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Schoolcraft County hunting town
Hunting trips from Manistique, Michigan
From Manistique to the nearest DNR and federal land, plus the Schoolcraft County deer management units, antlerless use limit, bear and turkey units and local taxidermists.
Photo: Shown here is Palms Book State Park (6.3 mi from Manistique). ksblack99 (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Manistique serves as the Schoolcraft County seat, on the Upper Peninsula side of the Straits. Hunters bound for Schoolcraft County state forest land can start from Manistique, since the land begins right there. The closest edge of Manistique Ranger District (Hiawatha National Forest) sits 7 miles out from Manistique, making it the base town. The Census puts Manistique at 2,871 residents for 2024. Mapped public acreage within 10 miles totals about 57,864, spread over 5 properties. Nearest of all is Shingleton Forest Management Unit (State Forest), which runs right up to town.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary distances within 10 miles are a GIS measure over the DNR wildlife property, park hunting-land and state forest layers and the USFS, USFWS and NPS boundaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Manistique
Michigan deer rules that apply at Manistique
How many antlerless licenses you can fill near Manistique, which bucks are legal, and what the disease rules require.
The DNR places Schoolcraft County wholly in Zone 1. Antlerless licenses can be used in 121 (2) (licenses per hunter in brackets); DMU 021, 048 and 349 allow none.
| Deer unit | Type | Antler rule | Antlerless use limit | 2025 reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 021 (Manistique unit) | Upper peninsula unit | None | Closed | 1,143 |
| DMU 048 (Newberry unit) | Upper peninsula unit | None | Closed | 445 |
| DMU 349 (Engadine unit) | Upper peninsula unit | None | Closed | 282 |
| DMU 121 (Bay de Noc) | Upper peninsula unit | None | 2 | 1,177 |
CWD has not been confirmed in Schoolcraft County wild deer, per the DNR county list. CWD results for Schoolcraft County, 2025: 0 of 61. The UP baiting window runs Sept. 15 to Jan. 1 with a 2-gallon limit.
Zones and units from counties.json (DNR layers) and the Wildlife Conservation Order; use limits, CWD areas, TB area and baiting from the DNR 2026 deer regulation summary; county CWD tests from DNR CWD testing data; donation testing from the DNR deer donation page; DMU harvest from the DNR harvest report summary. Checked October 22, 2026.
Manistique to the closest game areas and forests
The boundary column measures a straight line from Manistique to the closest edge; the centre column runs to the mapped point, so a big state forest unit can start far nearer than that figure.
Shingleton Forest Management Unit (State Forest) (375,050 acres) is the biggest block of public land within 10 miles. The 10-mile ring around Manistique holds no DNR game area. Rainey Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Management Area) is the closest flooding (5.3 mi to its line). 1 state forest unit reach the ring, led by Shingleton Forest Management Unit (State Forest). Manistique Ranger District (Hiawatha National Forest) is the nearest federal unit; its own rules and closures apply. Parks Division land in reach starts with Indian Lake State Park.
| Area | Way | Type | Managed by | Line | Point | Acres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shingleton Forest Management Unit (State Forest) at town to Manistique | N | State forest unit | DNR Forest | at town | 21 mi | 375,050 | deer, bear |
| Indian Lake State Park 3.7 mi to Manistique | W | State park | DNR Parks | 3.7 mi | 5.2 mi | 359 | Partly closed |
| Rainey Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Management Area) 5.3 mi to Manistique | NW | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | 5.3 mi | 5.3 mi | 115 | – |
| Palms Book State Park 6.3 mi to Manistique | NW | State park | DNR Parks | 6.3 mi | 6.8 mi | 286 | Partly closed |
| Manistique Ranger District (Hiawatha National Forest) 6.7 mi to Manistique Why listed | NW | Ranger district | US Forest Service | 6.7 mi | 14 mi | 151,862 | deer, bear |
| Garden Grade Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) 13 mi to Manistique | SW | GEMS grouse site | DNR GEMS | past 10 mi | 13 mi | 6,403 | ruffed grouse, woodcock |
| Seney National Wildlife Refuge 22 mi to Manistique Why listed | N | National refuge | US Fish and Wildlife | past 10 mi | 22 mi | 95,238 | woodcock, snipe |
| Fayette Historic State Park 26 mi to Manistique | SW | Historic park | DNR Parks | past 10 mi | 26 mi | 631 | Partly closed |
| Bullock Ranch State Wildlife Management Area 28 mi to Manistique | N | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | past 10 mi | 28 mi | 12,681 | – |
| Rapid River Ranger District (Hiawatha National Forest) 29 mi to Manistique | W | Ranger district | US Forest Service | past 10 mi | 29 mi | 157,799 | deer, bear |
Lands, acreage and notes from DNR property lists, DNR GIS acreage and federal hunting pages (lands.json); boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json; centre distances are straight lines from the Census point for Manistique. Checked October 22, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Schoolcraft County harvest numbers for Manistique hunters
Michigan has required deer harvest reports since 2022, so county figures below are hunter reports, not survey estimates.
Hunters reported 790 deer from Schoolcraft County in 2025: 652 antlered and 138 antlerless. Schoolcraft sat 75th on the 2025 county list. The first reporting year, 2022, showed 928. With the firearm opener still ahead, 2026 reports stand at 111.
2026 turkey reports for Schoolcraft County: 41 spring, 3 fall (fall still open). The DNR fall 2025 survey estimated 46 fall turkey hunters in Schoolcraft County, 13 birds and 29% success.
Deer and 2026 turkey from the DNR harvest report summary (2026 is season to date, retrieved October 22, 2026); fall 2025 turkey survey from the DNR wildlife publications (Report 3754). Checked October 22, 2026.
Wildlife field offices around Manistique
Walk-in help for Manistique hunters comes from the service center listed first; the others look after their own properties.
DNR Escanaba Customer Service Center (41 mi W of town)
Hiawatha National Forest Rapid River/Manistique Ranger District, 34 mi from Manistique
Hiawatha National Forest Munising Ranger District Office, 36 mi from Manistique
From the DNR customer service center page and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 22, 2026.
Bear, turkey and elk units for Manistique
Bear and elk licenses come by drawing, so the unit decides what you apply for.
Bear hunting near Manistique runs through the Newberry BMU drawing. Survey success in the Newberry unit was 46% for 2024. For spring gobblers, Manistique sits in unit M; the DNR has not released spring 2027 dates. Fall unit M covers the county this autumn (Sept. 15 – Nov. 14).
| BMU | Periods | Licenses 2026 | Points needed | Registered 2024 | Registered 2025* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry BMU | 3 | 880 | 9–10 | 329 | 334 |
| Unit | Hunt | When | Licenses | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring unit M | 0110 | April 18 – May 31 | 6,000 | Spring 2026 |
| Fall unit M | 0402 | Sept. 15 – Nov. 14 | 2,200 | Fall 2026 |
Units from counties.json (DNR layers); bear hunts, quotas and points from the DNR 2026 bear summary; registered bears and the 2024 survey from the DNR bear data and bear harvest reports; turkey hunts from the DNR spring turkey summary and fall turkey summary; small game units from the small game, waterfowl and fur harvester summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Open and upcoming seasons near Manistique
For Manistique, 37 segments cover deer, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Muzzleloader | Upper Peninsula | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 | Newberry BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Newberry BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Newberry BMU | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall unit M | 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 | |
| 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 | North Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | North Zone | Nov 28, 2026 | Nov 29, 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 | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 1 | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 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 A | 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.
Venison, mounts and archery shops around Manistique
Phone, map and website buttons appear where the source gave them. Opening hours were not checked. Soderman's Processing (39 mi) takes donated deer for Hunters Feeding Michigan.
| Service | Close (15 mi) | Wider (35 mi) | Closest | Miles | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting goods | 1 | 4 | Top O'Lake Sport Shop LLC | 0.3 mi SE | Manistique |
Sporting goods
Processors from the DNR Hunters Feeding Michigan list, DNR deer sample sites and Yellow Pages; shops from the DNR license agent map (license-only counters left out) and Yellow Pages; preserves from the DNR game bird preserve directory and Yellow Pages; taxidermists from Yellow Pages (the DNR taxidermy permit list is not public). Checked October 22, 2026; hours were not checked.
Manistique shooting time on key dates
Every time below comes from the DNR deer table; the B, C and D columns add the offsets printed on the zone map legend.
| When | Event | A zone | B zone | C zone | D zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Ranges closest to Manistique
Three ranges nearest Manistique, measured in straight-line miles.
Offers trap, shotgun, skeet, 5-stand, rifle
Offers sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
Offers archery, 3D archery
Skoglund-Erickson Shooting Range is the nearest DNR range, roughly 69 miles out. More
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 22, 2026.
Manistique hunting, answered
Which waterfowl zone is Manistique in?
Waterfowl dates follow the North Zone. The season table lists the zone splits.
What public land do Manistique hunters reach first?
Measured from the town point: Shingleton Forest Management Unit (State Forest), which runs right up to town. The runner-up for Manistique hunters is Indian Lake State Park.
Does Manistique have much public acreage nearby?
57,864 acres of state and federal land fall within 10 miles. The circle total comes from 5 separate tracts.
Which Michigan deer management units cover Manistique?
DMU 021 (Manistique unit) is the main unit here.
What antlerless limit applies around Manistique?
Limits are set per DMU: DMU 121 (2).
Has CWD been found near Manistique?
Schoolcraft County has no listed CWD deer. Up to 2 gallons may be scattered Sept. 15 to Jan. 1.
How many bear licenses does the unit near Manistique get?
Manistique sits in the Newberry unit. 880 licenses were set for 2026. Preliminary 2025 count: 334 bears.
Which spring turkey unit do Manistique hunters use?
Spring hunts here are unit M; fall is unit M. Fall dates are Sept. 15 – Nov. 14. The 2026 count is 44.
What are the 2026 rifle deer dates for Schoolcraft County?
Statewide firearm deer runs Nov 15 to Nov 30, 2026 in both peninsulas. After it comes Dec 4 to Dec 6, 2026 (muzzleloader).
How late can a Manistique hunter shoot on opening day?
On Nov 15, 2026 the DNR Zone A table reads 6:53 a.m. to 5:48 p.m.; add 6, 12 or 18 minutes for Zones B, C and D.
Which shop near Manistique cuts and wraps venison?
The closest processor listing is Soderman's Processing in Gladstone, 39 miles away. This page counts 0 processors within 35 miles of Manistique.
How many taxidermists are near Manistique?
Closest taxidermy listing: North Country Legends Txdrmy, 39 miles from Manistique. 0 taxidermists work within 35 miles of Manistique.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above; harvest reporting and the antlered deer limit from the DNR 2026 deer regulation summary. Checked October 22, 2026.
Leaving Manistique for the woods
Driving out from Manistique? Look up legal light for your hunting-time zone and the Schoolcraft County season table.
Other photos on this page: GerryT (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); jitze (CC BY 2.0); Rick B Briggs (CC BY 2.0); YoungSue (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0); rkramer62 (CC BY 2.0); Don Henise (CC BY 2.0).