In the Field: Connecting with Cooperatives

lschultz • April 1, 2020

As most people are spending some extra time at home, including myself, I thought it would be a good time to open the line of communication on wildlife cooperatives. I will be scheduling phone calls with landowners interested in starting or joining a cooperative but haven’t because they aren’t sure what the benefits are or where to start. Working with the Cooperatives Coordinator is one of the very first steps – let’s check that off the list!

There are over 6,000 landowners engaged with the Michigan Wildlife Cooperatives program to date which totals approximately 350,000 acres of private land. These members work on a volunteer basis with the program to improve community education and participation in the management of multiple species including deer, pheasant and turkey and their required habitat.

Phone calls will be 15-30 minutes for the landowner’s convenience.

Would you benefit from one of these consultations? If you answer yes to any of the questions below, a wildlife cooperative could be right for your management goals!

  • Are you a landowner or hunt on private land?
  • Are you interested in improving your hunting experience?
  • Are you interested in improving wildlife habitat?
  • Are you interested in making a larger impact on habitat and hunting in your community?
  • Are you interested in having more direct access to financial and professional resources to improve wildlife management?
  • Would you like to see more pheasants and other grassland birds on your property?
  • Would you like to see a more balanced deer herd and older, larger bucks?

If you are interested in setting up a phone call, please email me at mjennings@mucc.org OR message the Michigan Wildlife Cooperatives Facebook page.

Recent Posts

By Olivia Triltsch May 21, 2026
On Friday, May 15, 2026, high school students who are part of the Reese High Outdoors Club joined MUCC’s On the Ground Junior program and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Denmark Township Mini State Game Area. Students completed a wildlife habitat improvement project by clearing a grassland habitat of invasive woody growth maintained for pheasants. Using the cut vegetation from the area, students constructed several large brush piles throughout the site to benefit small mammals and other wildlife in the area. Maintaining open grassland habitat is important for supporting species that rely on early successional cover for cover or feeding. Due to suppression of natural disturbances, active management helps to control woody vegetation from gradually overtaking the areas and reducing habitat quality for species that rely on the grassland. The project area is near fields planted by the DNR to provide both habitat and food sources for wildlife, making these improvements part of a larger habitat management effort on the property. In total, students directly improved 10 acres of wildlife habitat through this project. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, the event also allowed students to try a hands-on conservation experience and the ability to contribute to habitat management and public land stewardship in Michigan. Projects like this continue to demonstrate the value of engaging the next generation in Michigan's outdoor heritage and wildlife conservation efforts.
By Olivia Triltsch May 7, 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.
May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.
More Posts