Hunting Lodge Near 200,000+ Acres in Lewiston, MI

Yes. Every hunter needs a valid Michigan base license plus the species-specific tags they plan to use. You can purchase both through the Michigan DNR E-License System. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1960 must also carry proof of hunter safety certification to buy a license. Out-of-state hunters can use a hunter education certificate from any state that meets IHEA-USA standards.

More than 200,000 acres of public hunting land sit within easy driving distance of Timbertown Lodge. The Atlanta Forest Management Unit and surrounding state forest tracts are closest, with the Huron National Forest covering over 437,000 acres to the south and east. Pigeon River Country State Forest, the largest contiguous block of undeveloped land in Michigan's Lower Peninsula at over 120,000 acres, is a short drive north and is home to the largest free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi.

The lodge sits in the middle of Northern Michigan's best public hunting land. Approximate drive times from Timbertown Lodge in Lewiston:

• Atlanta Forest Management Unit lands: about twenty minutes
• Southern boundary of Pigeon River Country State Forest: about thirty minutes
• Pigeon River Country elk range and central hunting blocks: about forty-five minutes
• Huron National Forest hunting areas near Mio: about forty-five minutes

This central location lets hunting parties try different terrain on different days without long drives or repacking gear.

Michigan's primary hunting seasons include:

• Whitetail Deer: Archery typically runs October 1 through November 14 and again December 1 through January 1. Firearm season is November 15 through November 30. Muzzleloader runs roughly the first two weeks of December (Zone 1 typically December 5 through December 14).
• Wild Turkey: Spring season runs late April through early June. Fall season runs mid-September through late October.
• Black Bear: Limited-draw fall season managed by Bear Management Unit. Timbertown Lodge sits in the Red Oak BMU. Hunt periods and dates vary year to year, and licenses are awarded through the DNR drawing each spring.
• Ruffed Grouse: Mid-September through mid-November and December 1 through January 1.

Dates shift slightly each year. Confirm the current calendar with the Michigan DNR hunting page before you book.

Yes. Timbertown Lodge & Lanes sleeps 34 guests across 8 bedrooms with a mix of king, queen, and twin setups. The kitchen has two stoves, two refrigerators, and two dishwashers, which is enough to feed a hunting party of thirty after a long day in the woods. Parking handles up to 10 vehicles plus trailers, with easy turning clearance for arrivals and departures. See the full Accommodations page for sleeping arrangements and floor plan details.

Timbertown Lodge has ample storage space for rifles, bows, packs, boots, blaze orange, and other equipment between hunts. A dedicated mudroom makes it easy to drop wet gear and dirty boots without tracking through the lodge. Parties are welcome to bring their own gun cases or locks for added security. Firearms must be unloaded before they enter the building and stored properly when they're not in the field.

Game processing is not handled on site, but two well-reviewed processors are within driving distance of the lodge:

• JR Custom Meats in Atlanta, Michigan is the closest option at about thirty minutes from Timbertown Lodge. State-inspected custom processing for deer, bear, and other game.
• Northern Deer & Livestock Processing in Hillman, Michigan is a long-established family-run operation about forty-five minutes east. They handle deer, bear, and other game with vacuum-sealing and custom cuts.

Call ahead during peak season since processors fill up fast in November. Your local host can also share current recommendations at check-in.

Yes. Timbertown Lodge sits directly on the ORV route with immediate trail access, and the parking lot was built to handle trucks with trailers attached. Hunters use the trail system to reach remote sections of state forest and national forest land that aren't accessible by road. Learn more on the ORV Trails page or the Snowmobiling page for winter hunting trips.

No. The lodge sits on a residential parcel in town and is used as a base camp rather than a hunting parcel. Most guests drive to nearby public land each morning. The drives are short, which is one of the reasons hunting parties choose Timbertown. See Q3 above for distances to the surrounding state and national forest hunting areas.

Timbertown Lodge is in Lewiston, Michigan, a small Northern Michigan town with everything a hunting party needs within walking distance or a short drive. You can stock up on groceries, fuel, ammunition, and last-minute gear locally. Restaurants like Tally's Burger Bar and Lewiston Lodge are nearby for nights when nobody feels like cooking after a long day in the woods.