Little Mud Lake Flooding signFor waterfowl hunters looking for a new place to hunt, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources suggests Little Mud Lake Flooding in Roscommon County as a great location to try this coming hunting season.This 260-acre managed flooding, just north of Prudenville, had water levels lowered slowly this spring, allowing the muddy bottoms to be exposed to sunlight and air for the first time since 1988. Drawdowns typically are completed to allow the built-up plant matter to decompose and important plants (that waterfowl prefer) to germinate.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do habitat work at many of our managed floodings, like Little Mud Lake,” said DNR wildlife technician Don Poppe. “As a result of the license restructure in 2014, we’ve been able to focus on improving the wildlife habitat and infrastructure at our managed floodings. It’s really neat to see the changes.”
The moist soil and sunlight during the drawdown have allowed plants to grow from seed that had been dormant beneath the water. Wild rice, duck potato, nutsedges and smartweed are just a few of the plants that now are flourishing in the Little Mud Lake Flooding.
“We are excited to see a whole different habitat out there this fall for hunters,” said Poppe. “This area is maintained to benefit wildlife, and a spring drawdown was the best way to give this flooding a good boost of plant and food production for waterfowl.”
Currently, the Little Mud Lake Flooding is being reflooded and should provide adequate food and cover for migrating waterfowl this fall. It is one of eight floodings managed by the DNR Wildlife Division in Roscommon County.
For waterfowl hunting regulations, be sure to view the Waterfowl Hunting Digest at mi.gov/hunting. To find public lands open to hunting, visit mi.gov/mihunt.
