% |
| 8 | DMU-064 Oceana County | 344,389 | 2020 | 7,763 | 14.4 | 73% | 19 | 96.6 | 17.9% |
| 9 | DMU-034 Ionia County | 365,572 | 2020 | 7,993 | 14.0 | 76% | 15 | 18.3 | 3.2% |
| 10 | DMU-067 Osceola County | 362,399 | 2020 | 7,636 | 13.5 | 67% | 25 | 29.5 | 5.2% |
| 11 | DMU-037 Isabella County | 366,530 | 2020 | 7,541 | 13.2 | 87% | 7 | 1.2 | 0.2% |
| 12 | DMU-006 Arenac County | 232,406 | 2020 | 4,749 | 13.1 | 71% | 21 | 5.4 | 1.5% |
| 13 | DMU-059 Montcalm County | 451,365 | 2020 | 9,121 | 12.9 | 74% | 17 | 39.0 | 5.5% |
| 14 | DMU-030 Hillsdale County | 382,826 | 2020 | 7,699 | 12.9 | 87% | 8 | 4.8 | 0.8% |
| 15 | DMU-023 Eaton County | 368,106 | 2020 | 7,307 | 12.7 | 94% | 3 | 1.2 | 0.2% |
Top 10 by success rate
10 of 89 hunt units with a success rate shown
| 6 | DMU-029 Gratiot County | 363,747 | 2020 | 8,295 | 14.6 | 100% | 1 | 27.7 | 4.9% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | DMU-013 Calhoun County | 452,003 | 2020 | 8,964 | 12.7 | 95% | 2 | 4.9 | 0.7% |
| 15 | DMU-023 Eaton County | 368,106 | 2020 | 7,307 | 12.7 | 94% | 3 | 1.2 | 0.2% |
| 26 | DMU-312 Sherwood multicounty unit | 1,004,044 | 2020 | 16,399 | 10.5 | 93% | 4 | 23.6 | 1.5% |
| 34 | DMU-311 Keeler multi-county unit | 1,065,941 | 2020 | 15,494 | 9.3 | 91% | 5 | 18.2 | 1.1% |
| 7 | DMU-019 Clinton County | 362,090 | 2020 | 8,184 | 14.5 | 90% | 6 | 16.0 | 2.8% |
| 11 | DMU-037 Isabella County | 366,530 | 2020 | 7,541 | 13.2 | 87% | 7 | 1.2 | 0.2% |
| 14 | DMU-030 Hillsdale County | 382,826 | 2020 | 7,699 | 12.9 | 87% | 8 | 4.8 | 0.8% |
| 22 | DMU-332 Greenleaf unit | 1,665,523 | 2020 | 30,576 | 11.7 | 85% | 9 | 89.5 | 3.4% |
| 23 | DMU-033 Ingham County | 356,021 | 2020 | 6,413 | 11.5 | 82% | 10 | 8.5 | 1.5% |
01Hunt units
91 hunt units ranked on harvest per square mile
DMU-273 Shiawassee Unit (SRSGA and SNWR) has the most deer harvested per square mile at 22.6 in 2020. DMU-062 Newaygo County has 16.6 in 2020 and DMU-053 Mason County has 16.1 in 2020.
The public share is the part of each unit that is public land open to hunting.
02Success rate
Top 10 hunt units by success rate
DMU-029 Gratiot County has the best success rate at 100% in 2020. DMU-013 Calhoun County has 95% in 2020 and DMU-023 Eaton County has 94% in 2020.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. 89 of the 91 ranked units have one and the rest are left blank.
03Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured in 2020 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Season measured 2020. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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