deer management unit · Michigan Department of Natural Resources

DMU 051 Manistee County

Michigan, United States

The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.

About DMU 051 Manistee County

DMU 051 Manistee County is a deer management unit in Michigan, United States, set by Michigan Department of Natural Resources. It covers about 1,445 km² (558 mi²). The town of Manistee is inside it.

HuntGrid draws its boundary from Michigan Department of Natural Resources's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for White-tailed deer.

Unit code: 051
Area: 1,445 km²
Area (miles): 558 mi²
Boundaries: 2026

Public and protected land mapped inside it

HuntGrid's public land layers map about 386 km² of public or protected land inside it, 27% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:

Manager	km²	Share
Forest Service Region 09 Eastern	354	24%
MIDNR Wildlife Division	16	1%
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy	11	under 1%
Private owners (names not shown)	2.0	under 1%
Municipal	1.1	under 1%
State Department of Natural Resources	0.8	under 1%
Michigan Department of Natural Resources	0.8	under 1%
The Nature Conservancy	0.6	under 1%
Other or unnamed managers	0.6	under 1%

Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.

Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1

Seasons and regulations

Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Michigan Department of Natural Resources's regulations:

Species	Dates	Details
White-tailed deer	Dec 4, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026	firearm source
White-tailed deer	Dec 7, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027	antlerless, firearm source

The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.

Official regulations: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Units around it

Next to it in the same unit system

Other hunting units that cover part of it

What HuntGrid shows for DMU 051 Manistee County

Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.

Open in HuntGrid

Questions

How big is DMU 051 Manistee County (deer management unit)?

About 1,445 km² (558 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Michigan Department of Natural Resources's boundary.

How much public or protected land is in DMU 051 Manistee County?

HuntGrid's public land layers map about 386 km² of public or protected land, 27% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Forest Service Region 09 Eastern. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.

Where are the season dates for DMU 051 Manistee County?

This page lists 2 seasons a person has checked against Michigan Department of Natural Resources's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.

Which units are next to DMU 051 Manistee County?

In the same unit system: DMU 010 Benzie County, DMU 028 Grand Traverse County, DMU 043 Lake County, DMU 053 Mason County and DMU 083 Wexford County.

Sources

Unit boundary: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Licence: Michigan DNR open data (public record; no restrictions on use, reproduction or distribution; as-is). Boundaries for the 2026 season.

HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The official regulations and maps have the final word.