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Kalkaska County · Lower Peninsula hunting
Bear Lake, Michigan hunting guide
Trip notes for hunters staying in Bear Lake: nearby public land with acres and miles, 2026-27 dates for Kalkaska County, DNR shooting hours and the closest processors.
Photo: Taken in Kalkaska County: Rapid River through summer woods at Seven Bridges, Kalkaska County. supercraigtalbert (CC BY 2.0)
In Kalkaska County, Bear Lake is a unincorporated community (a Census-designated place) in the northern Lower Peninsula. Kalkaska County state forest land is why Bear Lake is on this list: its closest edge lies less than a mile out. Draw a 10-mile ring around town and it holds some 121,810 acres of public ground (5 listed). The nearest choice is Traverse City Forest Management Unit (State Forest), with its nearest line less than a mile out.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer; public acreage and boundary distances within 10 miles are a GIS measure over the DNR wildlife property, park hunting-land and state forest layers and the USFS, USFWS and NPS boundaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bear Lake
State and federal hunting land by miles from Bear Lake
Properties whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Bear Lake lead the table, nearest line first; mapped lands farther out follow by distance to their centre.
By size, Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest) tops the 10-mile list with 314,633 acres. No state game or wildlife area reaches inside 10 miles of Bear Lake. Floodings managed as State Wildlife Management Areas sit nearby too: Goose Creek Flooding Wildlife Management Area. State forest ground near town belongs to Traverse City Forest Management Unit (State Forest). Federal land in the ring: Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area.
| Property | Direction | Category | Agency | Boundary miles | Centre miles | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City Forest Management Unit (State Forest) 0.5 mi to Bear Lake | W | State forest unit | DNR Forest | 0.5 mi | 36 mi | 314,151 | deer, bear |
| Grayling Forest Management Unit (State Forest) 4.6 mi to Bear Lake | E | State forest unit | DNR Forest | 4.6 mi | 47 mi | 246,649 | deer, bear |
| Goose Creek Flooding Wildlife Management Area 4.9 mi to Bear Lake | NE | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | 4.9 mi | 5.2 mi | 161 | – |
| Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area 5.1 mi to Bear Lake | E | Federal WMA | US Fish and Wildlife | 5.1 mi | 30 mi | 6,684 | waterfowl, deer |
| Gaylord Forest Management Unit (State Forest) 9.7 mi to Bear Lake | N | State forest unit | DNR Forest | 9.7 mi | 39 mi | 314,633 | deer, bear |
| Hartwick Pines State Park 13 mi to Bear Lake | E | State park | DNR Parks | farther | 13 mi | 8,425 | Partly closed |
| Grass Lake Marsh Flooding Wildlife Management Area 15 mi to Bear Lake | S | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | farther | 15 mi | 968 | – |
| Addis Creek Flooding Wildlife Management Area 15 mi to Bear Lake | S | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | farther | 15 mi | 438 | – |
| Cannon Creek Flooding No.1 Wildlife Management Area 15 mi to Bear Lake | S | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | farther | 15 mi | 156 | – |
| Cannon Creek Flooding No.2 Wildlife Management Area 16 mi to Bear Lake | S | Flooding (SWMA) | DNR Wildlife | farther | 16 mi | 92 | – |
Lands, acreage and notes from DNR property lists, DNR GIS acreage and federal hunting pages (lands.json); boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json; centre distances are straight lines from the Census point for Bear Lake. Checked October 22, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Bear Lake season dates, 2026-27 license year
Private ground and public ground share these dates in Bear Lake; a state park, refuge or national lakeshore can set its own limits.
| Animal | Segment | Area | Starts | Ends | Open 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) | Baldwin BMU | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 (firearm/bait/dogs) | Red Oak BMU | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 (archery only) | Baldwin BMU | Oct 2, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Hunt period 1 (archery only) | 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.
Bear Lake deer units, limits and CWD
Deer around Bear Lake: the zone and units first, then disease rules and the baiting picture.
For deer, Bear Lake and the rest of Kalkaska County are Zone 2. The universal antlerless use limit for Kalkaska County is 3, out of the 10 a hunter may buy statewide. Antler point restrictions apply in DMU 040: 3+ points on one side on the single and regular combo tags. Antlerless-only firearm days reach Kalkaska County twice: Sep 12 to Sep 13, 2026 and Dec 7, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
| DMU | Kind | APR | Universal antlerless limit | Deer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMU 040 (Kalkaska County) | County unit | 3+ points on one side | 3 | 1,298 |
The DNR has listed no CWD deer for Kalkaska County. 37 deer from Kalkaska County went through DNR CWD testing in 2024 (0 positive). Like the rest of the Lower Peninsula, the county bans deer baiting and feeding.
Zones and units from counties.json (DNR layers) and the Wildlife Conservation Order; use limits, CWD areas, TB area and baiting from the DNR 2026 deer regulation summary; county CWD tests from DNR CWD testing data; donation testing from the DNR deer donation page; DMU harvest from the DNR harvest report summary. Checked October 22, 2026.
Deer and turkey reported near Bear Lake
Antlered and antlerless reports for Kalkaska County, plus turkey reports and the fall turkey survey.
For 2025 the Kalkaska County total was 1,298 reported deer, all seasons. Statewide, Kalkaska County came in 70th. Reporting began in 2022, when the county logged 1,941. The 2026 season to date shows 142 reported deer.
In the first year of mandatory turkey reports, Kalkaska County logged 91 spring and 7 fall turkeys to date. The fall 2025 estimate for Kalkaska County is 24 turkeys (19% success).
Deer and 2026 turkey from the DNR harvest report summary (2026 is season to date, retrieved October 22, 2026); fall 2025 turkey survey from the DNR wildlife publications (Report 3754). Checked October 22, 2026.
Bear Lake: bear, turkey, elk and small game
Preference points shown are the resident range needed in 2025 for the first hunt period.
The Red Oak BMU covers Bear Lake and has 685 licenses across its 2026 hunt periods. Red Oak BMU success ran 57% in the 2024 survey, from 605 hunters. Kalkaska County is spring unit NN. Spring 2027 hunts have not been published, so the 2026 hunts are listed. In fall, Kalkaska County is unit I: Sept. 15 – Nov. 14, quota unlimited. Drawn elk hunters may hunt unit X near Bear Lake.
| Bear unit | Hunt periods | 2026 quota | Points, period 1 (2025) | Bears 2024 | Bears 2025* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak BMU | 1 | 685 | 9–10 | 346 | 282 |
| Baldwin BMU | 1 | 395 | 7–8 | 150 | 114 |
| Turkey unit | Hunt no. | Runs | Licenses | Which year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring unit NN | 0134 | April 18 – May 1 | 18,000 | Spring 2026 |
| Fall unit I | 0401 | Sept. 15 – Nov. 14 | Unlimited | Fall 2026 |
Units from counties.json (DNR layers); bear hunts, quotas and points from the DNR 2026 bear summary; registered bears and the 2024 survey from the DNR bear data and bear harvest reports; turkey hunts from the DNR spring turkey summary and fall turkey summary; elk from the DNR elk summary; small game units from the small game, waterfowl and fur harvester summaries. Checked October 22, 2026.
Bear Lake hunter services, nearest listing first
Gas stations, grocery and hardware counters that only sell licenses are left out; the shop list keeps gun, archery, outdoor and chain sporting stores.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 1 | 2 | Halstead Game Processing | 13 mi E | Grayling |
| Mount makers | 0 | 8 | Mike's Taxidermy | 22 mi SW | Fife Lake |
| Preserves, guides | 0 | 1 | Wild Wings Game Farm | 19 mi N | Elmira |
| Outdoor stores | 4 | 42 | Dynamic Defense Firearms | 3.2 mi N | Kalkaska |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Preserves, guides
Outdoor stores
Processors from the DNR Hunters Feeding Michigan list, DNR deer sample sites and Yellow Pages; shops from the DNR license agent map (license-only counters left out) and Yellow Pages; preserves from the DNR game bird preserve directory and Yellow Pages; taxidermists from Yellow Pages (the DNR taxidermy permit list is not public). Checked October 22, 2026; hours were not checked.
Bear Lake: DNR and Forest Service contacts
Agency offices near Bear Lake: the closest DNR customer service center, then any wildlife field, Forest Service or refuge office within 40 miles.
DNR Gaylord Customer Service Center, 24 mi NE
DNR Houghton Lake Wildlife Area Field Office (28 mi S of town)
From the DNR customer service center page and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 22, 2026.
Bear Lake shooting time on key dates
Deer hunters at Bear Lake 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.
Banquets, classes and trials near Bear Lake
A 30-mile circle drawn around Bear Lake holds 1 upcoming event. Kinds: BOW workshop.
Next dates
| Date | Event | Away | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11–13, 2027 | Becoming an Outdoors Woman Summer Workshop 2027 / BOW workshop | 24 | RAM Center on Higgins Lake in Roscommon (Roscommon Co.) | Event details | Source |
Nearest places to shoot from Bear Lake
Grayling Sportsman's Club is nearest, roughly 11 miles from Bear Lake.
Set up for trap, skeet, shotgun
Set up for trap, shotgun
About 21 miles to Supply Road Shooting Range, the nearest range on DNR land. Open
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 22, 2026.
What Bear Lake hunters often ask
How many antlered deer may a hunter take in Kalkaska County?
A hunter may take two antlered deer a year (one in DMU 117). Pick single or combo when you buy.
How do Bear Lake hunters report game?
Report it within 72 hours of recovery, or before handing it to anyone, online or in the Hunt Fish app. Heads are accepted for CWD or TB testing only after the deer is reported.
How does Kalkaska County rank for reported deer?
Kalkaska County: 1,298 reported deer in 2025. Statewide rank: 70th of 83.
Does Kalkaska County have open elk units?
It sits partly inside unit X. Only applicants picked in the elk drawing may hunt the herd. Period 1: Sep 23 to Oct 4, 2026.
How far is Bear Lake from a state game area or state forest?
Begin with Traverse City Forest Management Unit (State Forest), with its nearest line less than a mile out. Grayling Forest Management Unit (State Forest) follows it in the Bear Lake table.
Which goose and duck zone holds Bear Lake?
It is Middle Zone for ducks and geese. See the season table for zone dates.
Which deer unit numbers matter for Bear Lake hunters?
The DNR layers place Kalkaska County in DMU 040 (Kalkaska County). Bucks in DMU 040 must meet a point rule.
How much state and federal hunting land surrounds Bear Lake?
Close to 121,810 acres lie within a 10-mile radius. That acreage is split across 5 state or federal properties.
What do the CWD and baiting rules say for Bear Lake?
No positives are listed. The LP baiting and feeding ban covers it.
How many universal antlerless licenses work in Kalkaska County?
The use limit is 3. There is no antlerless quota or drawing in Michigan.
How do turkey hunters do near Bear Lake?
It is unit NN for spring birds. Fall hunting runs Sept. 15 – Nov. 14. Hunters reported 98 in 2026 to date.
Which bear management unit covers Bear Lake?
Kalkaska County is Red Oak BMU country for bear. The 2026 quota is 685 licenses. The unit registered 282 bears in 2025.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above; harvest reporting and the antlered deer limit from the DNR 2026 deer regulation summary. Checked October 22, 2026.
Last look before a Bear Lake hunt
Wear hunter orange from Aug. 15 to April 30 when the rules call for it, and report every deer within 72 hours.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Photommo! (CC BY-SA 2.0); YoungSue (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).