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Forest unit, the northern Lower Peninsula
Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest) for deer, birds and more
314,633 acres of forest unit in Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego, Antrim and 3 more counties, with 2026-27 units, use limits, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: Aaron Volkening (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest)
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Krause RdParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 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 Gaylord Forest Unit
Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest) belongs with the forest management units of Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego, Antrim and 3 more counties. The DNR Wildlife Division counts it in its Northern Lower Peninsula Region, which covers the northern Lower Peninsula. The DNR Forest Resources Division manages the ground. Its 314,633 acres make it the 4th largest of 15 forest management units in our Michigan list. The nearest covered town is Walloon Lake, around 4 miles off as the crow flies. The larger unit around it is Michigan State Forest System.
From the source page (MI DNR Managed Lands (LOTS) GIS: Acreage of Forest Resources Division parcels in this management unit); region from the DNR wildlife region layer. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest)
Access, closures and licenses on Gaylord Forest Unit
Access rules for Gaylord Forest Unit
The state-owned land inside Gaylord Forest Unit takes hunters and trappers in Michigan seasons; posted closures are the exception. Inholdings and Commercial Forest land inside the boundary are not state forest.
Michigan rules that travel with you onto Gaylord Forest Unit
- 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.
- LP counties: no baiting or feeding. UP counties: 2 gallons of scattered bait, Sept. 15 to Jan. 1.
- No man-made containers for bear bait on public or Commercial Forest land.
- No ORVs 7-11 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. on public hunting land during the Nov. 15-30 rifle season.
Licenses and prices for Gaylord Forest Unit
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 Gaylord Forest Unit sits among the state and federal tracts
Gaylord Forest Unit is the big pin, with 10 neighbors around it. Add them up and the neighbors hold 29,658 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Lake Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,665 | 22 mi | east |
| Lee Grand Ranch | GEMS | 2,436 | 23 mi | northeast |
| Stoney Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,110 | 24 mi | east |
| Fisherman's Island | State park | 3,064 | 24 mi | west |
| Mud Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 18 | 27 mi | northeast |
| O'Neal Lake Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,251 | 31 mi | north |
| Dingman Marsh Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 4,863 | 31 mi | north |
| Wilderness | State park | 11,159 | 32 mi | north |
| French Farm Lake Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 2,948 | 33 mi | north |
| Tomahawk Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,144 | 33 mi | east |
Points from the DNR wildlife, GEMS, parks, forest, USFS, USFWS and NPS layers (MI DNR Forest Management Units GIS (unit boundary centroid; boundary includes private and federal land) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Unit lines at Gaylord Forest Unit
Zone on the DNR map: Zone 2 and Zone 1. The DMU layer still shows DMU 351 here, a unit the 2026 rules rescinded along with the UP antlerless access permit drawing. 3 is the Cheboygan County cap on universal antlerless licenses used. DMU 149 is closed to universal antlerless licenses in 2026. Bucks in DMU 005, DMU 024, DMU 015 and DMU 115 need 3 points on a side. Cheboygan County hosts both antlerless firearm seasons, early and late. The Red Oak unit's first hunt period (Sept. 12–22 and Oct. 2–8) has a 2026 quota of 685 licenses. Spring turkey falls under unit NN/M and fall turkey under unit I. The 2027 spring dates are still to come. Regular duck splits here: Middle Zone Oct 3-Nov 29 and Dec 12-Dec 13 and North Zone Sep 26-Nov 22 and Nov 28-Nov 29. Units H, I and X of the elk range overlap this country.
Gaylord Forest Unit deer units
| Unit | Name | Antlerless | Licenses usable | Antler points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 016 | Cheboygan county | Open | 3 | None |
| DMU 005 | Antrim county | Open | 3 | APR, 3 points |
| DMU 024 | Emmet county | Open | 3 | APR, 3 points |
| DMU 069 | Otsego county | Open | 3 | None |
| DMU 015 | Charlevoix county | Open | 3 | APR, 3 points |
| DMU 115 | Beaver Island unit | Open | – | APR, 3 points |
| DMU 149 | Bois Blanc unit | Open | Closed | None |
| DMU 487 | Northeast Lower Peninsula multicounty | Open | By county | None |
Gaylord Forest Unit: bear management units
| BMU | Periods | Quota | Points needed | Bears taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1 hunt | 685 | 9–10 | 282 |
Turkey units at Gaylord Forest Unit
| Unit | Harvest | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spring NN | 4,156 | Unit-wide, spring 2026 |
| Spring M | 1,254 | Unit-wide, spring 2026 |
| Fall I | 822 | 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.
Gaylord Forest Unit: the game on record
The source names white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, snowshoe hare, ducks and geese, squirrels and rabbits and furbearers for Gaylord Forest Unit.
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Snowshoe hare
Ducks and geese
Small game
Furbearers
The list is not a limit: every season open in Cheboygan County applies here within the area rules.
Species from the source (Statewide; species follow Michigan seasons and units (elk only inside the elk management units with a DNR elk license; bear by BMU license).); bag limits from the DNR regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Gaylord Forest Unit county by county
The biggest county blocks: Cheboygan 114,074 ac, Emmet 65,075 ac and Otsego 54,148 ac.
| County | State acres |
|---|---|
| Cheboygan | 114,074 |
| Emmet | 65,075 |
| Otsego | 54,148 |
| Antrim | 46,805 |
| Charlevoix | 32,527 |
| Mackinac | 1,446 |
| Grand Traverse | 360 |
| Crawford | 80 |
| Arenac | 40 |
| Iosco | 40 |
| Clare | 37 |
From the source, DNR GIS, Michigan DNR. Checked October 22, 2026.
The records above and beside Gaylord Forest Unit
Michigan State Forest System is the parent; 14 more units share it.
Other Michigan State Forest System units beside Gaylord Forest Unit
| Unit | Type | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shingleton Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Schoolcraft, Alger | 375,050 |
| Newberry Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Luce, Chippewa | 359,596 |
| Sault Ste. Marie Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Mackinac, Chippewa | 334,295 |
| Traverse City Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Kalkaska, Grand Traverse | 314,151 |
| Crystal Falls Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Dickinson, Iron | 303,714 |
| Atlanta Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Montmorency, Presque Isle | 291,430 |
| Gwinn Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Marquette, Alger | 281,509 |
| Roscommon Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Roscommon, Ogemaw | 260,802 |
| Grayling Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Crawford, Oscoda | 246,649 |
| Cadillac Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Missaukee, Lake | 234,198 |
| Gladwin Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Gladwin, Clare | 230,775 |
| Baraga Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Baraga, Houghton | 142,356 |
| Escanaba Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | Menominee, Delta | 142,296 |
| Pigeon River Country State Forest | Forest unit | Cheboygan, Otsego | 123,358 |
Gaylord Forest Unit season dates for 2026-27
24 species and 44 dated segments apply in Gaylord Forest Unit; the last column checks each against today.
| Quarry | Season | Zone | From | To | Status 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 | |
| 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/H | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Hunt period 2 | Elk unit X/I | 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.
Gaylord Forest Unit trip planning: towns and services
Each town below has its own hunting page on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walloon Lake | Charlevoix | 4.4 mi | – | 39,277 |
| Boyne Falls | Charlevoix | 7.8 mi | 375 | 48,190 |
| Petoskey | Emmet | 10 mi | 5,810 | 12,918 |
| Indian River | Cheboygan | 16 mi | – | 45,001 |
Go wider with the county pages: Cheboygan County, Emmet County, Otsego County, Antrim County, Charlevoix County, Mackinac County, Grand Traverse County.
Gaylord Forest Unit: businesses in the area
Gaylord Forest Unit: the nearest agency desks
Cheboygan County is served by DNR Gaylord 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 Gaylord Forest Unit
Last full license year (2025) Cheboygan County gave up 1,874 reported deer. Since mandatory reporting began in 2022 the yearly count has ranged from 1,790 (2023) to 2,203 (2024). The 2026 bar is season to date (176 deer by Oct. 22). In 2024 the DNR tested 164 Cheboygan County deer; 0 were positive. Cheboygan County: 65 spring birds reported in 2026. County figures come from Cheboygan, the first county for Gaylord Forest Unit. Harvest and CWD figures describe the county as a whole.
Deer table, Cheboygan County
| License year | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 99 | 77 | 176 |
| 2025 | 1,237 | 637 | 1,874 |
| 2024 | 1,383 | 820 | 2,203 |
| 2023 | 1,170 | 620 | 1,790 |
| 2022 | 1,382 | 747 | 2,129 |
2025 deer by unit near Gaylord Forest Unit
Wild deer checked for CWD in Cheboygan County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 164 | 0 |
Cheboygan County turkeys
| Figure | Number |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 birds | 65 |
| Fall 2026 so far | 3 |
| Fall 2025 (survey) | 24 |
| Fall 2025 hunters | 145 |
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 shoot near Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest)
Nearest DNR range: Voyer Lake Shooting Range, roughly 41 miles from Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest). Nearer club ranges are shown as well.
Lines: archery, 3D archery
Lines: sporting clays, shotgun
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
DNR hunting hours for Gaylord Forest Unit
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 Gaylord Forest Unit
Which county holds most of Gaylord Forest Unit?
Walloon Lake is closest (4 miles); the ground is in Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego, Antrim and 3 more counties.
How big is Gaylord Forest Unit on the map?
314,633 acres, per MI DNR Managed Lands (LOTS) GIS: Acreage of Forest Resources Division parcels in this management unit.
Can I use universal antlerless licenses on Gaylord Forest Unit?
DMU 016, DMU 005 and DMU 024. Cheboygan County allows 3 universal antlerless licenses per hunter.
Which quarry does Gaylord Forest Unit list?
9 groups on the list: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, snowshoe hare, ducks and geese, squirrels and rabbits and furbearers.
What turkey license do I need for Gaylord Forest Unit?
Use spring unit NN/M or fall unit I.
Which BMU do I apply for to hunt Gaylord Forest Unit?
It is in the Red Oak BMU. Apply May 1-June 1 in the bear drawing for the Red Oak unit.
What do baiting and CWD rules mean for Gaylord Forest Unit?
Not here: deer baiting and feeding are banned in the Lower Peninsula. Not a CWD county.
Which waterfowl zone covers Gaylord Forest Unit?
Middle and North Zone splits apply. Carry non-toxic shot for ducks and geese.
Do I take a Gaylord Forest Unit deer to a check station?
Check stations are fewer now; mandatory online or app reporting within 72 hours is the rule.
Which months need orange at Gaylord Forest Unit?
No: turkey hunters are exempt from the orange rule.
Do I need permission to hunt Gaylord Forest Unit?
A Michigan base license ($11 resident) plus the species license.
How long can a blind stay on Gaylord Forest Unit?
Portable stands only, from Sept. 1 to March 1, labelled with your ID.
Is Gaylord Forest Unit managed as part of another area?
Michigan State Forest System is the larger record.
Gaylord Forest Unit: the last checklist
One last look before the drive: the Gaylord Forest Unit map, your licenses in the Hunt Fish app and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · DNR GIS · Michigan DNR: state forests · experience.arcgis.com: 433c5780079640079aecadd04b4fdc29; regulations from the 2026 Michigan hunting regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: sonstroem (CC BY 2.0); seabamirum (CC BY 2.0).