WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY: WHY POACHING JEOPARDIZES HUNTING RIGHTS

 Drew YoungeDyke You love to hunt. I love to hunt. But the actions of a few taint the reputations of us all. Anti-hunting forces are looking for every scrap of unethical and illegal activity involving the taking of wildlife so they can tout those rare instances as examples of why all hunting needs to be…

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REACH OUTDOORS: WHAT IS "NATURE PLAY"?

by Shaun McKeon, MUCC Education Director Play is an essential function in the development of children. And playing outside in nature is something that every child should have the opportunity to be able to do.  As our society has shifted away from getting kids outdoors, and children are spending more and more time plugged into…

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PRESS RELEASE: DNR RECEIVES $1.2 MILLION GRANT TO EXPAND HUNTING ACCESS PROGRAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 8, 2014 Contact: Mike Parker, 517­284­6217 or Ed Golder, 517­284­5815 DNR receives $1.2 million grant to expand Hunting Access Program; public comment sought on adoption of environmental assessment Grant provides more youth hunting opportunities with a focus on land conservation The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that it has been awarded…

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DNR FINDS 2014 FIREARM DEER HARVEST DOWN FROM LAST YEAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 9, 2014 Contact: Brent Rudolph, 517-641-4903, ext. 248; Ashley Autenrieth, 989-732-3541; or  Ed Golder, 517-284-5815 DNR finds 2014 firearm deer harvest down from last year The 2014 firearm deer season wrapped up Nov. 30, and challenging conditions and lower deer numbers in some areas likely have led to fewer deer being taken this year. Each year the…

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ADDITIONS TO DNR LIST OF UNWANTED AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES

 Wels Catfish Photo: fishbackgrounds.com by Lia Biondo, MUCC Policy Intern At last month’s Natural Resource Committee meeting, DNR director Keith Creagh signed Invasive Species Order Amendment No. 1 of 2014 which added new species to Michigan’s prohibited list of aquatic invasive species. In 2013, Governor Rick Snyder called a meeting with governors from each of…

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BEAR SYMPOSIUM GIVES PREVIEW ON SEASONS TO COME

 Photo: MDNR On Saturday, the DNR hosted the first ever Bear Symposium, where DNR researchers, wildlife biologists, bear hunters, and those interested in learning more about bears came together at the RAM Center to hear from each other. Nearly 100 people gave up the first Saturday of muzzleloading deer season to reflect on and plan…

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NEW MEMBER APPOINTED TO NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION

 Copyright: Christine Crumbaugh On Thursday, November 20, Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of a new member to the Michigan Natural Resource Commission. Along with the reappointment of NRC Chairman J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon, Christine Crumbaugh from St. Louis now has a position on the NRC as well. Commissioner Crumbaugh replaces John Madigan of Munising,…

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PROPOSED LAND ACQUISITIONS IN PIGEON RIVER COUNTRY

 Photo: MDNR by Lia Biondo, MUCC Policy Intern On the agenda for the December 11, 2014 Natural Resources Commission meeting are the land acquisition cases for two forty acre parcels, The Beatty Tract and The Castle Tract, located in the Pigeon River Country Forest Management Unit within Cheboygan County. The Beatty Tract is located approximately…

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WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY: VOLUNTEER FOR WILDLIFE

 Drew YoungeDyke With apologies to Tony Hansen, it’s not just bow season that resumes this month. Since a lot of Michigan deer hunters are firearm-only hunters, many of you are on hold until next season. Hopefully you got your deer. Maybe you didn’t. But you have approximately 350 days until you hunt again, so whatever…

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MICHIGAN MAY BAN DRONES IN HUNTING

 Photo: AP by Gary Heinlein, from www.detroitnews.com Lansing — State lawmakers are moving quickly to pre-emptively block rapidly expanding drone technology from being used by hunters to gain an advantage over deer and other elusive game animals. Mindful that tiny cameras attached to small flying devices could be used by anti-hunting groups too, they’re considering companion legislation…

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