Contact: Kerry Heckman, 517-643-1256 or Beth Fults, 517-282-5985

DNR also has taken over management of Black River Fire from U.S. Forest Service

Fire crews from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources continued battling the rugged terrain and difficult access of the Ridge Fire and Craig Lake Fire Wednesday, making containment progress on both.

The Ridge Fire is now estimated to be 434 acres and 30% contained. The cooperation of area landowners continues to provide critical information to assist firefighters in gaining necessary access and knowledge of the landscape. The Ridge Fire is located 10 miles northwest of Marquette and north of the Dead River Basin west of County Road 510. The Ridge Fire was spotted by a DNR pilot Oct. 9; the cause of that fire remains under investigation.

The Craig Lake Fire, located north of Craig Lake State Park, is now estimated at 604 acres and is 50% contained. The DNR confirmed the cause of the Craig Lake Fire as being a lightning strike. There were multiple storms that produced lightning across the Upper Peninsula between Oct. 5-8. It is not unusual for a lightning strike to smolder for a few days before weather conditions, such as high winds, cause it to spread into dry fuels resulting in wildfire. The Craig Lake Fire was detected by a DNR pilot Oct. 8. Read more

As an SCI Life Member, I’ve long supported the mission of SCI Foundation and its commitment to conservation, hunter advocacy, and protecting our hunting heritage. That’s one of the reasons I entered the Alberta Mule Deer Hunt Sweepstakes.

I loved the idea of supporting an organization I believe in while having the chance to experience a world-class hunt. Like most entrants, I knew someone would eventually win, but I never imagined it would be me.

That excitement turned into an unforgettable adventure in Alberta with Trust the Land Outfitters. From the moment I arrived, it was clear I was in good hands. Seth and his team operated a first-class outfitting business and worked hard to make every aspect of the hunt enjoyable.

One of the highlights of the trip was spending time with my guide, Grayson. He was professional, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to providing a quality hunting experience. His understanding of the area and the mule deer population was impressive, and his dedication never wavered throughout the hunt. Whether we were glassing new country or discussing the day’s plan, I could tell he genuinely cared about helping his clients succeed. Read more

Safari Club International’s Political Action Committee (SCI-PAC) announced its official endorsement of 106 candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House offices.

The candidates endorsed by SCI-PAC, the largest sportsmen-led PAC in America, have demonstrated a tireless dedication to responsible wildlife management, sustainable-use hunting and fishing, and science-based conservation.

This cycle, SCI-PAC and SCI’s superPAC the Hunter Action Fund (HAF) have combined to raise over seven figures to back pro-hunting candidates. SCI-PAC’s direct contributions are already in the field supporting these 106 candidates, while HAF’s independent expenditure funds are positioned for deployment as races head into the fall stretch.

“In these midterm elections, SCI-PAC is backing candidates who will fight shoulder to shoulder with us to further SCI’s mission to protect Americans’ right to hunt and to advance sustainable wildlife conservation,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “This is a critical time for sportsmen and women. Anti-hunting activists and bureaucrats are hoping the midterms will empower those who would push to regulate our way of life out of existence, and SCI-PAC is putting our resources behind the candidates who will stand up to them when and where it matters.”

SCI-PAC is proud to support the following candidates who have shown a commitment to protecting Americans’ right to hunt and fish and to prioritizing conservation for future generations.

Senate Candidates Read more

Sept. 28, 2026
Contact: Acting 1st Lt. Jason Becker, 313-396-6890

Following a Saturday morning rescue effort involving Michigan Department of Natural of Resources and U.S. Coast Guard personnel, a father and son were hospitalized for hypothermia after they became stranded in Lake St. Clair offshore of Grosse Pointe (Wayne County).

The two boaters were setting a buoy course for a sailboat race when a line became tangled around their propeller. The father went into the water to untangle the line but was unable to get back into the boat.

Lake St. Clair water temperature Saturday morning was in the low 60s. Air temperatures were in the 50s at the time of the rescue.

At 8:29 a.m., the son called 911 for help. While on the phone with Macomb County dispatchers, the son fell into the water and also was unable to get back into the boat.

Dispatchers from the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline helped pinpoint the boaters’ specific location for officers – 3 miles offshore from the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.

At 9:30 a.m., DNR Conservation Officers Kris Kiel and Brad Silorey safely secured the father on their DNR vessel and immediately provided care for signs of hypothermia. A Coast Guard vessel arrived at the same time, and the crew was able to secure the son aboard the USCG vessel.

The DNR and USCG transported both men to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, where medics were waiting. Both men were immediately transported to the hospital by ambulance. Read more

Whether carving fresh powder, exploring downhill runs or enjoying breathtaking Lake Superior views, the Porcupine Mountains Winter Sports Complex in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula offers something for every winter enthusiast.

To keep pace with rising operational costs and ensure fair competition with regional ski areas, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is implementing rate adjustments on select lift tickets, season passes, lessons and equipment rentals – the facility’s first price increases since 2018.

The new rates, which will be in effect this ski season (expected to start in late December), were determined by evaluating regional market comparisons and economic indicators, including inflation.

These adjustments ensure the DNR can continue providing a safe, high-quality experience for visitors. State park operations, including the winter sports complex, are largely driven by user fees (such as Recreation Passport purchases and lift tickets) and royalty revenues, with only 3% supported by Michigan’s General Fund tax dollars.

The DNR has recently dedicated $500,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to critical maintenance of the triple chairlift. Over the past six years, total facility investments have reached an estimated $1.4 million, funding additional chairlift maintenance, new Alpine and Nordic grooming equipment, modern mountain rescue gear, a dedicated staff snowmobile for alpine rescues and refreshed rental inventory (including Sno-Go ski bikes). Read more

Michigan’s latest 10-year State Forest Management Plan was almost complete when a massive ice storm happened in March 2025, snapping trees and downing limbs across the northern Lower Peninsula.

The resulting devastation sent foresters back to the woods to reevaluate the plan and account for damaged timber, new tree-planting needs and other issues.

After in-person assessments of the damage and computer modeling, amendments are now complete and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comment on plan changes made in response to the ice storm.

“This was a once-in-a-century storm, and it has had a significant impact on the northern Lower Peninsula,” said Dan Heckman, DNR forest planning and modeling specialist. “It also had a significant impact on parts of our plan.”

The State Forest Management Plan outlines how Michigan’s publicly owned state forests will be managed for the next 10 years. It emphasizes the importance of forestry practices to achieve abundant habitat for wildlife, provide quality forest products and cope with a changing climate, all to ensure long-term sustainability of our natural resources in a delicate balancing act.

The plan first went out for public review in late 2024, and in response the DNR received a variety of comments from Tribal governments, organizations and residents. The current version includes revisions based on those comments in addition to those made in response to ice storm impacts.

The current plan review period runs Sept. 14 through Oct. 12. Use this survey to submit feedback on the updated State Forest Management Plan. Comments are welcome on any part of the plan, but further changes will only be made to ice storm-related content.

Comment on updated plan ?

This management plan continues the 120-plus-year story of Michigan’s state forest, established in 1903 by the Michigan Forestry Commission. Since much of the state was deforested in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was crucial to create a long-term plan to meet forest products needs while maintaining healthy forests and providing habitat for wildlife.

Safari Club International (SCI) is putting patriotism into action at its 2027 Convention with the launch of the Patriot Package, an exclusive experience created to honor the men and women who have served, sacrificed and continue to defend our nation. The package recognizes their service while helping bring more active-duty military members and veterans to the Convention.

More than a Convention experience, the Patriot Package gives SCI supporters a meaningful way to show their appreciation for America’s military while enjoying four days of the world’s premier gathering for hunters, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts.

For every Patriot Package purchased, two active-duty military members and/or veterans will receive complimentary access to the SCI Convention, giving them the opportunity to experience the event alongside the community that shares a deep appreciation for freedom, service and the outdoors.

SCI has a long history of supporting America’s military and veterans. The Patriot Package gives SCI members a way to recognize that service while providing military members and veterans with an opportunity to attend the SCI Convention and be part of the community.

The exclusive Patriot Package includes the following: Read more

Barry G. Smith, of Germantown, Tennessee, recently visited Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park, where he discovered a stunning canary yellow diamond in the park’s ancient volcanic soil.

Smith arrived at the park on Sunday, August 16, with his wife and two granddaughters, Sage and Juniper. Planning a fun week of exploring Arkansas and Missouri, the Smiths chose Crater of Diamonds State Park as one of the exciting destinations to take the girls.

Not expecting anything more than a fun time, the family rented a wagon and basic kit from the park and began their diamond search. About 30 minutes later, Smith spotted something glimmering in the East Drain of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. At first, he thought it was mica, a small, glittery mineral common in the search area. However, a closer look revealed something much larger. Read more

By Joe Reynolds, Patriotic American

Good morning American people. Here’s wishing you a happy and long, healthy life in this land of America we call home. Looking at our daily lives and focusing on our happiness, the miseries, the joys, and the hardships we encounter on a daily basis, and the brutality of crime, homelessness, addiction, and the dishonor and hatred that so many Americans have accepted as “progress” for a new American direction, should we elect socialist and communist extremists as leaders of our country’s future?

For a moment, let’s examine what communism has provided for the world within the last hundred years. Hitler and his Nazi henchmen promised world domination; Chairman Mao promised to “take care” of his people by spreading lies through propaganda in printed publications, public speaking, and news media. Don’t be confused and fooled by this illusion. Magicians create illusion through misdirection, because what the eyes see and the ears hear the mind believes.

An estimated up 55 million Chinese people and nearly 2 million Jewish people were exterminated under communist governments.

“Estimates for the number of people killed, murdered or who died prematurely under communist regimes worldwide range from roughly 65 million to over 100 million people over the 20th century according to Wikipedia.  The Cato Institute explains that scholars debate the exact totals because counts depend on whether deaths from man-made famines and forced labor are classified alongside direct executions.

If you think this history lesson is the direction you see as the future for your children and grandchildren, good luck! For all other patriotic Americans that see through this mirage of lies from the likes of Obama, Soros, Schumer, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN (communist news network), and others, you know what needs to be done now before it’s too late to save America from the communist predators infiltrating our government. A similar event was needed to end corruption, which led to insurrection 250 years ago.

“If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under”  – Ronald Reagan

 

OLATHE, Kan. – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today introduced f?nix® 9 and f?nix 9 Pro, multisport GPS smartwatches built to help athletes and adventurers reach their peak. Now with a titanium watch case, f?nix 9 Pro blends an elevated look, rugged build and lightweight feel. Both models add meaningful upgrades, including Garmin Epic, a new way to group multiple activities into one shareable story in Garmin Connect™, plus enhanced stamina metrics that help athletes better adjust their training. f?nix 9 Pro models include built-in satellite¹ and LTE connectivity¹ which enables voice, text, and SOS communication directly from the wrist. Read more