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.

Lottery applications must be submitted by August 31, 2024. Hunters may only apply to each lottery once. Hunters whose names appear on more than one application for each lottery will be disqualified. Ten applicants for each lottery will be selected at random.

Hunters selected to receive a permit will be required to complete and return a liability release form, pay a permit fee of $20, and agree to follow the rules for the hunt. After the hunt, they will be required to 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.

Permit holders may scout the property (off trail hiking) up to seven days prior to their season.

The wildlife management hunt will take place between the dates of November 22- November 25, 2024 (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.

The lottery application must be completed by August 31, 2024. Hunters may only apply once for each lottery. Hunters whose names appear on more than one application for each lottery will be disqualified. Selected hunters will be required to complete and return a liability release form, pay the permit fee of $20, and attend an in-person pre-hunt meeting.

This special permit opportunity is for all game hunting per DNR regulations at Stearns Creek North. The park will remain open for hiking, fishing, and other recreational uses during the hunting season.

Lottery applications must be submitted by August 31, 2024. Hunters may only apply once per lottery. Hunters whose names appear on more than one lottery application will be disqualified. Five applicants will be selected at random.

Hunters selected to receive a permit will be required to complete and return a liability release form, pay a permit fee of $20, and agree to follow the rules for the hunt.

Permit holders may scout the property (off trail hiking) up to seven days prior to their season.

Crockery Creek Natural Area, located north of the Grand River in Crockery Township, is an Ottawa County Park where you may hunt waterfowl with a special permit.

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.

To apply for a Waterfowl Hunting Permit, click Add to Selection List & then Add to Cart.