Great Lakes Consent Decree: Implications, background, history
This is the first in a series of updates to let those interested in the sport and commercial fisheries of the Great Lakes know what is happening in the negotiation of a new agreement between the State of Michigan, the federal government and the five Michigan tribes holding a treaty right to fish within the…
Read MoreDeer Management Discussed, New Commissioners Seated at January NRC Meeting
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) met Thursday to discuss new rules for the 2021 deer hunting season, including changes to archery regulations and the creation of new antlerless deer tags. If passed in February, the proposed deer regulations would impact deer hunters statewide and could include a removal of the Upper Peninsula’s (U.P.) “hunter’s…
Read MoreDNR Parks and Recreation Division Hiring Seasonal Employees for 2021
Are you or someone you know interested in working at one of Michigan’s beautiful state parks or recreation areas this summer? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division is currently hiring for more than 1,000 seasonal positions at state parks across the state. If you love working outdoors, interacting with the…
Read MoreNRC Reviews Deer Management, New Commissioners Seated at Upcoming Meeting
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will meet Thursday to make decisions on new rules for the 2021 deer hunting season, including new antlerless deer tags and changes to a slate of regulations impacting the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). The proposed deer regulations would impact deer hunters statewide and could include the legalization of crossbows during…
Read MoreUSFWS Finalizes Cormorant Control Permits
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently finalized a rule that would facilitate the lethal take of nearly 120,000 double-crested cormorants annually nationwide. This rule comes as the latest action in a yearslong process to manage cormorants more comprehensively. While cormorants are a native species, these birds wreak havoc on fisheries populations across the…
Read MoreTips for Being Safe While Ice Fishing
As we continue to look for ways to recreate responsibly, many will turn to new outdoor activities. A classic way to safely distance while still enjoying the outdoors is ice fishing. While lakes in the U.P. have been frozen for several weeks, water bodies down in southern Michigan are finally starting to freeze over. Ice…
Read MoreFeds, Illinois come to agreement on PED phase of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project
An agreement announced today between Illinois and the federal government marks significant progress in Michigan’s effort to keep invasive Asian carp from overtaking our Great Lakes. The preconstruction engineering and design (PED) phase of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project was agreed upon today by the State of Illinois and U.S. Army Corps of…
Read MorePrescribed Fire as a Habitat Management Tool in Michigan
Note: Cover photo by Jonathan Schechter. A Brief History of Fire in Michigan Despite being best known for its abundant forest and water resources, Michigan’s natural history has also been molded by fire. Many fire-adapted ecosystems like jack pine forests, oak savannas and grasslands all rely on fire for optimal health and regeneration. Before the…
Read MoreVoluntary youth fishing license signed into law, helps build conservation ethic
Voluntary youth fishing licenses will once again be available after House Bills 5002 and 5003 were signed into law. Introduced by Representatives Howell (R-Lapeer) and Brixie (D-Meridian Township), the tie-barred bill package reinstates a voluntary youth fishing license that costs $2. Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) supported and testified in front of legislative committees regarding…
Read MoreMichigan pheasant stamp signed into law
Michigan pheasant hunters 18 and older will now need a $25 stamp to pursue pheasants on public land in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Introduced by Rep. Gary Howell (R-North Branch), HB 4313 came about during the first year of the Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative (MPHI) — an R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) pheasant release program…
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