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Rules & Regulations
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation offers hunting on over 4,500 acres of selected properties with some restrictions intended to protect hunters and park visitors alike. Before you head out to hunt, please review the rules and permit requirements. Along with the general park property rules, hunters must comply with the following:
- All hunters must follow the laws of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- Trapping is not allowed.
- Target practice or paint ball shooting is not allowed.
- Hunters must maintain a 30-yard distance from property lines. Property lines are marked with red stakes.
- Hunting is not allowed within 450 feet of any occupied building.
- Motorized vehicles are not allowed except in designated parking areas.
- Cutting of trees or branches to create shooting lanes is not allowed.
- Gathering of dead materials found on the ground to construct blinds is not allowed.
- Tree stands and type 1 ground blinds may be used per state laws. All stands or blinds must have identification attached.
- Using bait to attract deer is not allowed.
- Fishing is allowed in designated areas following the laws of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Properties with Hunting Available
- Bass River Open Space
- Bend Area
- Bur Oak Landing-East
- Bur Oak Landing-West
- Crockery Creek Natural Area
- Eastmanville Bayou
- Grand River Open Space
- Hiawatha Forest
- Johnson Street Forest
- Jubb Bayou
- Kuits Bayou
- North Ottawa Dunes & Ottawa Sands
- Port Sheldon Natural Area
- Ripps Bayou
- Robinson Forest
- Stearns Creek
- Upper Macatawa Natural Area
- Van Buren Street Dunes
- Marne Bog
Hunting is NOT allowed at:
- Adams Street Landing
- Deer Creek Park
- Connor Bayou
- Eastmanville Farm
- Grand River Park
- Grand Ravines
- Grose Park
- Hager Park
- Hemlock Crossing
- Historic Ottawa Beach Parks
- Kirk Park
- Musketawa Trail
- North Beach Park
- Paw Paw Park
- Pine Bend
- Olive Shores
- Riverside Park
- Pigeon Creek Park
- Spring Grove Park
- Riley Trails
- Rosy Mound Natural Area
- Tunnel Park
Special Permits
Properties requiring a special permit for hunting include Crockery Creek Natural Area, Upper Macatawa Natural Area, Stearns Creek Park, Stearns Creek North, North Ottawa Dunes, and Ottawa Sands. Lottery drawings are held prior to the hunting periods at each of these sites. Hunters may apply for each of the lotteries, but may submit only one application for each; duplicate entries results in removal from the lottery process. Please click on the plus sign for more information about each hunt and the application link.
Waterfowl Hunting
Crockery Creek Natural Area is open to waterfowl hunting by special permit only. At this time, there is no lottery for this hunt. Section 11.1 of these rules and regulations requires prior written permission to hunt game at any Park including Crockery Creek Natural Area. By submitting an application to the Park Commission, you are requesting permission to hunt waterfowl at Crockery Creek Natural Area.
Regulations for Waterfowl Hunting at Crockery Creek:
- All Michigan DNR rules, regulations, license requirements, seasons, or laws concerning the hunting of waterfowl must be strictly adhered to.
- It is your responsibility to obtain hunting permission for other adjacent landowners when or if required by DNR rules.
- Hunters may only access the park via watercraft from the Grand River or Crockery Creek. You may not park a vehicle in the Park or along an adjacent roadway and walk into the park.
- You must either hunt from your boat or within 15 feet of the stream bank or water’s edge along the Grand River, Crockery Creek or connected wetlands/ flooded areas.
- Keep the park clean and pick up after yourself including shell casings.
- You may have a dog off leash for the purpose of retrieving waterfowl only. Your dog must be under your control at all times.
- You may be within the park’s boundaries outside of regular park hours but only between the hours of 5am and 10pm.
- A separate permit is required to take any other game than waterfowl, and the only other permits currently being issued at Crockery Creek are issued via the archery deer hunt lottery.
Archery Deer Hunting
Crockery Creek Natural Area, Upper Macatawa Natural Area, and Stearns Creek are open to archery deer hunting each fall by special permit only, during specific periods by lottery-chosen hunters. The parks remain open for hiking, fishing, and other recreational uses during the hunting season. Special hunting rules and regulations are in effect for these hunts; please review before you apply.
Archery Deer Hunting Season Dates
| Fall | October 15, 2025 – November 15, 2025 |
| Winter | December 1, 2025 – January 1, 2026 |
Application & Lottery Drawing
The online application will open on August 4, 2025, and must be completed by August 31, 2025. Hunters may only apply once. Hunters whose names appear on more than one application will be disqualified. 10 applicants will be selected for each archery location per season. All applicants will be notified of lottery results by e-mail in September. Hunters selected to receive a permit (either season) will be required to do the following:
- Complete and return a liability release form (will be sent by e-mail to those selected).
- Pay the permit fee of $20 to the parks office.
- Read and agree to follow the rules for the hunt.
- Minors under the age of 18 may not apply for the lottery, however lottery winners may bring one minor hunting with them. Both the permit holder and the minor must have a copy of permit in their possession while hunting.
- Complete a post-season survey. Failure to complete this survey will result in being excluded from the opportunity for a special permit in the future.
- Under Michigan DNR regulations, these sites are considered “public land,” therefore, a hunter must possess a public-land antlerless deer license to take a doe on site.
Stearns North All Game Hunting
This Special Permit opportunity is for all game hunting per DNR regulations. There are two hunting seasons available on this property. The park will remain open for hiking, fishing, and other recreational uses during the hunting season.
All Game Hunting Season Dates
| Fall | October 15, 2025 – January 1, 2026 |
| Spring | April 15, 2026 – May 15, 2026 |
Application and Lottery Drawing
The online application will open on August 4, 2025, and must be submitted by August 31, 2025. Hunters may only apply once. Hunters whose names appear on more than one application will be disqualified. Five applicants will be selected for each season. All applicants will be notified of lottery results by e-mail in September. Hunters selected to receive a permit (either season) will be required to do the following:
- Complete and return a liability release form (will be sent by e-mail to those selected).
- Pay the permit fee of $20 to the parks office.
- Read and agree to follow the rules for the hunt.
- Minors under the age of 18 may not apply for the lottery, however lottery winners may bring one minor hunting with them. Both the permit holder and the minor must have a copy of permit in their possession while hunting.
- Permit holders may scout the property (off trail hiking) up to seven days prior to their season.
- Complete a post-season survey. Failure to complete this survey will result in being excluded from the opportunity for a special permit in the future.
Lakeshore Wildlife Management Hunt
The wildlife management hunt will take place between the dates of November 21- November 24, 2025 (each participant will be scheduled for two of those dates) at North Ottawa Dunes and Ottawa Sands. The parks will be closed to the general public. Special hunting rules and regulations are in effect for these hunts; please review before you apply.
Application & Lottery Drawing
The online application will open on August 4, 2025, and must be completed by August 31, 2025. Hunters may only apply once. Hunters whose names appear on more than one application will be disqualified. All applicants will be notified of lottery results by e-mail in September. Selected hunters will be required to do the following:
- Complete and return a liability release form (will be sent by e-mail to those selected).
- Pay the permit fee of $20; due at pre-hunt meeting.
- Attend a required pre-hunt meeting (in-person) – Saturday, October 18 from 10-11 am OR Wednesday, October 22 from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Nature Center Classroom at Hemlock Crossing
- Complete a post-season survey. Failure to complete this survey will result in being excluded from the opportunity for a special permit in the future.
Hunter Safety Tips
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
- Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it.
- Keep your finger outside the trigger guard and off the trigger until ready to shoot.
- Control your emotions when hunting.
- Always let someone know where you are hunting and when you plan on returning.
