The Great Grasslands of Michigan

Grasslands provide many amazing ecological functions. A wide range of different grassland community types is found across Michigan. Sadly, due to a misguided viewpoint from the 60s, fires as a management tool have been suppressed across the region. This lack of fire has allowed trees and woody vegetation to take over many grasslands. Common culprits…

Read More

Michigan Turkey Hunting History

turkey hunting michigan

Fifty birds. That’s what can be thanked for Michigan’s robust and liberal turkey seasons, our world-class turkey habitat and the opportunity to pursue turkey in all of Michigan’s 83 counties. Fifty birds. That’s what can be thanked for rallying conservation organizations, stakeholders, agencies and enthusiasts alike around arguably one of America’s most loved and hunted…

Read More

Summer Berry Foraging

Spring and summer give way to the sweet splendors of berries. Besides the popular blueberries and strawberries, Michigan is also home to juniper berries, bramble berries, elderberries, juneberries and staghorn sumac berries. Each is well worth the effort and summer berry foraging can be done on state land. Although it may not seem like it…

Read More

Mushroom Foraging in Michigan

Michigan is full of amazing wildlife and there are many ways to enjoy the space around you. A great activity that allows you to explore the wild areas of Michigan is mushroom foraging. Mushroom foraging can be tricky and certainly makes you appreciate the complexity of nature. But with a good identification book and possibly…

Read More

MUCC letter to Gov. Whitmer underscores bobcat hunting, trapping expansions

This letter was sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer in response to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission unanimously approving Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment 1 of 2022. Dear Governor Whitmer, On March 10, 2022, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission unanimously voted to expand bobcat hunting and trapping opportunities in Michigan. The order was drafted and supported by…

Read More

Maple Syrup Season

March is maple syrup season in Michigan. It may surprise you to know you can make maple syrup from the trees in your backyard. The process may be a little time-consuming, but it is well worth the effort.    Materials Needed:  Drill with a 7/16-inch diameter drill bit Spout  Sap collection container Storage containers, such…

Read More

March NRC: Bobcat harvest opportunities expand in Michigan

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) passed regulations expanding bobcat hunting and trapping zones Thursday. Wildlife Conservation Order 1 of 2022 expands hunting seasons in the Northern Lower Peninsula to include two full weekends. The order shifts some geographic boundaries for units in the Northern Lower Peninsula and combines some units to create new, larger…

Read More

Put your Saturday where your mouth is

We often default to giving in the form of a check or a recurring donation (which we love), but there are other, just as important, avenues that a well-rounded conservationist travels. It’s true that we couldn’t keep the lights on here at Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) without your generous, repeated giving. Your dollars directly help…

Read More

DNR Nature Center Summit

The DNR Nature Center Summit took place virtually on February 11th. The event was a collaborative of biologists, educators, nature centers, zoos and conservation districts about Michigan’s current conservation concerns and the new mediating techniques and technologies. A variety of items were discussed, including the double-crested cormorant, nuisance wildlife, determining the value of your forest,…

Read More

Resolution calling for wolf hunt passes House committee, highlights partisanship

Emotional rhetoric and misinformation from anti-hunters didn’t deter committee members from voting through a resolution Thursday calling for a 2022 wolf hunting and trapping season in Michigan. Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) Executive Director Amy Trotter was invited by House Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee Chair Gary Howell (R-North Branch) to give a short…

Read More