Ontonagon County, Michigan
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Black Bear
- Group
- Upper Peninsula
- Area
- N/A
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 676
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Black Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
Sign in to contributeOntonagon County encompasses some of Michigan's most remote and wild hunting country in the western Upper Peninsula, anchored by Ottawa National Forest and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Black bear densities here rank among the highest in the state, and white-tailed deer navigate rugged terrain of boreal forest, upland ridges, and river valleys. Wolves are a visible presence in this true wilderness hunting environment.
Rugged UP terrain with the Porcupine Mountains rising above 1,900 feet; Ottawa National Forest covers the majority of the county with dense mixed boreal forest, hardwood ridges, and numerous river systems including the Ontonagon River and its branches. Lake Superior provides the northern border.
Exceptional public land access throughout - Ottawa National Forest and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park cover the vast majority of the county. Michigan DNR also manages extensive tracts. A genuine public-land hunter destination with minimal private land barriers.
Low. Remote location, difficult terrain, and long travel distances from population centers keep pressure minimal even during peak firearm season. Many drainages see few hunters annually.
Over-the-counter; Upper Peninsula deer regulations apply. Deer densities lower than Lower Peninsula due to wolf predation pressure and severe winters limiting survival. UP license covers both firearm and archery seasons.
Black bear hunting is a primary draw with excellent bear populations throughout Ottawa National Forest. Wolves and coyotes are regularly encountered. Ruffed grouse and woodcock offer outstanding early-season upland opportunities. Lake Superior provides some waterfowl hunting.
Porcupine Mountains for wilderness black bear hunting in stunning backcountry; Ottawa National Forest as a premier public-land hunting destination in the western UP
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Ontonagon County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about Ontonagon County.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: MDNR county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 104d ago.