Wildlife Cooperatives
In the Field: Reasons to be Thankful
I’ve been mulling over what I should write for this week’s blog all day. Nothing seemed to fit quite right. And then I realized that I find this answer every single day when I come to work, answer an email, hear about people working together in the field, see the smiles of successful hunters and…
Read MoreIn the Field: Cooperative Leader Harvests Unique Buck
As hunters, we live for the moment we might get to harvest an animal that we talk about the rest of our lives. Each hunt is special but we all know and love those stories…the ones that we know will be told around campfires and to the next generation of hunters. Maybe it’s shooting the…
Read MoreIn the Field: …and Online with Michigan Grassland Habitat
I have spent quite a bit of time on Facebook searching for conservation-related pages that could help people connect with the Wildlife Cooperatives Program. In that time, I also came to realize that there are multiple, very active pages about deer, deer habitat and deer hunting. When I noticed a lack of online chatter about…
Read MoreFor-Mar Bio Blitz
On the last Friday in September, MUCC was invited by For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum to attend their Bio-Blitz event. This event was a field trip day for schools in Genesee County to join scientists and learn about nature through hands-on activities. In attendance were several elementary schools as well as student groups of homeschool…
Read MoreIn the Field: 5 Ways to Become a Better Deer Manager (from your tree stand)
I’m a day late to wish my fellow Michiganders a happy opening day of bow season, but I hope everyone followed tradition and enjoyed their time in the woods. Watching the sunrise the first morning ignites a flame in our core. It’s the reason we come back day after day, and sometimes we bring others…
Read MoreIn the Field: Cooperative Communication Part 1
A wildlife cooperative is formed with the understanding that one’s ability to build and maintain relationships is key. Today we are going back to the basics and deciphering what it means to be a conscious communicator. In today’s world, communication is affected by both human communication (actual person to person exchange) and electronically mediated (phones,…
Read MoreFeeding and Baiting in Michigan
There seems to be some confusion and misinformation about the regulations regarding baiting and feeding wildlife in the aftermath of the Natural Resources Commission’s final enactment of the Chronic Wasting Disease regulations earlier this month. MUCC’s grassroots members have continued to support (since 2009) a ban on baiting and feeding deer so as to reduce…
Read MoreIn the Field: Deer Rendezvous 2018
The Michigan Wildlife Cooperatives Program held it’s annual Deer Rendezvous event August 3-4. The Deer Rendezvous is put on as a free event to cooperative and QDMA branch leaders as an opportunity to reflect on the past year, discuss successes and challenges, grow as a community and set goals for the next season. The Crockery…
Read MoreCWD in Michigan-What Just Happened?! Recap
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission just completed the August 9, 2018 monthly meeting where the biggest item up for action was Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations (Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment No. 12). Rather than take you through the pain of all the amendments and amendments of amendments, MUCC is providing this as a quick summary for…
Read MoreConflicting Amendments to CWD Regulations Proposed; Decisions to Come in August
The July 12, 2018 Natural Resources Commission was another display of passionate discussion about necessary hunting regulations, metrics, and management and education activities to contain the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in Michigan. The proposed Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment 12 of 2018 (MUCC summary available here) has been up for discussion for the last 2…
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