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State park, the Upper Peninsula
Craig Lake State Park for deer, birds and more
10,802 acres of state park in Baraga and Marquette counties, with 2026-27 units, use limits, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Craig Lake State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Craig Lake State Park
- Keewaydin Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Key facts on Craig Lake State Park
Craig Lake State Park belongs with the state parks of Baraga and Marquette counties. The DNR Wildlife Division counts it in its Upper Peninsula Region, which covers the Upper Peninsula. The DNR Parks and Recreation Division manages the ground. Its 10,802 acres make it the 4th largest of 37 state parks in our Michigan list. The nearest covered town is Three Lakes, around 5 miles off as the crow flies.
- Hunting status by acreage: 10,802 open.
From the source page (MI DNR Parks Hunting Land Boundary GIS Acres, polygons marked Open or Open-Restricted); region from the DNR wildlife region layer. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Craig Lake State Park
Access, closures and licenses on Craig Lake State Park
Access rules for Craig Lake State Park
Open zones on the DNR park hunting map are the only places to hunt or trap. A Recreation Passport covers vehicle entry; occupied buildings carry a 450-foot safety zone. Under park rules a state park is closed unless designated open.
- Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
- Early Canada goose dates here: 9/1 – 9/15.
Michigan rules that travel with you onto Craig Lake State Park
- Put a portable stand up after Aug. 31 and take it down by March 1; label it with your ID, and skip screw-in steps, nails and bolts.
- Blinds go up from Sept. 1. Constructed blinds carry ID and are banned on state game areas, parks and recreation areas in Zone 3; no cutting vegetation for any blind.
- Between Aug. 15 and April 30 take game in hunter orange (pink is an approved color); turkey and duck hunters do not need it.
- Deer and turkeys must be reported within 72 hours (or before the animal changes hands) through the DNR website or the Hunt Fish app.
- A 150-yard safety zone surrounds every occupied building.
- The DNR bars food plots on public land.
- Deer baiting here follows the Upper Peninsula rule: Sept. 15 to Jan. 1, 2 gallons, spread out.
- No man-made containers for bear bait on public or Commercial Forest land.
Licenses and prices for Craig Lake State Park
A base license plus the species license is the Michigan formula. Universal antlerless licenses are sold over the counter, up to 10, with use limits by county and UP DMU.
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.
Where Craig Lake State Park sits among the state and federal tracts
Craig Lake State Park is the big pin, with 10 neighbors around it. Add them up and the neighbors hold 661,374 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestoria Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 124 | 5.3 mi | southwest |
| Van Riper | State park | 1,018 | 8.8 mi | southeast |
| Baraga Plains | Flooding or WMA | 13,361 | 21 mi | west |
| Net River Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 298 | 21 mi | southwest |
| Deer River Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 53 | 22 mi | southwest |
| Sturgeon River Sloughs | Flooding or WMA | 8,964 | 30 mi | northwest |
| Gwinn Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 281,509 | 31 mi | southeast |
| Kenton | Ranger district | 211,314 | 31 mi | west |
| Hazel Swamp | GEMS | 2,377 | 32 mi | northwest |
| Baraga Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 142,356 | 36 mi | west |
Points from the DNR wildlife, GEMS, parks, forest, USFS, USFWS and NPS layers (MI DNR Parks Hunting Land Boundary GIS (centroid of hunting-open polygons) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Unit lines at Craig Lake State Park
Zone on the DNR map: Zone 1. DMU 007 is closed to universal antlerless licenses in 2026. The Baraga unit's first hunt period (Sept. 9 – Oct. 21) has a 2026 quota of 305 licenses. Spring turkey falls under unit M and fall turkey under unit M. The 2027 spring dates are still to come. Regular duck splits here: Sep 26-Nov 22 and Nov 28-Nov 29.
Craig Lake State Park deer units
| Unit | Name | Antlerless | Licenses usable | Antler points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 007 | Big Bay unit | Closed | Closed | None |
Craig Lake State Park: bear management units
| BMU | Periods | Quota | Points needed | Bears taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraga | 3 hunts | 1,570 | 3–4 | 349 |
Turkey units at Craig Lake State Park
| Unit | Harvest | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spring M | 1,254 | Unit-wide, spring 2026 |
| Fall M | 124 | All of unit, partial |
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.
Craig Lake State Park: the game on record
No species list is published for Craig Lake State Park, so every open Michigan season applies under the area rules.
The county table below lists 40 season rows for 22 species, from white-tailed deer to woodchuck.
Read the park restrictions in the rules section before choosing a weapon.
Species from the source (The park hunting layer does not list species; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations unless a restriction is listed.); bag limits from the DNR regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Craig Lake State Park season dates for 2026-27
22 species and 40 dated segments apply in Craig Lake State Park; the last column checks each against today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Amasa BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 | Baraga BMU | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Amasa BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 2 | Baraga BMU | Sep 14, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Amasa BMU | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 3 | Baraga 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.
Craig Lake State Park trip planning: towns and services
Each town below has its own hunting page on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Lakes | Baraga | 5.2 mi | – | 33,479 |
| Michigamme | Marquette | 7.7 mi | – | 28,253 |
| L'Anse | Baraga | 17 mi | 1,916 | 21,523 |
| Covington | Baraga | 19 mi | – | 88,223 |
Go wider with the county pages: Baraga County, Marquette County.
Craig Lake State Park: businesses in the area
Craig Lake State Park: the nearest agency desks
Baraga County is served by DNR Baraga Customer Service Center.
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.
Deer, turkeys and CWD around Craig Lake State Park
Last full license year (2025) Baraga County gave up 573 reported deer. Since mandatory reporting began in 2022 the yearly count has ranged from 474 (2023) to 751 (2022). The 2026 bar is season to date (38 deer by Oct. 22). In 2025 the DNR tested 14 Baraga County deer; 0 were positive. Baraga County: 73 spring birds reported in 2026. County figures come from Baraga, the first county for Craig Lake State Park. Harvest and CWD figures describe the county as a whole.
Deer table, Baraga County
| License year | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 26 | 12 | 38 |
| 2025 | 450 | 123 | 573 |
| 2024 | 473 | 79 | 552 |
| 2023 | 423 | 51 | 474 |
| 2022 | 693 | 58 | 751 |
2025 deer by unit near Craig Lake State Park
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 007 | 1,015 | 173 | 1,188 |
Wild deer checked for CWD in Baraga County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| 2024 | 13 | 0 |
Baraga County turkeys
| Figure | Number |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 birds | 73 |
| Fall 2026 so far | 9 |
| Fall 2025 (survey) | 37 |
| Fall 2025 hunters | 99 |
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.
Range time before hunting Craig Lake State Park
Nearest DNR range: Skoglund-Erickson Shooting Range, roughly 32 miles from Craig Lake State Park. Nearer club ranges are shown as well.
Lines: handgun, rifle, shotgun, archery
Lines: sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
Lines: rifle
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
DNR hunting hours for Craig Lake State Park
Michigan deer hours run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. The DNR prints one Zone A table and adds 6, 12 or 18 minutes for Zones B, C and D.
| 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.
Hunter questions on Craig Lake State Park
How long can a blind stay on Craig Lake State Park?
Portable stands only, from Sept. 1 to March 1, labelled with your ID.
Do I take a Craig Lake State Park deer to a check station?
Check stations are fewer now; mandatory online or app reporting within 72 hours is the rule.
Where can I hunt inside Craig Lake State Park?
Yes; the park hunting map marks them.
Do I need permission to hunt Craig Lake State Park?
A Michigan base license ($11 resident) plus the species license.
Whose land is Craig Lake State Park?
The DNR Parks and Recreation Division oversees this state park with land open to hunting.
What public ground borders or neighbors Craig Lake State Park?
The three nearest are Nestoria Creek Flooding State Wildlife Management Area (5 miles), Van Riper State Park (9 miles) and Baraga Plains State Wildlife Management Area (21 miles).
Which county holds most of Craig Lake State Park?
Three Lakes is closest (5 miles); the ground is in Baraga and Marquette counties.
How big is Craig Lake State Park on the map?
10,802 acres, per MI DNR Parks Hunting Land Boundary GIS Acres, polygons marked Open or Open-Restricted.
Can I use universal antlerless licenses on Craig Lake State Park?
DMU 007.
What may I hunt on Craig Lake State Park?
All open seasons apply, subject to the area rules; the source names no species.
What turkey license do I need for Craig Lake State Park?
Use spring unit M or fall unit none.
Which BMU do I apply for to hunt Craig Lake State Park?
It is in the Baraga BMU. Apply May 1-June 1 in the bear drawing for the Baraga unit.
What do baiting and CWD rules mean for Craig Lake State Park?
UP baiting is legal Sept. 15-Jan. 1, 2 gallons. Not a CWD county.
Craig Lake State Park: the last checklist
One last look before the drive: the Craig Lake State Park map, your licenses in the Hunt Fish app and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · Michigan DNR: rules; regulations from the 2026 Michigan hunting regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: rkramer62 (CC BY 2.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0).