Press Release: Hunting lotteries for Crockery Creek, Upper Macatawa, and North Ottawa Dunes are now open

Contact the Ottawa County Parks Administrative Office with questions: 616-738-4810

Applications for Crockery Creek and Upper Macatawa are open until noon on September 1.

Ottawa County Parks offers special permits for hunting at Crockery Creek Natural Area, Upper Macatawa Natural Area, and North Ottawa Dunes. Lottery drawings are held prior to the hunting periods at each of these sites. All three lotteries are currently open - apply today! Read below closely as there have been some changes to the application process.

Hunters may only apply for only one of these lotteries, not both. There are separate applications below. Hunters whose names are on more than one application will be disqualified from the lottery.

Apply for the lottery at Crockery Creek Natural Area

A ‘quality deer management program’ is in effect at Crockery Creek Natural Area. Does and bucks may both be taken at this site - however, each hunter is limited to one buck, and the buck must have a rack totaling 6 points or more. A hunter may also take a doe as long as he/she possesses a public-land antlerless deer license. All DNR rules and regulations are still in effect for this program.

Apply for the lottery at Upper Macatawa Natural Area

Under Michigan DNR regulations, Upper Macatawa Natural Area is considered “public land,” and therefore a hunter must possesses a public-land antlerless deer license to take a doe on site.

Hunters will be notified whether they are selected by September 16. Hunters selected to receive a special permit via the drawing must pay a $20 fee. Selected hunters must complete a survey at the end of the season in order to be eligible to apply for future hunts. See survey results from 2016 here. Hunters should review the 2017 lottery rules and hunting maps. There is no pre-hunt meeting for Crockery Creek and Upper Macatawa Natural Area this year. 

Application for North Ottawa Dunes is now open until noon on September 1.

Apply for the Lottery at North Ottawa Dunes

Applicants who apply for either Crockery Creek or Upper Macatawa may also apply for North Ottawa Dunes. 

Hunters will be notified by October 3 whether they were selected. If selected, hunters are required to attend one of two pre-hunt meetings on either Wednesday, October 26 at 7 pm or Saturday, October 29 at 11 am. The $20 fee will be due at the pre-hunt meeting.

Hunting is an important part of managing natural lands and parks in Ottawa County. "Biodiversity is dependent on a delicate balance of predator and prey populations. In Michigan this balance has been altered by a significant loss of predators, like wolves. As a result, some prey populations, such as deer, do not have the natural checks and balances needed to prevent overpopulation. Humans have always been and continues to play an important role in hunting prey populations," said Melanie Manion Natural Resources Management Supervisor.