Home › Michigan › Public land › Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
2026-27 · Flooding or WMA
A hunter's look at Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Who runs it, which DMU and bear unit cover it, and the public land and towns around it in Roscommon County.
Photo: Joetography LLC (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- canoe launchBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA in short
Classed as a DNR wildlife management area (a flooding or marsh unit), Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area is found in Roscommon County. The Northern Lower Peninsula Region of the DNR looks after this part of the northern Lower Peninsula. Day-to-day care of the ground falls to the DNR Wildlife Division. At 554 acres it is number 53 by size among the 72 Michigan wildlife management areas with a figure on file. Printed DNR figure: 476 acres. It appears on the DNR list of game and wildlife areas. Drive northeast from St. Helen for roughly 2 miles.
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 Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA: species and bag limits
The record lists no species for Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA, so the state seasons for its county, DMU and units apply.
24 species have dated seasons reaching Roscommon County (43 rows), White-tailed deer, Black bear, Elk, Wild turkey and Ruffed grouse first.
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.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA: DMU, BMU and turkey unit
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA falls in Zone 2, Northern Lower Peninsula. Up to 3 antlerless licenses may be used in Roscommon County. Early and late antlerless firearm hunts run in Roscommon County. Bear hunters here apply for the Red Oak BMU; hunt 0020 runs Sept. 12–22 and Oct. 2–8 with 685 licenses in 2026. Turkey: spring unit NN, fall unit I; spring 2027 dates are not published yet. It is Middle Zone waterfowl ground (Oct 3-Nov 29 and Dec 12-Dec 13). The county lines touch elk unit X.
Deer management units over Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
| DMU | Called | WCO status | Use limit | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 072 | Roscommon county | Open | 3 | No APR |
Bear units that cover Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
| Bear unit | Hunt periods | Licenses | Resident points | 2025 registered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1 hunt | 685 | 9–10 | 282 |
Turkey units, Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
| Unit | Turkeys | When |
|---|---|---|
| Spring NN | 4,156 | Unit total, spring |
| Fall I | 822 | Unit total so far |
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.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA on the map with its neighbors
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA gets the large pin; the smaller ones are 10 neighboring public places. The tracts on the map total 432,867 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roscommon Forest Management Unit | Forest unit | 260,802 | 3.6 mi | south |
| Russell Lake / Lake St. Helen | Flooding or WMA | 949 | 5.9 mi | west |
| Robinson Creek Floodings | Flooding or WMA | 2,572 | 9.8 mi | west |
| Backus Creek | GEMS | 4,339 | 10 mi | west |
| Backus Creek | State game area | 4,379 | 10 mi | west |
| Denton Creek Flooding | Flooding or WMA | 805 | 12 mi | southwest |
| South Higgins Lake | State park | 1,367 | 14 mi | west |
| Mio | Ranger district | 148,711 | 15 mi | north |
| Rifle River | Recreation area | 4,194 | 18 mi | east |
| Gladwin Field Trial Area and Gladwin Wildlife Unit | Field trial area | 4,749 | 19 mi | southwest |
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.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA rules and licenses
Access rules for Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
Expect a dike, open water and marsh edge on most DNR floodings. Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA is open in state seasons, apart from any posted refuge or closed area.
Blind, stand and baiting law for Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
- Public-land stands: portable, set no earlier than Sept. 1, removed by March 1, labelled with your name and address or Sportcard number, and nothing driven into the bark.
- A portable blind leaves with you each day; a blind of dead natural material needs no ID; a constructed blind needs ID and is not allowed on Zone 3 game areas, parks or recreation areas.
- Michigan law asks for hunter orange from Aug. 15 to April 30, visible from all sides when deer hunting with a firearm; archers in archery season are exempt.
- Report a deer or a turkey within 72 hours of recovery, online or in the Hunt Fish app, and keep the confirmation number.
- Stay 150 yards off occupied buildings with a firearm unless you hold written permission.
- Leave the seed at home; food plots are banned on public land.
- The Lower Peninsula baiting and feeding ban applies here.
- Public-land bear bait: on the ground, no containers.
- Nov. 15-30 brings ORV and snowmobile closures on public hunting land in the morning and late afternoon.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA license list
eLicense and the Hunt Fish app sell everything here. Choose a single deer or deer combo license when you buy; antlerless licenses come over the counter.
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.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA dates from September to March
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA is in Lower Peninsula Zone 2. The 43 rows below are the dated hunts the DNR summaries put there.
| Game | Season | Where | Begins | Through | Right 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 D | Jan 1, 2027 | Feb 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.
Mandatory reporting numbers for the Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA area
Roscommon County hunters reported 1,993 deer in 2025, 1,043 of them antlered. Yearly totals swing between 1,993 and 2,917. 314 deer reported so far in 2026. The 2026 spring turkey count for Roscommon County is 139. The DNR reports by county and DMU, not by property; read these as the picture around Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA.
Roscommon County antlered and antlerless
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 160 | 154 | 314 |
| 2025 | 1,043 | 950 | 1,993 |
| 2024 | 1,159 | 1,042 | 2,201 |
| 2023 | 1,091 | 922 | 2,013 |
| 2022 | 1,510 | 1,407 | 2,917 |
2025 DMU figures for Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
| DMU | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 072 | 1,043 | 950 | 1,993 |
Turkey figures, Roscommon County
| Item | Count |
|---|---|
| Reported, spring 2026 | 139 |
| Fall 2026 to date | 7 |
| Survey, fall 2025 | 37 |
| Fall hunters 2025 | 203 |
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.
Towns and shops that serve Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA hunters
The nearest towns with pages of their own, then the businesses that serve this ground.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helen | Roscommon | 2.2 mi | – | 129,779 |
| West Branch | Ogemaw | 11 mi | 2,355 | 52,176 |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | 12 mi | 990 | 114,926 |
| Rose City | Ogemaw | 14 mi | 582 | 89,622 |
Counties this land touches, with pages: Roscommon County.
Gun shops and processors that serve Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
DNR and federal desks that cover Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
Local office on the DNR list: Roscommon 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.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA: shooting hours by date
Every time below comes from the DNR deer table; the B, C and D columns add the offsets printed on the zone map legend.
| 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.
DNR range closest to Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area
Marsh Creek / Beaver Lake Flooding Wildlife Management Area has no range; Voyer Lake Shooting Range is the nearest DNR range, about 49 miles away. Two club options sit alongside.
Takes rifle, handgun
Takes sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA questions, answered from the data
What deer management unit is Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA in for 2026?
The DMU layer gives 072. Use limit, Roscommon County: 3.
Can I hunt bear at Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
Red Oak BMU. Licenses come by preference-point drawing; the first Red Oak hunt has 685 licenses in 2026.
Can I hunt turkeys at Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
Yes, unit NN in spring and I in fall.
Which duck zone is Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA in?
Waterfowl zone: Middle. Non-toxic shot is required for waterfowl statewide.
Has CWD been found near Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
Banned, as everywhere in the Lower Peninsula. No free-ranging deer from this county has tested positive since 2015.
Is hunter pink legal at Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
Archers in archery seasons are exempt, but not during a firearm deer season.
Where do I report game taken on Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
Report deer and turkeys within 72 hours through the DNR site or app.
Do stands need ID at Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
Sept. 1 through the end of the deer seasons.
Does Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA need any permit beyond my licenses?
Your Michigan licenses; no landowner permission on public ground.
What public ground borders or neighbors Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
The closest alternatives are Roscommon Forest Management Unit (State Forest) (4 miles), Russell Lake / Lake St. Helen State Wildlife Management Area (6 miles) and Robinson Creek Floodings Wildlife Management Area (10 miles).
How does the record classify Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA?
DNR wildlife management area (a flooding or marsh unit), under the DNR Wildlife Division.
How many acres of Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA are there to hunt?
554 acres, the mapped total.
In which part of Michigan does Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA lie?
Roscommon County holds it, 2 miles from St. Helen.
Before you drive to Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA
Use this page as a start: the manager of Marsh Creek and Beaver Lake Flooding WMA has the final word on closures and maps.
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: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0).