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Montmorency County · GEMS
Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) public hunting, 2026-27
Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS), 1,080 acres in Montmorency County: ruffed grouse and woodcock, deer units and zones, area rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS)
What the records say about Greasy Creek GEMS
On the map Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS) sits in Montmorency County. On paper it is a Grouse Enhanced Management Site. That puts it in the northern Lower Peninsula, the DNR Northern Lower Peninsula Region. Stewardship falls to the DNR GEMS program. Measured at 1,080 acres, it lands 18th of the 19 grouse sites we cover. Atlanta is the closest town we cover, about 10 miles away; the area lies southeast of it.
- Location note: This GEMS is located 10 miles north of Fairview..
- The main kiosk sits at 44.8946, -84.0345.
From the source page (MI DNR GEMS Site Boundaries GIS acres field); region from the DNR wildlife region layer. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS)
Public tracts within a drive of Greasy Creek GEMS
Besides Greasy Creek GEMS, the map carries 10 public tracts within driving range. The neighbors add 862,736 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sage Lakes Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 248 | 5.4 mi | west |
| Sportsman's Pond Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 162 | 12 mi | north |
| Kirtland's Warbler | Federal WMA | 6,684 | 16 mi | west |
| Grayling Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 246,649 | 16 mi | south |
| Atlanta Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 291,430 | 21 mi | north |
| Rainey River Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,422 | 21 mi | north |
| Harrisville | Ranger district | 165,234 | 23 mi | southeast |
| Tomahawk Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,144 | 23 mi | north |
| Conner's Marsh Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 1,052 | 23 mi | southwest |
| Mio | Ranger district | 148,711 | 24 mi | southwest |
Points from the DNR wildlife, GEMS, parks, forest, USFS, USFWS and NPS layers (MI DNR GEMS boundary GIS (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
What Greasy Creek GEMS asks of hunters
Greasy Creek GEMS access terms
At Greasy Creek GEMS you park, check the kiosk map and walk the trails through managed cover. All hunting is allowed in state seasons within the land manager's rules.
The statewide fine print, applied to Greasy Creek GEMS
- 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 Greasy Creek GEMS 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 Greasy Creek GEMS
Species named for Greasy Creek GEMS: ruffed grouse and woodcock.
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Unlisted game follows the Montmorency County dates below.
Species from the source (GEMS are DNR grouse (and woodcock) hunting sites; other open seasons also apply.); bag limits from the DNR regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Zones and units that take in Greasy Creek GEMS
The DNR zone line puts it in Zone 2. Antlerless use limit, Montmorency County: 10. Montmorency 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 units I and X. DMU 452 (bovine TB) is one of its deer units.
Antlerless rules near Greasy Creek GEMS
| Deer unit | Name | Antlerless | Limit per hunter | Point rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 487 | Northeast Lower Peninsula multicounty | Open | County limit | None |
| DMU 060 | Montmorency county | – | 10 | None |
| DMU 452 | TB core area | Open | County limit | None |
Bear permits for Greasy Creek GEMS
| BMU | Hunts | 2026 quota | Points (2025) | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1 hunt | 685 | 9–10 | 282 |
Spring and fall units for Greasy Creek GEMS
| 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 Greasy Creek GEMS
For Greasy Creek GEMS, 44 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 | |
| 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.
Montmorency County harvest near Greasy Creek GEMS
Deer reported in Montmorency County for 2025: 2,465. The reporting era peaked at 2,802 in 2024 and bottomed at 1,986 in 2023. The starred 2026 bar (250) is partial. 122 spring turkeys were reported in Montmorency County in 2026. No harvest is published for Greasy Creek GEMS itself, so county and DMU totals are the finest level.
Reported deer around Greasy Creek GEMS
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 57 | 193 | 250 |
| 2025 | 1,199 | 1,266 | 2,465 |
| 2024 | 1,401 | 1,401 | 2,802 |
| 2023 | 1,046 | 940 | 1,986 |
| 2022 | 1,233 | 1,554 | 2,787 |
Unit totals near Greasy Creek GEMS
Montmorency County turkey table
| Measure | Birds |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 122 |
| Fall so far | 6 |
| Fall 2025 estimate | 37 |
| Hunters, fall 2025 | 150 |
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.
Greasy Creek GEMS: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Montmorency | 10 mi | – | 90,776 |
| Lewiston | Montmorency | 13 mi | – | 100,970 |
| Hillman | Montmorency | 15 mi | 660 | 32,727 |
| Mio | Oscoda | 16 mi | – | 118,169 |
County write-ups on this site: Montmorency County.
Butcher shops and taxidermists for Greasy Creek GEMS trips
Agency offices closest to Greasy Creek GEMS
Service center for Montmorency County: 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.
Sighting in before Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS)
Voyer Lake Shooting Range, 12 miles off, is the DNR range nearest Greasy Creek Grouse Enhanced Management Site (GEMS). Club ranges within 30 miles follow.
Disciplines: rifle, handgun
Disciplines: trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun
Disciplines: rifle, air gun
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
Legal shooting light at Greasy Creek GEMS
Deer hunters at Greasy Creek GEMS 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.
Greasy Creek GEMS questions with data-backed answers
Which turkey units cover Greasy Creek GEMS?
Fall unit I; spring 2027 dates are not out yet.
Which bear management unit holds Greasy Creek GEMS?
Red Oak BMU. Bear hunting needs a drawn or leftover license for a Red Oak hunt period.
Does the deer baiting rule allow bait at Greasy Creek GEMS?
No: the Lower Peninsula ban covers it. The county is missing from the 18-county CWD list.
What are the waterfowl rules at Greasy Creek GEMS?
Use the Middle Zone dates. Bring non-toxic shot and a plugged gun.
How do I report a deer from Greasy Creek GEMS?
Within 72 hours, online or in the Hunt Fish app; keep the confirmation number.
Is hunter orange required on Greasy Creek GEMS?
Aug. 15 through April 30, in daylight shooting hours.
Which Michigan licenses do I need for Greasy Creek GEMS?
eLicense or the Hunt Fish app sells everything needed; nonresidents pay $151 for the base license.
Are screw-in steps allowed on Greasy Creek GEMS?
Yes: name and address, license or Sportcard number.
What other state or federal land is near Greasy Creek GEMS?
The closest alternatives are Sage Lakes Flooding Wildlife Management Area (5 miles), Sportsman's Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area (12 miles) and Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area (16 miles).
Is Greasy Creek GEMS walk-in only?
At the GEMS parking lot by the kiosk.
What is the acreage figure for Greasy Creek GEMS?
Roughly 1,080 acres.
Who writes the rules for Greasy Creek GEMS?
The DNR GEMS program treats it as a Grouse Enhanced Management Site.
Which animals show up on the Greasy Creek GEMS list?
Listed: ruffed grouse and woodcock.
Greasy Creek GEMS: what to confirm
Refuges, closures and drawing schedules at Greasy Creek GEMS can change during the season; the agency page and Mi-HUNT have the current picture.
Sources for this page: Michigan DNR: where · DNR GIS; regulations from the 2026 Michigan hunting regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Joetography LLC (CC BY-SA 2.0); vastateparksstaff (CC BY 2.0).