Michigan · Public land & water · No lottery
Maple River Gratiot-Saginaw Connector State Game Area
Fox and gray squirrels; cottontail rabbits
DNR public hunting land in Gratiot County. Plan an ordinary small-game outing on the huntable parcels shown in the official boundary map.
- Area / county
- Gratiot County
- Access
- Open during listed seasons
- Agency-reported size
- 311 acres
License and access permit
Michigan license purchase required; prices vary by age, residency and duration. State game areas do not require a Recreation Passport, but a separate park/boat access route may.
Buy the appropriate Michigan base license or eligible nonresident 3-/7-day small-game license. Meet hunter-education or apprentice/mentor requirements, follow legal hours and equipment rules, and wear required hunter orange. Check posted conditions before travel.
When you can go
2026–27 ordinary public-land fox/gray squirrel and cottontail rabbit season: Sept. 15–March 31. April–Sept. management seasons are private-land-only. For any additional species or another license year, use the current official rules.
Area restrictions
Stay inside mapped public hunting boundaries; respect 150-yard firearm safety zones, posted closures and local weapon restrictions. This record does not cover deer, turkey or managed waterfowl permits, and does not reserve a spot.
Plan with the official agency
The DNR lists this named public game/wildlife area and publishes its boundary map. Michigan’s 2026 small-game rules authorize these species with purchased base or limited small-game licenses, without an application draw. This record applies only to general huntable parcels and excludes managed permit hunts/refuges.
No lottery is required for the described access and species. Other hunts on the same property may require a drawing. Check current seasons, closures, check-in and capacity before traveling; open access does not reserve an exclusive spot.
Agency sources reviewed 2026-10-07. Reviewed the official named-area map and current DNR game-area land-use orders, joined with 2026 small-game license rules. The species category describes legal hunting options rather than verified animal abundance on each parcel. Map publication dates vary; current posted restrictions and DNR orders take priority. Public entry is arranged with the agency, with no Back40 booking fee.
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