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Huron County · State game area
Oliver Township State Game Area public hunting, 2026-27
Oliver Township State Game Area, 130 acres in Huron County: deer units and zones, area rules, county harvest and the land nearby.
Photo: Ben+Sam (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Oliver Township State Game Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Oliver Township State Game Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 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.
What the records say about Oliver Township State Game Area
On the map Oliver Township State Game Area sits in Huron County. On paper it is a DNR state game area. That puts it in southeast Michigan, the DNR Southeast Lower Peninsula Region. Stewardship falls to the DNR Wildlife Division. Measured at 130 acres, it lands 83rd of the 95 state game areas we cover. The DNR area list (180 rows) includes it. Elkton is the closest town we cover, about 3 miles away; the area lies east of it.
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 Oliver Township State Game Area
Public tracts within a drive of Oliver Township State Game Area
Besides Oliver Township State Game Area, the map carries 10 public tracts within driving range. The neighbors add 15,482 acres between them.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield Township No.2 | State game area | 39 | 7.8 mi | southwest |
| Brookfield Township No.1 | State game area | 203 | 8.8 mi | southwest |
| Rush Lake | State game area | 2,276 | 11 mi | north |
| Albert E. Sleeper | State park | 438 | 12 mi | northwest |
| Sanilac | State game area | 1,578 | 12 mi | south |
| Gagetown | State game area | 1,344 | 13 mi | south |
| Verona | State game area | 7,527 | 13 mi | east |
| Port Crescent | State park | 603 | 13 mi | north |
| Elmwood Township | State game area | 272 | 15 mi | southwest |
| Cass City | State game area | 1,202 | 15 mi | south |
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.
What Oliver Township State Game Area asks of hunters
Oliver Township State Game Area access terms
Like other DNR game and wildlife land, Oliver Township State Game Area takes hunters and trappers during open seasons. Signs mark the refuges, safety zones and closed areas; portable, labelled stands and blinds are the rule.
The statewide fine print, applied to Oliver Township State Game Area
- 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.
- Firearm season ORV limits apply: no riding 7-11 a.m. or 2-5 p.m. from Nov. 15 to 30.
What licenses Oliver Township State Game Area 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 Oliver Township State Game Area
Nothing narrows the game at Oliver Township State Game Area: the county season rows and zone units below are the guide.
For Huron County the regulation summaries carry 45 dated hunting rows covering 22 species, among them White-tailed deer, Wild turkey, Ruffed grouse, Woodcock and Pheasant.
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.
Zones and units that take in Oliver Township State Game Area
The DNR zone line puts it in Zone 3. This ground was in the Limited Firearm Deer Zone, which no longer exists in 2026; rifles are legal across the Lower Peninsula. Antlerless use limit, Huron County: 5. Huron County is on the list for the early (Sept. 12-13) and late (Dec. 7-Jan. 1) antlerless firearm seasons. Spring unit ZZ, fall unit I. Spring 2026 dates were the last ones published. Duck dates follow the South Zone: Oct 17-Dec 13 and Dec 26-Dec 27.
Antlerless rules near Oliver Township State Game Area
| Deer unit | Name | Antlerless | Limit per hunter | Point rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 032 | Huron county | Open | 5 | None |
| DMU 486 | Southern Lower Peninsula multicounty | – | County limit | None |
| DMU 332 | Greenleaf Unit | Open | County limit | None |
Bear permits for Oliver Township State Game Area
| BMU | Hunts | 2026 quota | Points (2025) | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dansville | No bear season | – | – | – |
Spring and fall units for Oliver Township State Game Area
| Turkey unit | Birds reported | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Spring ZZ | 13,292 | 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 Oliver Township State Game Area
For Oliver Township State Game Area, 45 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Pheasant | Fall | Zone 3 | Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | December | Zone 3 | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Fall | Open quail county | 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 | 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.
Huron County harvest near Oliver Township State Game Area
Deer reported in Huron County for 2025: 5,455. The reporting era peaked at 5,455 in 2025 and bottomed at 4,579 in 2022. The starred 2026 bar (1,073) is partial. 2022 CWD sampling in Huron County: 356 deer, 0 positive. 311 spring turkeys were reported in Huron County in 2026. No harvest is published for Oliver Township State Game Area itself, so county and DMU totals are the finest level.
Reported deer around Oliver Township State Game Area
| Year | Antlered | Antlerless | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 419 | 654 | 1,073 |
| 2025 | 2,761 | 2,694 | 5,455 |
| 2024 | 2,703 | 2,659 | 5,362 |
| 2023 | 2,717 | 2,077 | 4,794 |
| 2022 | 2,654 | 1,925 | 4,579 |
Unit totals near Oliver Township State Game Area
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 332 | 10,143 | 11,196 | 21,339 |
Huron County CWD lab results
| Year | Wild deer tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 356 | 0 |
Huron County turkey table
| Measure | Birds |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 311 |
| Fall so far | 8 |
| Fall 2025 estimate | 112 |
| Hunters, fall 2025 | 347 |
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.
Oliver Township State Game Area: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkton | Huron | 2.7 mi | 782 | 1,806 |
| Bad Axe | Huron | 6.4 mi | 2,966 | 7,631 |
| Kinde | Huron | 11 mi | 431 | 2,697 |
| Caseville | Huron | 11 mi | 640 | 4,882 |
County write-ups on this site: Huron County.
Butcher shops and taxidermists for Oliver Township State Game Area trips
Agency offices closest to Oliver Township State Game Area
The DNR list names Cass City Field Office as the local office for Oliver Township State Game Area.
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 Oliver Township State Game Area
Lapeer Shooting Range (Lapeer Pit), 48 miles off, is the DNR range nearest Oliver Township State Game Area. Club ranges within 30 miles follow.
Disciplines: trap, skeet, shotgun
Disciplines: trap, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
Legal shooting light at Oliver Township State Game Area
Deer hunters at Oliver Township State Game Area 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.
Oliver Township State Game Area questions with data-backed answers
Which turkey units cover Oliver Township State Game Area?
Fall unit I; spring 2027 dates are not out yet.
Which bear management unit holds Oliver Township State Game Area?
Bear Management Unit Dansville. No bear season exists in Dansville BMU.
Does the deer baiting rule allow bait at Oliver Township State Game Area?
No: the Lower Peninsula ban covers it. The county is missing from the 18-county CWD list.
What are the waterfowl rules at Oliver Township State Game Area?
Use the South Zone dates. Bring non-toxic shot and a plugged gun.
How do I report a deer from Oliver Township State Game Area?
Within 72 hours, online or in the Hunt Fish app; keep the confirmation number.
Is hunter orange required on Oliver Township State Game Area?
Aug. 15 through April 30, in daylight shooting hours.
Which Michigan licenses do I need for Oliver Township State Game Area?
eLicense or the Hunt Fish app sells everything needed; nonresidents pay $151 for the base license.
Are screw-in steps allowed on Oliver Township State Game Area?
Yes: name and address, license or Sportcard number.
Who writes the rules for Oliver Township State Game Area?
The DNR Wildlife Division treats it as a DNR state game area.
What other state or federal land is near Oliver Township State Game Area?
In order of distance: Brookfield Township No.2 State Game Area (8 miles), Brookfield Township No.1 State Game Area (9 miles) and Rush Lake State Game Area (11 miles).
Where do Oliver Township State Game Area hunters stay?
Huron County holds it, 3 miles from Elkton.
What is the acreage figure for Oliver Township State Game Area?
Roughly 130 acres.
Which DMU numbers apply on Oliver Township State Game Area?
Deer unit 032, 486 and 332. The Huron County use limit is 5.
Oliver Township State Game Area: what to confirm
Refuges, closures and drawing schedules at Oliver Township State Game Area can change during the season; the agency page and Mi-HUNT have the current picture.
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: rkramer62 (CC BY 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0).