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Van Buren County, Michigan
Hunting on Fuller Woods State Game Area: units and rules
DMU 486 and 311, bear and turkey units, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: H. Michael Miley (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Fuller Woods State Game Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Fuller Woods State Game Area
- Parking areaParking ยท 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.
Fuller Woods State Game Area, the essentials
Fuller Woods State Game Area is a DNR state game area in Van Buren County. Wildlife Division region: Southwest Lower Peninsula Region. The rules on site come from the DNR Wildlife Division. Size ranking: 90th of 95 state game areas, with 85 acres. The state list of game and wildlife areas carries it. From Paw Paw it is about 9 miles northwest.
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 Fuller Woods State Game Area
Fuller Woods State Game Area pinned among its neighbors
The bold pin marks Fuller Woods State Game Area, ringed by 10 other public tracts. Neighboring public acres on the map: 61,669.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paw Paw River | State game area | 360 | 3.8 mi | east |
| Van Buren | State park | 259 | 14 mi | west |
| Keeler | State game area | 397 | 14 mi | southwest |
| Kinney | WPA | 78 | 16 mi | southeast |
| Cornish | State game area | 391 | 16 mi | southeast |
| Allegan | State game area | 51,506 | 21 mi | north |
| Gourdneck | State game area | 2,295 | 22 mi | east |
| Crane Pond | State game area | 4,214 | 28 mi | southeast |
| Webster Lake (Berrien Township No.1) | State game area | 43 | 29 mi | southwest |
| Three Rivers | State game area | 2,126 | 32 mi | southeast |
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.
Access, rules and licenses for Fuller Woods State Game Area
Fuller Woods State Game Area: open to whom
Hunters and trappers may use Fuller Woods State Game Area through every open Michigan season with the licenses those seasons call for. Stay out of posted refuges, safety zones and closed areas; the Land Use Orders of the Director and the Wildlife Conservation Order cover the rest.
Stands, orange and reporting at Fuller Woods State Game Area
- On public ground a tree stand must be portable and labelled, may stand from Sept. 1 to March 1, and may not penetrate the bark.
- Ground blinds: Sept. 1 through the deer seasons, no cutting of plants, and no constructed blinds on Zone 3 game areas, parks or recreation areas.
- Hunter orange is required from Aug. 15 to April 30 while taking game in daylight hours; archery deer and bear hunters, turkey hunters and migratory bird hunters other than woodcock are exempt.
- Mandatory harvest reporting: 72 hours for deer and turkey, by app or online.
- No firearm hunting within 150 yards (450 feet) of an occupied building without the occupant's written permission.
- No food plots or artificial gardens on public land.
- Baiting deer is illegal here under the Lower Peninsula ban.
- From Nov. 15 to 30, no ORV or snowmobile use 7-11 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. on land open to public hunting, with listed exceptions.
The license bill for Fuller Woods State Game Area
Licenses sell through DNR eLicense, license agents and the Hunt Fish app; the base license comes first. Universal antlerless licenses are capped at 10 a year and limited by county or 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.
Which animals Fuller Woods State Game Area offers
The agency names no particular game for Fuller Woods State Game Area; read every open season as applying within its rules.
Read the Van Buren County dates: 43 rows and 21 species, including White-tailed deer, Wild turkey, Ruffed grouse and Woodcock.
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.
Fuller Woods State Game Area by zone and unit
For hunting and trapping it lies in Zone 3 (Southern Lower Peninsula). Shotgun-zone history: it sat in the Limited Firearm Deer Zone, eliminated for the 2026 season. In Van Buren County a hunter may use up to 5 universal antlerless licenses. The early and late antlerless firearm seasons reach Van Buren County. The DNR turkey layer gives spring unit ZZ and fall unit I; no spring 2027 dates are out. For ducks use the South Zone splits, Oct 17-Dec 13 and Dec 26-Dec 27.
DMU details for Fuller Woods State Game Area
| DMU | Name | Status | Use limit | Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 486 | Southern Lower Peninsula multicounty | – | County limit | No |
| DMU 311 | Keeler Unit | Open | County limit | No |
| DMU 080 | Van Buren county | Open | 5 | No |
Bear hunting units at Fuller Woods State Game Area
| Unit | Hunts | License quota | Points 2025 | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dansville | Closed | – | – | – |
Fuller Woods State Game Area: spring and fall turkey units
| Unit | Birds | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring ZZ | 13,292 | Whole unit, spring 2026 |
| Fall I | 822 | Fall 2026, unit |
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.
What is open in Fuller Woods State Game Area this season
Archery and the Nov. 15 rifle opener are statewide, but bear units, fall turkey units, waterfowl zones and bobcat units decide the rest for Fuller Woods State Game Area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 3 | Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | December | Zone 3 | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| 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 | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | South Zone | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 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 | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 2 | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 3 | South Zone | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Dark geese | Dark goose part 4 | South Zone | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 1 | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 2 | South Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 3 | South Zone | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Light goose part 4 | South Zone | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Fuller Woods State Game Area: reported deer, turkeys and CWD tests nearby
Hunters reported 3,648 deer in Van Buren County in 2025: 1,906 antlered and 1,742 antlerless. High year: 2022 at 4,521; low year: 2025 at 3,648. 2026 so far: 621 deer reported, season in progress. Van Buren County CWD results (2022): 0 positives from 188 tests. Van Buren County hunters reported 349 spring turkeys in 2026, the first year of mandatory turkey reporting. Harvest and CWD figures describe the county as a whole.
Van Buren County deer by year
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 244 | 377 | 621 |
| 2025 | 1,906 | 1,742 | 3,648 |
| 2024 | 1,905 | 1,838 | 3,743 |
| 2023 | 2,459 | 2,004 | 4,463 |
| 2022 | 2,543 | 1,978 | 4,521 |
DMU harvest around Fuller Woods State Game Area
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 311 | 4,008 | 3,899 | 7,907 |
Van Buren County deer heads tested
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 188 | 0 |
Turkey numbers near Fuller Woods State Game Area
| Measure | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 349 |
| Fall 2026, partial | 9 |
| 2025 fall survey | 38 |
| Hunters (2025) | 225 |
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.
Where to stay and shop on a Fuller Woods State Game Area hunt
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a processor and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paw Paw | Van Buren | 8.7 mi | 3,408 | 533 |
| Allegan | Allegan | 20 mi | 5,152 | 32,934 |
| Marcellus | Cass | 21 mi | 1,048 | 4,557 |
| Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | 23 mi | 73,290 | 2,206 |
County-level pages to read next: Van Buren County.
Where Fuller Woods State Game Area hunters get a deer cut or mounted
Fuller Woods State Game Area: the nearest agency desks
Crane Pond DNR Wildlife Office handles Fuller Woods State Game Area, per the DNR list.
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.
Range time before hunting Fuller Woods State Game Area
Echo Point Shooting Range (Allegan County) is the closest DNR range, 20 miles away. Two closer club ranges follow.
Shoots: rifle, handgun
Shoots: trap, archery, muzzleloader, sporting clays, 3D archery
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
Fuller Woods State Game Area on the Michigan events calendar
NWTF banquet and hunter education course: 2 upcoming events on site or a few miles away.
Coming up
| On | Event | Miles away | Where held | Sign-up | Found at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Hunter Education – Traditional Course – Bloomingdale Conservation Club / Hunter education course | 8 | Bloomingdale Conservation Club in Bloomingdale (Van Buren Co.) | Register | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Van Buren Longbeards NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | 4 | Lawrence (Van Buren Co.) | Buy tickets | Source |
Opening and closing minutes for Fuller Woods State Game Area by zone
The DNR hunting-time map splits the state into Zones A to D from east to west. Each step west adds 6 minutes to the Zone A times below.
| Date | Season point | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fuller Woods State Game Area FAQ for 2026-27
What kind of public ground is Fuller Woods State Game Area on paper?
It is a DNR state game area, run by the DNR Wildlife Division.
Is Fuller Woods State Game Area large enough for a full day afield?
About 85 acres.
Which covered town is closest to Fuller Woods State Game Area?
Base in Paw Paw, 9 miles away; it lies in Van Buren County.
Does Fuller Woods State Game Area publish a species list?
The record lists none, which means all open seasons, within the area rules.
How many antlerless licenses can I use at Fuller Woods State Game Area?
Units: 486, 311 and 080. Up to 5 universal antlerless licenses may be used in Van Buren County.
Which BMU do I apply for to hunt Fuller Woods State Game Area?
The bear unit is Dansville. Dansville BMU has no bear season.
Is there a fall turkey season at Fuller Woods State Game Area?
Spring unit ZZ, fall unit I.
What duck dates apply at Fuller Woods State Game Area?
The South Zone. Lead shot is not legal for waterfowl.
Can I scatter bait for deer on Fuller Woods State Game Area?
No bait or feed for deer. This county has no positive wild deer on the DNR list.
Does the Aug. 15 to April 30 orange rule cover Fuller Woods State Game Area?
Yes from Aug. 15 to April 30 while taking game, with exceptions for archery deer and bear, turkey and most migratory birds.
When must I report a turkey from Fuller Woods State Game Area?
Turkeys: within 72 hours, online or app (mandatory from 2026).
Can I leave a tree stand at Fuller Woods State Game Area?
Portable blinds come out daily; constructed blinds need ID and are barred on Zone 3 game areas and parks.
Which licenses work on Fuller Woods State Game Area?
No special permit for most of it; the base license and the species license are enough.
Heading to Fuller Woods State Game Area? Read this first
Print the Fuller Woods State Game Area map, carry your licenses, and check the agency page the week you go.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain).