Outdoors

On July 11, 2024, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the scheduled deer hunting regulations for this fall. The full package of regulations includes updates that won’t begin until after the 2024 seasons have ended; those updates will be explained at a later date. The commissioners and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources thank everyone who gave their time, insight and feedback to the work of the DNR’s Deer Management Initiative, which contributed to many of these regulation changes and decisions.

Fall hunting is right around the corner, but you can get safety-certified now during the DNR’s Hunter Safety Education Week, Aug. 12-18. More than 60 in-person classes and/ or field days are being offered in 40 counties throughout the state as additional opportunities to obtain your hunter safety education certificate.

The Hiawatha National Forest is pleased to share that the Grand Island Staircase Replacement Project is underway as part of the Great American Outdoors Act. On June 10, contractors began the process of removing two staircases and replacing another near beaches on the island.

Three climate monitoring and maritime safety buoys have been deployed for the season from the south shore of Lake Superior. The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) staff deployed the buoys with boat support provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (NPS).

Preventing new invasive species from entering Michigan is the first goal in Michigan’s aquatic invasive species management plan, but prevention efforts are not perfect, and some invaders still make it into the state. Finding new invasions early improves chances of slowing their spread or possibly eradicating the population.

It’s simple math really: Zero eggs equals zero fish for future stocking programs. So, the spring walleye and steelhead egg collections by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are critical components of the strategy for maintaining world-class fishing opportunities in the Great Lakes State.

After ice and snow cover melt on Michigan lakes this spring, it may be more likely for people to discover dead fish or other aquatic animals. While such sights can be startling, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that it is normal, since winter conditions can cause fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads, and crayfish to die.

Whether you ski them in the winter, or hike or mountain bike them in the warmer months, the Munising Bay Trail Network continues to be a popular destination. The trails and its governing club were formed in 2012 and it has been a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts ever since.

Summer planning is underway on the Hiawatha National Forest as staff and members of the public prepare for the camping season. With a variety of options available, both developed and rustic, along with four cabins, there is plenty to explore in these Northwoods.

Updated guidelines for co-management of fishery resources in parts of Michigan’s Great Lakes are now in effect for the next 24 years. The new Great Lakes Fishing Decree was approved Aug. 24, 2023, by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. In the months since the decree’s signing, the State of Michigan and tribal governments have been preparing to implement the provisions of the document.