Wildlife Cooperatives
In the Field: Starting a Cooperative
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC Wildlife cooperatives provide great opportunities for shaping what management looks like over a landscape. These groups consist of landowners and hunters who share a common interest in surrounding wildlife habitat and harvest management. While the early stages of cooperative development take a lot of time and energy, it…
Read MoreIn the Field: How to Talk to Neighbors about Habitat
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC It is usually pretty easy to talk to your hunting buddy about habitat. Your vocabulary is similar, your goals are similar, and your motives are similar. But how do you start up a conversation with your neighbor about expanding quality habitat if they don’t hunt what you do,…
Read MoreIn the Field: Summer Cooperative Activities
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC It is summer time! Vacations, bonfires, late nights, hammocks…. Gotta love summer! But how can you capture some of the summer fun and create a cooperative activity that can help build relationships, and recruit new members? I have a few ideas! Let me know yours, and I will…
Read MoreIn the Field: Working with Neighbors to Prevent Trespassing
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC Dealing with trespassing on Private Property can be a major issue of concern and frustration. Below is an expert from an article written by Anna Mitterling and Brad Nicoll that will be published in the Fall 2016 edition of the Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine. Enjoy. To read the full…
Read MoreIn the Field: Is there a Perfect Cooperative?
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC Starting a wildlife cooperative is a lot of work. As I’ve talked about before, getting a couple neighbors to assist you in planning, strategizing, networking, and connecting with fellow landowners and hunters will make the job a lot easier, more rewarding and fun! However, regardless of how much…
Read MoreIn the Field: How to Start a Cooperative
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC This past weekend I had the honor of attending Fish Creek’s first official kick off meeting. They had a good turnout, and lots of good casual conversation. Ultimately, it was what a cooperative’s first meeting should be. Time to socialize and get to know your neighbors. Have a…
Read MoreIn the Field: Engaging New Hunters
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC This past Saturday I attended the Southeast Michigan QDMA Branch’s Habitat Day at Jim Brauker’s property. What made this event special for me is that my 20 year old brother came along with me. All I did was throw out an invite. Dan has been deer hunting a…
Read MoreIn the Field: Cooperative Meetings are Important
by Anna Mitterling, Michigan Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC We all have busy schedules, especially once you have kids (at least that is what I am told will happen come October…). One thing I know is that the leaders of cooperatives put a lot of their personal time and money into organizing a cooperative and any…
Read MoreIn the Field: How DNR Estimates Deer Harvest
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC Deer season has come and gone, and you have been reaching out to your neighbors to get the final deer kill for the seasons. You were able to get harvest data from most of the cooperative members, and by talking with neighbors have some good guesses on what…
Read MoreIn the Field: Refocusing a Cooperative
by Anna Mitterling, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator, MUCC It all started because one guy had a QDMA sign on his property. Two guys each bought some property to build a home, raise a family, and hunt. Each acting independently of the other, yet just across the street. They had both been in communication with me about…
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