Home › Michigan › Public land › Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
Alpena County · Flooding or WMA
Devil's Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area public hunting, 2026-27
Devil's Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area, 911 acres in Alpena County: deer units and zones, area rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: clembore (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Devil’s Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Devil’s Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area
- Devils Lake Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Norway Ridge Pathway TrailheadTrailhead · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 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.
What the records say about Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
On the map Devil's Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area sits in Alpena County. On paper it is a DNR wildlife management area (a flooding or marsh unit). That puts it in the northern Lower Peninsula, the DNR Northern Lower Peninsula Region. Stewardship falls to the DNR Wildlife Division. Measured at 911 acres, it lands 43rd of the 72 wildlife management areas we cover. The DNR page gives 912 acres, a little off the mapped total. The DNR area list (180 rows) includes it. Ossineke is the closest town we cover, about 6 miles away; the area lies northwest of it.
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 Devil’s Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Public tracts within a drive of Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
Besides Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA, the map carries 10 public tracts within driving range. The neighbors add 473,659 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negwegon | State park | 4,079 | 11 mi | southeast |
| Rockport | Recreation area | 4,281 | 16 mi | north |
| Hubbard Lake | State game area | 522 | 16 mi | south |
| Sturgeon Point | State park | 50 | 22 mi | southeast |
| Atlanta Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 291,430 | 24 mi | northwest |
| Thompson's Harbor | State park | 5,399 | 25 mi | north |
| Harrisville | Ranger district | 165,234 | 27 mi | southwest |
| Greasy Creek | GEMS | 1,080 | 28 mi | west |
| Sportsman's Pond Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 162 | 31 mi | west |
| Rainey River Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,422 | 31 mi | northwest |
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.
What Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA asks of hunters
Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA access terms
Michigan seasons apply on Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA, a DNR-managed flooding. Posted refuges and closed areas are the only parts kept closed.
The statewide fine print, applied to Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
- Tree stands on public land are portable only, go up no earlier than Sept. 1 and come down by March 1, carry the owner's name and address or license or Sportcard number, and use no nails, screws, bolts or screw-in steps.
- Ground blinds may stand from Sept. 1 to the end of the deer seasons; portable blinds come out daily, and constructed blinds need ID and are barred on Zone 3 game areas, parks and recreation areas.
- Orange season runs Aug. 15 to April 30. Exempt: archery deer and bear, turkey, falconry and migratory birds other than woodcock.
- Use the Hunt Fish app or the DNR harvest report page within 72 hours for deer and turkey.
- Safety zone: 450 feet from any occupied building for firearm hunting.
- Public land: no food plots.
- No deer bait: the Lower Peninsula ban covers it.
- Bear baiters on state and Commercial Forest land: no barrels or containers, bait on the ground only.
- Firearm season ORV limits apply: no riding 7-11 a.m. or 2-5 p.m. from Nov. 15 to 30.
What licenses Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA needs
The base license covers small game; deer hunters pick a single or combo license at purchase, and universal antlerless licenses follow the use limit where you hunt.
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.
What hunters chase at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
Nothing narrows the game at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA: the county season rows and zone units below are the guide.
For Alpena County the regulation summaries carry 43 dated hunting rows covering 24 species, among them White-tailed deer, Black bear, Elk, Wild turkey and Ruffed grouse.
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.
Zones and units that take in Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
The DNR zone line puts it in Zone 2. Antlerless use limit, Alpena County: 10. Alpena County is on the list for the early (Sept. 12-13) and late (Dec. 7-Jan. 1) antlerless firearm seasons. The Red Oak BMU drawing covers 1 hunt period; the first (Sept. 12–22 and Oct. 2–8) has 685 licenses. Spring unit NN, fall unit I. Spring 2026 dates were the last ones published. Duck dates follow the Middle Zone: Oct 3-Nov 29 and Dec 12-Dec 13. Elk hunting here needs a drawn license for unit X.
Antlerless rules near Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
| Deer unit | Name | Antlerless | Limit per hunter | Point rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 487 | Northeast Lower Peninsula multicounty | Open | County limit | None |
| DMU 004 | Alpena county | – | 10 | None |
Bear permits for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
| BMU | Hunts | 2026 quota | Points (2025) | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1 hunt | 685 | 9–10 | 282 |
Spring and fall units for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
| Turkey unit | Birds reported | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Spring NN | 4,156 | Spring 2026, unit |
| Fall I | 822 | Whole unit, in progress |
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.
Every hunt that reaches Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
For Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA, 43 segments cover deer, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | 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 | |
| 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.
Alpena County harvest near Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
Deer reported in Alpena County for 2025: 3,989. The reporting era peaked at 4,299 in 2024 and bottomed at 3,374 in 2023. The starred 2026 bar (592) is partial. 89 spring turkeys were reported in Alpena County in 2026. No harvest is published for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA itself, so county and DMU totals are the finest level.
Reported deer around Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 158 | 434 | 592 |
| 2025 | 2,258 | 1,731 | 3,989 |
| 2024 | 2,294 | 2,005 | 4,299 |
| 2023 | 2,139 | 1,235 | 3,374 |
| 2022 | 2,182 | 1,362 | 3,544 |
Unit totals near Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 004 | 519 | 399 | 918 |
Alpena County turkey table
| Measure | Birds |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 89 |
| Fall so far | 4 |
| Fall 2025 estimate | 27 |
| Hunters, fall 2025 | 67 |
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.
Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA: nearby towns and businesses
Covered towns come first, measured straight-line, then shops, processors and DNR desks.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ossineke | Alpena | 6.0 mi | – | 23,974 |
| Alpena | Alpena | 6.5 mi | 10,116 | 25,337 |
| Hubbard Lake | Alcona | 12 mi | – | 16,564 |
| Lost Lake Woods | Alcona | 13 mi | – | 18,363 |
County write-ups on this site: Alpena County.
Butcher shops and taxidermists for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA trips
Agency offices closest to Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
The DNR list names Atlanta Field Office as the local office for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA.
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.
Sighting in before Devil's Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Voyer Lake Shooting Range, 29 miles off, is the DNR range nearest Devil's Lake/River Flooding Wildlife Management Area. Club ranges within 30 miles follow.
Disciplines: rifle, handgun
Disciplines: sporting clays, shotgun
Disciplines: trap, skeet, shotgun
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
Legal shooting light at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA
Deer hunters at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA get legal light from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, read from the DNR table for the date.
| 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.
Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA questions with data-backed answers
Does the deer baiting rule allow bait at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
No: the Lower Peninsula ban covers it. The county is missing from the 18-county CWD list.
What are the waterfowl rules at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Use the Middle Zone dates. Bring non-toxic shot and a plugged gun.
How do I report a deer from Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Within 72 hours, online or in the Hunt Fish app; keep the confirmation number.
Is hunter orange required on Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Aug. 15 through April 30, in daylight shooting hours.
Which Michigan licenses do I need for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
eLicense or the Hunt Fish app sells everything needed; nonresidents pay $151 for the base license.
Are screw-in steps allowed on Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Yes: name and address, license or Sportcard number.
Who writes the rules for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
The DNR Wildlife Division treats it as a DNR wildlife management area (a flooding or marsh unit).
What other state or federal land is near Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
The closest alternatives are Negwegon State Park (11 miles), Rockport Recreation Area (16 miles) and Hubbard Lake State Game Area (16 miles).
Where do Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA hunters stay?
Alpena County holds it, 6 miles from Ossineke.
What is the acreage figure for Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Roughly 911 acres.
Which DMU numbers apply on Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Deer unit 487 and 004. The Alpena County use limit is 10.
What game does Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA hold, per the DNR?
Any species in an open season, as long as you follow the area rules.
Which turkey units cover Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA?
Fall unit I; spring 2027 dates are not out yet.
Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA: what to confirm
Refuges, closures and drawing schedules at Devil's Lake/River Flooding WMA can change during the season; the agency page and Mi-HUNT have the current picture.
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: rkramer62 (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).