Hunting and Trapping

Oakland County Parks offers annual archery deer hunting and biennial managed deer hunting opportunities to manage deer densities at ecologically-sustainable levels within the parks system.

Archery hunting is permitted Oct. 1-Jan. 31 each year. Hunting is not permitted during the Early Antlerless Firearm season in September. Oakland County is part of the Urban Deer Management Zone, providing an extended deer archery season for the month of January on state land and other participating lands, including Oakland County Parks. Please see the DNR general hunting regulations digest for more information about hunting on state land. For questions about hunting on private property, contact your local city or township.

Beaver trapping is offered on an as-needed basis to prevent beaver damage to ecosystems and infrastructure.

• Hunting FAQs
• Hunter Safety Classes

Deer – Archery

Public deer archery hunting (with some limitations) is allowed at six Oakland County Parks. At Addison Oaks County Park, hunting is restricted to Addison Oaks-East and at Independence Oaks County Park, it is restricted to Independence Oaks-North. Hunting rules are listed in the individual park archery maps below. Oakland County Parks and Michigan Department of Natural Resources hunting rules and regulations are strictly enforced. Oakland County Parks are open for standard as well as extended archery seasons as part of the MDNR Urban Deer Management Zone.

DNR Hunting Digests

• Addison Oaks-East Archery Map
• Highland Oaks Archery Map
• Independence Oaks-North Archery Map
• Lyon Oaks Archery Map
• Orion Oaks Archery Map
• Rose Oaks Archery Map

Please help Oakland County Parks track the deer population by reporting the deer you take:

• Deer Harvest Report Form

Prevent the spread of oak wilt by not cutting or breaking branches or piercing bark on oak trees. This deadly disease, which is rapidly spreading through Oakland County, infects oaks through any wound on the tree, then spreads underground to adjacent trees. Consider not placing blinds in oak trees to avoid any chance of bark damage.

Deer – Managed Firearms Hunt

Due to logistical concerns and the Lower Peninsula bait ban, the volunteer managed firearms hunts at Addison Oaks and Independence Oaks have not been held since 2018. A managed hunt took place at Addison Oaks in February 2024. Information about the hunt can be found in this FAQ sheet. Volunteers are not being solicited for the program this year. 

Beaver Trapping

The need for recreational beaver trapping at select Oakland County Parks is determined by lake elevation data, number and location of active dams and lodges within park boundaries, hydrological requirements of rare park wetland communities and impacts of beaver activity on adjacent private parcels and built infrastructure. When a need for trapping is determined, an invitation lottery is initiated.

• Beaver Trapping Rules
• Beaver Information

Contact

Please contact Wildlife Specialist - Natural Resources Sean Zera, with questions or concerns at 248-520-7231 or zeras@oakgov.com.

Your help is important in keeping Oakland County Parks safe, clean and well maintained. Report park incidents, accidents or vandalism to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office at 248-858-4950.