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Flooding or WMA · Northern Lower Peninsula
Sportsman's Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area: where, what and how to hunt
A hunter's summary of Sportsman's Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area in Montmorency County: units and limits, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: Scottb211 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Sportsman’s Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA: the record card
Sportsman's Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area counts as a DNR wildlife management area (a flooding or marsh unit), and it lies in Montmorency County. Its home region at the DNR is the Northern Lower Peninsula Region. The DNR Wildlife Division sets the rules on site. By acreage (162) it ranks 61st in a group of 72 wildlife management areas. DNR page figure: 97 acres. It is one of the 180 rows on the DNR state game and wildlife areas list. Roughly 4 miles northeast of Atlanta.
From the source page (MI DNR Wildlife Property Boundary GIS Acres field); region from the DNR wildlife region layer. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sportsman’s Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Who can hunt Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA, and on what terms
Entry terms, Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
DNR floodings like Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA are open to the public during Michigan seasons. Watch for posted refuges and closed areas around the water.
Michigan rules that follow you to Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
- The DNR stand rule for public land: portable, ID affixed, Sept. 1 to March 1, no nails, screws or bolts.
- From Sept. 1 to the end of deer season blinds are allowed; constructed blinds need ID and are prohibited on game areas, parks and recreation areas in Zone 3.
- From mid-August to the end of April, a hunter orange outer layer is the law in daylight; camouflage counts if half of it is orange. Turkey and waterfowl hunters are exempt.
- Harvest reporting is required for deer and turkey inside 72 hours; failing to report is a civil infraction.
- Firearm hunters keep 150 yards from occupied dwellings, cabins and farm buildings.
- Planting a food plot on public land is not legal.
- This is Lower Peninsula ground, where deer baiting and feeding are banned.
- On public land, bear bait goes on the ground, never in a container.
- ORV quiet hours on public hunting land, Nov. 15-30: 7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA: licenses to carry
Buy in the Hunt Fish app, at an agent or on eLicense. Every hunter needs the base license; antlerless licenses (up to 10) obey the county or DMU use limit.
Access from the source page; public-land stand, blind, safety-zone and food-plot rules from the DNR deer regulations summary; hunter orange from MCL 324.40116; prices from the 2026 license fee tables. Checked October 22, 2026.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA and nearby public ground
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Between them the nearby tracts list 674,790 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainey River Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,422 | 9.8 mi | north |
| Tomahawk Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,144 | 11 mi | north |
| Sage Lakes Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 248 | 11 mi | south |
| Greasy Creek | GEMS | 1,080 | 12 mi | south |
| Atlanta Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 291,430 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Pigeon River Country State Forest | Forest unit | 123,358 | 18 mi | northwest |
| Dog Lake Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,665 | 21 mi | northwest |
| Kirtland's Warbler | Federal WMA | 6,684 | 21 mi | southwest |
| Stoney Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,110 | 27 mi | northwest |
| Grayling Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 246,649 | 29 mi | south |
Points from the DNR wildlife, GEMS, parks, forest, USFS, USFWS and NPS layers (MI DNR Wildlife Property Boundary GIS (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA deer units, bear units and zones
It is Zone 2 ground in the Northern Lower Peninsula. Montmorency County allows 10 universal antlerless licenses per hunter. Montmorency County is an early and late antlerless county. For bear the unit is Red Oak; its 2026 hunt 0020 quota is 685. For turkeys it is unit NN (spring) and I (fall); the 2027 spring calendar has not been printed. Waterfowl: Middle Zone, regular duck season Oct 3-Nov 29 and Dec 12-Dec 13. Elk units I and X overlap its counties; elk licenses come by drawing, residents only.
The deer units around Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
| DMU | Unit name | Antlerless status | Antlerless use limit | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 060 | Montmorency county | – | 10 | No APR |
| DMU 487 | Northeast Lower Peninsula multicounty | Open | County rule | No APR |
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA bear units
| Bear unit | Hunts | Quota | Points (res.) | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1 hunt | 685 | 9–10 | 282 |
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA turkey units
| Unit | Reported harvest | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring NN | 4,156 | All of unit, 2026 |
| Fall I | 822 | Unit-wide, fall to date |
Zones from the DNR 2026 zone layers as recorded in lands.json; DMU status and APR from the Wildlife Conservation Order; use limits from the 2026 deer summary; BMU hunts and quotas from the 2026 bear summary and bear registration data; turkey from the DNR turkey harvest report; CWD lists from the DNR CWD rules. Checked October 22, 2026.
Game you can hunt at Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
There is no species list for Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA in the sources; the open seasons for its county and units decide what you can hunt.
Seasons for 24 species reach Montmorency County; White-tailed deer, Black bear, Elk and Wild turkey lead the 44-row table.
Species from the source (The DNR list gives no species for this area; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations.); bag limits from the DNR regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA openers and closers in one table
Private ground and public ground share these dates in Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA; a state park, refuge or national lakeshore can set its own limits.
| Animal | Segment | Area | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Early antlerless firearm | Listed antlerless county | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Liberty Hunt | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, early | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Independence Hunt | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular firearm | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, late | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | December firearm | Lower Peninsula | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late antlerless firearm | Listed antlerless county | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 (firearm/bait/dogs) | Red Oak BMU | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Period 1, archery | Red Oak BMU | Oct 2, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 | |
| Elk | Hunt period 1 | Elk unit X | Sep 23, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Elk | Hunt period 2 | Elk unit X | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Hunt period 2 | Elk unit X/I | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall unit I | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Fall first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Fall second part | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Fall | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Fall | Zone 2 | Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Fox and gray squirrel | Private-land season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | |
| Fox and gray squirrel | Regular | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Private-land season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Crow | Summer | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Crow | Late winter | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Middle Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Veterans days | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth weekend | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 1 | Middle Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 2 | Middle Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 1 | Middle Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 2 | Middle Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Management season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Mar 1, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Management season | Statewide | Mar 2, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Coyote | Regular hunting | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Mar 1, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Bobcat Unit C | Jan 1, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 | |
| Feral swine | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Opossum | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Skunk | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Woodchuck | Year-round | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 2026 hunting regulation summaries (deer, bear, elk, turkey, small game, waterfowl and furbearer editions), checked October 22, 2026.
Lodging, fuel and a processor near Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
Pick a town for the night, then a processor for the deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Montmorency | 3.6 mi | – | 90,776 |
| Canada Creek Ranch | Montmorency | 9.5 mi | – | 131,423 |
| Hillman | Montmorency | 11 mi | 660 | 32,727 |
| Lewiston | Montmorency | 15 mi | – | 100,970 |
Each county here has its own page: Montmorency County.
Who handles a deer from Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
Office phone numbers that handle Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
Managing office: Atlanta Field Office.
Towns and populations from Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 22, 2026. Call ahead.
What hunters reported from the county around Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
2025 in Montmorency County: 1,199 antlered, 1,266 antlerless, 2,465 in all. The reporting era peaked at 2,802 in 2024 and bottomed at 1,986 in 2023. Season to date (Oct. 22, 2026): 250 deer. With mandatory reporting new in 2026, Montmorency County logged 122 spring turkeys. These are county or unit totals, not Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Montmorency County harvest table
| Season | Antlered | Does and fawns | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 57 | 193 | 250 |
| 2025 | 1,199 | 1,266 | 2,465 |
| 2024 | 1,401 | 1,401 | 2,802 |
| 2023 | 1,046 | 940 | 1,986 |
| 2022 | 1,233 | 1,554 | 2,787 |
Reported by DMU, Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA
| DMU | Antlered | Antlerless | 2025 total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 060 | 439 | 480 | 919 |
Turkeys reported in Montmorency County
| Figure | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 reported | 122 |
| Fall 2026 | 6 |
| Fall 2025 survey | 37 |
| Fall 2025 hunters | 150 |
Deer from the DNR Harvest Report Summary (mandatory reporting; 2026 season to date); CWD from the DNR CWD testing data; turkeys from the turkey harvest report and the 2025 fall survey. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearest ranges to Sportsman's Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area
From Sportsman's Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area, Voyer Lake Shooting Range is the closest range on DNR land (2 miles). Clubs inside 30 miles are included.
Offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun
Offers rifle, air gun
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA hunting-hour table for key season dates
Use the column for the hunting-time zone that covers Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA on the DNR map. Zone D is the far western Upper Peninsula.
| Date | Moment | Zone A hours | Zone B hours | Zone C hours | Zone D hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:59 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Independence Hunt | 7:15 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Firearm opener | 6:53 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 6:06 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Firearm close | 7:11 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | December hunts | 7:16 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late archery close | 7:31 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. |
Zone A times from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources deer hunting hours table, zone offsets from the DNR hunting hours map legend, checked October 22, 2026. Hunting hours for every zone.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA: quick answers
What does a license for Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA cost?
Base license, then deer ($20 single, $40 combo) or other species licenses.
Where do I go when Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA has too many trucks?
Rainey River Flooding Wildlife Management Area (10 miles), Tomahawk Creek Flooding Wildlife Management Area (11 miles) and Sage Lakes Flooding Wildlife Management Area (11 miles) all have pages on this site.
Is Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA state or federal ground?
A DNR wildlife management area (a flooding or marsh unit); the manager is the DNR Wildlife Division.
How much ground does Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA hold?
The figure used here is 162 acres.
Which town makes a good base for a Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA hunt?
Montmorency County; Atlanta, the nearest town we cover, is 4 miles away.
Which seasons count on Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
Every open Michigan season applies under the area rules; no list narrows it.
What deer rules apply on Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
It lies in DMU 060 and 487. In Montmorency County a hunter may use up to 10 universal antlerless licenses.
How do I get a bear license for Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
Bear unit: Red Oak. Draw a Red Oak license with preference points (2025: 9–10 points for residents).
Which unit do I pick for turkeys at Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
The fall license ($15) is for unit I; spring hunts follow unit NN.
What are the waterfowl rules at Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
It is Middle Zone ground. Waterfowl hunters need the state waterfowl license, HIP and a federal stamp.
Is it legal to bait deer on Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
The baiting ban applies. The DNR list of counties with a CWD-positive wild deer does not include this one.
Do turkey hunters wear orange at Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
A hunter orange cap, hat, vest, jacket or rain gear, visible from all sides, from Aug. 15 to April 30.
Do I register a bear from Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA?
Bears go to a DNR registration station within 72 hours for sealing.
Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA: what to confirm
Gates, refuges and open zones at Sportsman's Pond Flooding WMA are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: Michigan DNR: state wildlife game areas list · DNR GIS; regulations from the 2026 Michigan hunting regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: YoungSue (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).