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Houghton County · State park
Hunting F.J. McLain State Park in 2026-27
What we could verify about F.J. McLain State Park: acreage, units, area rules, harvest around it and nearby ground.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to F.J. McLain State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near F.J. McLain State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- North Canal Boat LaunchBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Christensen Road Winter TrailheadTrailhead · 3.5 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.
F.J. McLain State Park at a glance
Look for F.J. McLain State Park in Houghton County; the record files it as a state park with land open to hunting. For DNR purposes it falls in the Upper Peninsula Region. Management rests with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. Out of 37 state parks, its 182 acres put it in place 35. Roughly 9 miles north of Houghton.
- Park hunting layer acres: 182 open and 237 closed.
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 F.J. McLain State Park
Quarry and limits at F.J. McLain State Park
F.J. McLain State Park carries no game list of its own. Any season open where it lies is fair game, within the area rules.
Houghton County seasons cover White-tailed deer, Black bear, Wild turkey, Ruffed grouse and Woodcock and more: 22 species in 40 rows.
Park restrictions listed in the rules band can still narrow weapons or areas.
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.
Units and limits for F.J. McLain State Park
Hunting zone: Zone 1, in the Upper Peninsula. No universal antlerless use in DMU 042 this season. Baraga BMU, hunt 0004: Sept. 9 – Oct. 21, 305 licenses. Turkey units: M in spring, M in fall (spring 2027 dates not yet set). North Zone ducks: Sep 26-Nov 22 and Nov 28-Nov 29.
F.J. McLain State Park: DMUs and antlerless limits
| Unit | Name | Antlerless | Use limit | Antler rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 042 | Keweenaw unit | Closed | Closed | None |
BMUs over F.J. McLain State Park
| BMU | Hunts | Quota 2026 | Points | 2025 bears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraga | 3 hunts | 1,570 | 3–4 | 349 |
Turkey hunting units over F.J. McLain State Park
| Unit | Reported | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Spring M | 1,254 | Unit total 2026 |
| Fall M | 124 | Unit total, 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.
Map: F.J. McLain State Park and the public tracts around it
Smaller pins show 6 nearby public tracts around F.J. McLain State Park. Acres across them: 170,204.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River Sloughs | Flooding or WMA | 8,964 | 20 mi | south |
| Hazel Swamp | GEMS | 2,377 | 28 mi | south |
| Pike Lake Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 130 | 30 mi | south |
| Fort Wilkins | Historic park | 785 | 37 mi | northeast |
| Baraga Plains | Flooding or WMA | 13,361 | 41 mi | south |
| Ontonagon | Ranger district | 144,587 | 42 mi | southwest |
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) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside))). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
F.J. McLain State Park: what is allowed
How access works at F.J. McLain State Park
Hunt and trap only the open parts on the DNR park hunting map, buy the Recreation Passport for your vehicle, and respect the 450-foot zone around occupied buildings. DNR park rules close every state park to hunting unless it is designated open.
- Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown).
- Early goose hunting is allowed in some open zones, Day After Labor Day – 9/15.
F.J. McLain State Park: what the regulation summaries require
- Stands may be placed from Sept. 1 and must be gone by March 1. Portable models only, ID attached, no screw-in steps.
- Blind rule on public land: portable ones removed daily, dead-material ones need no label, constructed ones need ID and are out on Zone 3 game areas and parks.
- Wear a hunter orange cap, hat, vest, jacket or rain gear from Aug. 15 through April 30; bowhunters in archery seasons, turkey hunters and most migratory bird hunters are exempt.
- Within 72 hours of recovering a deer or turkey, report it on the DNR site or the Hunt Fish app.
- The 450-foot (150-yard) safety zone around occupied buildings applies.
- Food plots are not allowed on public ground.
- The UP permits up to 2 gallons of scattered deer bait from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1.
- Bear bait on public and Commercial Forest land must sit on the ground with no man-made container.
The license bill for F.J. McLain State Park
Start with the base license, then add the deer, turkey, waterfowl or pheasant license you need, on eLicense or in the Hunt Fish app. Universal antlerless use is limited by county or UP unit.
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.
F.J. McLain State Park hunting calendar
F.J. McLain State Park rows run from the September Liberty Hunt and bear periods through the late coyote, fox and bobcat dates.
| Game | Hunt | Unit | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Reported deer and turkeys near F.J. McLain State Park
The 2025 reported total for Houghton County was 830 deer (587 antlered). 2022 was the busiest year on the chart (1,007 deer), 2023 the leanest (697). License year 2026 is still running; 78 deer reported by Oct. 22. 57 tested and 0 positive: Houghton County in 2025. Spring 2026 turkey reports for Houghton County: 105 birds. These numbers cover the country around F.J. McLain State Park, not the property alone.
Deer reported near F.J. McLain State Park
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 41 | 37 | 78 |
| 2025 | 587 | 243 | 830 |
| 2024 | 810 | 132 | 942 |
| 2023 | 578 | 119 | 697 |
| 2022 | 885 | 122 | 1,007 |
F.J. McLain State Park: deer units, 2025
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 042 | 233 | 72 | 305 |
Houghton County CWD by year
| Year | Samples | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | 0 |
| 2024 | 71 | 0 |
Houghton County turkey harvest
| Item | Birds |
|---|---|
| Spring reported | 105 |
| Fall to date | 13 |
| Fall 2025 | 48 |
| Fall hunters | 212 |
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.
Base camps, butchers and DNR desks around F.J. McLain State Park
Towns first; the services after them are in this county or the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton | Houghton | 8.7 mi | 8,543 | 5,159 |
| Hurontown | Houghton | 8.8 mi | – | 5,522 |
| Hubbell | Houghton | 9.2 mi | – | 1,253 |
| Mohawk | Keweenaw | 13 mi | – | 1,781 |
County pages that cover this ground: Houghton County.
Processors, mounts and gun counters near F.J. McLain State Park
Local DNR and federal offices for F.J. McLain State Park
For Houghton County, the DNR points to 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.
When the hunting day opens and closes at F.J. McLain State Park
Ducks and geese stop at sunset and early teal and woodcock start at sunrise; these deer times are for big game and most small game.
| 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.
F.J. McLain State Park: ranges nearby
Drive about 75 miles to Skoglund-Erickson Shooting Range for a DNR range. The next cards are clubs nearby.
Set up for handgun, rifle, shotgun, archery
Set up for handgun, rifle, air gun
Set up for trap, 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
F.J. McLain State Park hunting questions, short answers
Is F.J. McLain State Park open to hunting at all?
The open zones on the park hunting map. 237 acres are closed.
Is an extra permit required for F.J. McLain State Park?
Residents pay $11 for the base license and $40 for the deer combo.
Which division or agency runs F.J. McLain State Park?
The DNR Parks and Recreation Division manages it; the land is a state park with land open to hunting.
Which other areas sit within reach of F.J. McLain State Park?
Nearest neighbors: Sturgeon River Sloughs Wildlife Management Area (20 miles), Hazel Swamp Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) (28 miles) and Pike Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area (30 miles).
How far is F.J. McLain State Park from Houghton?
Houghton County, roughly 9 miles from Houghton.
Is F.J. McLain State Park large enough for a full day afield?
Acreage on record: 182.
Which deer units take in F.J. McLain State Park?
DMU 042.
Are some animals off limits at F.J. McLain State Park?
The record lists none, which means all open seasons, within the area rules.
Is F.J. McLain State Park in a spring turkey unit?
Spring M and fall none.
Is there a bear season at F.J. McLain State Park?
Baraga for bear. A bear license for a hunt period comes from the drawing or leftover sales.
Is F.J. McLain State Park under the Lower Peninsula baiting ban?
It is legal here from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. The county has no CWD positives on the DNR list.
Is F.J. McLain State Park in the North, Middle or South Zone?
North Zone for ducks and geese. Shotguns hold 3 shells and fire non-toxic shot.
How many hours do I have to report a F.J. McLain State Park deer?
Within 72 hours of recovery or before the animal changes hands.
F.J. McLain State Park wrap-up
Print the F.J. McLain State Park map, carry your licenses, and check the agency page the week you go.
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: ksblack99 (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0).