OTG GOES BACK TO ITS ROOTS TO KICK-OFF MUCC'S 80TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
We are approaching MUCC’s 80th Annual Convention which will take place at the Comstock Inn and Conference Center in Owosso this weekend, June 16th-18th. Special events will also be taking place at the nearby Shiawassee Conservation Association. This was the place where MUCC was originally formed in November of 1937 by a collection of representatives from sportsmen’s clubs from around the state. To kick-off this year’s Convention, on Friday, June 16th at 10am we will be building brush piles for rabbitat with MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) program in the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area. The Gratiot Saginaw SGA was also the location of the first OTG project in March of 2013.
On the Ground is MUCC’s volunteer fish and wildlife habitat improvement program supported by a Wildlife Habitat Grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources along with Michigan’s hunters, anglers, and trappers. Launched in 2013 with six pilot projects, it won Outdoor Life magazine’s inaugural Open Country award for its partnership with the Department of Natural Resources. Through this program, hunters, anglers and trappers have the opportunity to donate their time for the benefit of the species they pursue, showing the general public that we’re true conservationists, while seeing first-hand how their license dollars are put to use. At the same time, non-hunters and new hunters learn about wildlife habitat and the contributions made by hunters, anglers and trappers for conservation.
An astounding amount of wildlife habitat improvement work has been completed on public lands throughout the state by over 1,460 dedicated volunteers with MUCC’s Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program. A total of 84 projects have been completed to enhance wildlife habitat of various types in 42 different public land areas accessible to hunting. The various wildlife habitat improvements completed include building brush piles for rabbitat, maintaining wildlife openings, planting trees for wildlife food and cover, placing muskellunge spawning structures, improving lake and river access, installing wood duck boxes and mallard nesting structures, hinge-cutting for snowshoe hare, aspen stand regeneration and more.
Thank you to all of the volunteers that have dedicated one or several Saturdays to enhancing wildlife habitat with MUCC’s On the Ground program. This program is a true representation of hunters and non-hunters alike making the essential effort to give back to our public lands and strengthen Michigan’s conservation community. Join us on Friday, June 16th at 10am in the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area as we continue these efforts and kick-off MUCC’s 80th Annual Convention; see more details or RSVP to volunteer here!
MUCC’s On The Ground Program is supported by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division
