Home › Michigan › Public land › W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Recreation area, southeast Michigan
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area for deer, birds and more
911 acres of recreation area in Macomb County, with 2026-27 units, use limits, rules, CWD testing and a map.
Photo: eperales (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- North Branch TrailsTrailhead · 2.8 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 W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area belongs with the recreation areas of Macomb County. The DNR Wildlife Division counts it in its Southeast Lower Peninsula Region, which covers southeast Michigan. The DNR Parks and Recreation Division manages the ground. Its 911 acres make it the 20th largest of 22 recreation areas in our Michigan list. The nearest covered town is New Baltimore, around 7 miles off as the crow flies.
- Hunting status by acreage: 911 open.
From the source page (MI DNR Parks Hunting Land Boundary GIS Acres, polygons marked Open or Open-Restricted); region from the DNR wildlife region layer. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Access, closures and licenses on W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Access rules for W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Open zones on the DNR park hunting map are the only places to hunt or trap. A Recreation Passport covers vehicle entry; occupied buildings carry a 450-foot safety zone. Recreation areas start open under DNR rules; designated land closes.
- Standard 450' Safety Zones apply around occupied buildings (not shown). No trapping within 50' of mowed portions of developed areas.
- Early Canada goose dates here: 9/1 – 9/15.
Michigan rules that travel with you onto W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
- 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.
- Deer may not be baited or fed in the Lower Peninsula.
Licenses and prices for W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
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 W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area sits among the state and federal tracts
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area is the big pin, with 10 neighbors around it. Add them up and the neighbors hold 47,432 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield Township | State game area | 142 | 3.8 mi | southeast |
| Salt River Marsh | State wildlife area | 60 | 6.1 mi | southeast |
| St. John's Marsh | State wildlife area | 3,059 | 14 mi | southeast |
| St. Clair Flats | State wildlife area | 30,158 | 14 mi | southeast |
| St. Clair Township | State game area | 112 | 17 mi | northeast |
| Algonac | State park | 1,376 | 17 mi | east |
| Bald Mountain | Recreation area | 4,519 | 19 mi | west |
| Horseshoe Lake | State game area | 419 | 23 mi | west |
| Port Huron | State game area | 6,869 | 25 mi | northeast |
| Metamora-Hadley | Recreation area | 718 | 29 mi | northwest |
Points from the DNR wildlife, GEMS, parks, forest, USFS, USFWS and NPS layers (MI DNR Parks Hunting Land Boundary GIS (centroid of hunting-open polygons) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Unit lines at W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Zone on the DNR map: Zone 3. The former Limited Firearm Deer Zone line ran through this country; it is gone for 2026, and all legal firearms are allowed. 5 is the Macomb County cap on universal antlerless licenses used. Macomb County hosts both antlerless firearm seasons, early and late. Spring turkey falls under unit ZZ and fall turkey under unit I. The 2027 spring dates are still to come. Regular duck splits here: Oct 17-Dec 13 and Dec 26-Dec 27.
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area deer units
| Unit | Name | Antlerless | Licenses usable | Antler points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 050 | Macomb county | Open | 5 | None |
| DMU 499 | Urban deer management zone | – | – | None |
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area: bear management units
| BMU | Periods | Quota | Points needed | Bears taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dansville | No season | – | – | – |
Turkey units at W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
| Unit | Harvest | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spring ZZ | 13,292 | 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.
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area: the game on record
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area carries no game list of its own. Any season open where it lies is fair game, within the area rules.
The county table below lists 44 season rows for 22 species, from white-tailed deer to woodchuck.
Read the park restrictions in the rules section before choosing a weapon.
Species from the source (The park hunting layer does not list species; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations unless a restriction is listed.); bag limits from the DNR regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area season dates for 2026-27
22 species and 44 dated segments apply in W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area; 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area trip planning: towns and services
Each town below has its own hunting page on this site.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Baltimore | Macomb | 6.7 mi | 12,132 | 28,765 |
| Mount Clemens | Macomb | 9.7 mi | 15,480 | 9,557 |
| Sterling Heights | Macomb | 14 mi | 134,342 | – |
| Pearl Beach | St. Clair | 15 mi | – | 33,525 |
Go wider with the county pages: Macomb County.
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area: businesses in the area
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area: the nearest agency desks
Macomb County is served by DNR Detroit 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 W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Last full license year (2025) Macomb County gave up 2,360 reported deer. Since mandatory reporting began in 2022 the yearly count has ranged from 1,855 (2023) to 2,360 (2025). The 2026 bar is season to date (427 deer by Oct. 22). In 2022 the DNR tested 110 Macomb County deer; 0 were positive. Macomb County: 170 spring birds reported in 2026. Harvest and CWD figures describe the county as a whole.
Deer table, Macomb County
| License year | Antlered | Antlerless | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 191 | 236 | 427 |
| 2025 | 1,161 | 1,199 | 2,360 |
| 2024 | 1,138 | 1,029 | 2,167 |
| 2023 | 1,078 | 777 | 1,855 |
| 2022 | 1,214 | 908 | 2,122 |
2025 deer by unit near W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
| Unit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 050 | 1,161 | 1,199 | 2,360 |
Wild deer checked for CWD in Macomb County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 110 | 0 |
Macomb County turkeys
| Figure | Number |
|---|---|
| Spring 2026 birds | 170 |
| Fall 2026 so far | 8 |
| Fall 2025 (survey) | 63 |
| Fall 2025 hunters | 251 |
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.
Range time before hunting W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Nearest DNR range: Algonac Shooting Range, roughly 18 miles from W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area. Nearer club ranges are shown as well.
Lines: archery, handgun, shotgun
Lines: trap, shotgun
Lines: trap, skeet, sporting clays, rifle, handgun
From the DNR shooting page and its range pages, checked October 22, 2026.
DNR hunting hours for W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
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 W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area
Which BMU do I apply for to hunt W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
It is in the Dansville BMU. There is no Dansville bear hunt.
Can I use universal antlerless licenses on W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
DMU 050 and DMU 499. Macomb County allows 5 universal antlerless licenses per hunter.
Which waterfowl zone covers W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
South Zone splits apply. Carry non-toxic shot for ducks and geese.
What turkey license do I need for W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
Use spring unit ZZ or fall unit I.
Which months need orange at W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
No: turkey hunters are exempt from the orange rule.
What do baiting and CWD rules mean for W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
Not here: deer baiting and feeding are banned in the Lower Peninsula. Not a CWD county.
How long can a blind stay on W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
Portable stands only, from Sept. 1 to March 1, labelled with your ID.
Do I take a W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area deer to a check station?
Check stations are fewer now; mandatory online or app reporting within 72 hours is the rule.
Where can I hunt inside W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
Yes; the park hunting map marks them.
Do I need permission to hunt W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
A Michigan base license ($11 resident) plus the species license.
Whose land is W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
It is a state recreation area, run by the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.
What public ground borders or neighbors W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
The three nearest are Chesterfield Township State Game Area (4 miles), Salt River Marsh State Wildlife Area (6 miles) and St. John's Marsh State Wildlife Area (14 miles).
Which county holds most of W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area?
New Baltimore is closest (7 miles); the ground is in Macomb County.
W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area: the last checklist
One last look before the drive: the W.C. Wetzel Recreation Area map, your licenses in the Hunt Fish app and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: DNR GIS · Michigan DNR: rules; regulations from the 2026 Michigan hunting regulation summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Other photos on this page: YoungSue (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Dave Williss (CC BY 2.0).