October NRC Preview: Turkeys and Wolves Highlight a UP NRC Meeting

Justin Tomei • September 28, 2022

The October Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting will be include turkey regulations and a timeline on the wolf management plan.

The meeting will be held at Northern Michigan University, located at NC Peninsula II, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue Marquette on October 13, 2022 at 9 a.m. Coffee with commissioners will precede committee meetings at 8 a.m.

Department of Natural Resources  Wildlife Division Chief Jared Duquette will give a presentation on the timeline of the Wolf Management plan. Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) provided its public comments on the plan in July and expressed concern with verbage the DNR used in the draft. 

Adam Bump of DNR Wildlife Division will provide department proposals for spring turkey regulations. Combining the first and second hunts in Unit E into a single two week long hunt is the only change recommended at this time.

Wildlife Conservation Order #5 of 2022 contains these recommendations and addresses the possibility of a second leftover turkey tag for Michigan’s hunters. 

A second, leftover, turkey tag is not included in the recommendation, which MUCC asked for at the August NRC meeting. The DNR, MUCC and other stakeholder groups have committed to working together to improve our base of knowledge on turkey biology in Michigan to address this issue again during the next regulatory cycle.

Four fisheries orders are on the agenda for action this month. More details on these orders can be found in our September blog . 

Four directors orders are up for action: Land Use Order #6 of 2022 sets regulations for the new Crystal Waters State Game Area. Originally, this order contained a ban on lead shot, but it was removed without notice.

Land Use Order #7 of 2022 changes regulations at the Silver Lake State Park ORV area. A proposed October 25, 2022 oil and gas lease auction , and s tate land review recommendations group 5 are also both up for action. 

Land Use Order of the Director #8 of 2022 is up for information. This order, if adopted, would designate portions of the Michigan Iron Industry Museum as a state park. 

There are six land transactions on the agenda, MUCC reviews transactions larger than 80 acres. 

Land Transaction Case #20220001 is an exchange of 40 state-owned acres in Houghton County for 40 privately-owned acres of land in Baraga County. The private land is adjacent to existing state land, while the state-owned land is isolated from other state property.

Preceding the committee of the whole, the fisheries committee will see a presentation from Jessica Mistak and Dr. Joe Nohner from fisheries division on strategizing investments in fish habitat.

The Wildlife Committee will then see a presentation on UP Habitat Workgroup updates from Stacy Welling-Haughey, the UP Field Deputy, Former Commissioner JR Richardson, Thomas Seablom from DNR Forest Resources Division, Bill Scullen from DNR Wildlife Division and former biologist and consultant Jim Hammill.

MUCC will be streaming the meeting on our Facebook page if technology allows.

To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully in perpetuity, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC .

Recent Posts

MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project

By Justin Tomei • June 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project Lansing, MI — Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), the nation’s largest statewide conservation organization, has submitted formal public comments urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project. In a letter submitted today, MUCC emphasized the need to move this critical infrastructure forward to protect the Great Lakes while maintaining safe, reliable energy transportation. “MUCC supports the tunnel project as the best available alternative to reduce the risk of an environmental disaster in the Straits of Mackinac while continuing to deliver essential energy products to Michigan families and industries,” said Amy Trotter, CEO of MUCC. “We believe the tunnel project strikes a balance between protecting the environment and maintaining energy security.” MUCC’s position is backed by a formal resolution passed by its membership, which includes thousands of hunters, anglers, trappers, and outdoor enthusiasts across Michigan. The resolution supports the tunnel as a long-term solution that replaces the aging and exposed pipeline segment currently crossing the Straits, offering greater environmental safeguards through secondary containment. The organization cited the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which acknowledges the tunnel’s benefits, including reduced spill risk and a controlled, buried environment for transporting light crude oil and natural gas liquids. MUCC also rejected the "no action alternative," which would allow the existing line to remain in operation without any new protective infrastructure. “Other alternatives, like transporting fuel by truck or rail, are inefficient and carry greater environmental and safety risks,” Trotter added. “Allowing the current line to operate exposed on the lakebed indefinitely is simply not acceptable.” MUCC’s comment stresses that the organization is not weighing in on the type of energy transported, but rather on the environmental risks and safety benefits of the tunnel itself. Originally approved by the Michigan legislature and governor in 2018, the Great Lakes Tunnel Project represents a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and environmental protection. MUCC urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue the necessary permits and move forward with construction without further delay. For Media Contact: Justin Tomei jtomei@mucc.org 517-346-6488 #####

Michigan Wildlife Conservation Month: MUCC's Impact

By Olivia Triltsch • June 26, 2025
Since its inception, MUCC has made great strides in the conservation of natural resources through advocacy, habitat, youth education, and communications.

On the Ground: Native Plug Planting at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

By Katelyn Helsel • June 25, 2025
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) for a native plug planting day in Barry County. Located on 850 acres, the institute offers both environmental education opportunities and serves as a biological field station for conducting research. Many diverse native communities from wetlands to prairies are present at PCCI, and many rare or threatened species in Michigan like the eastern box turtle call the institute home. 
More Posts