After receiving heavy snowfall across much of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this week, the Department of Natural Resources is monitoring snow depths and assessing potential impacts on wildlife, particularly the deer herd which is still recovering from the two previous severe and snowy winters.

Supplemental feeding of deer is allowed on private land in the northern U.P. counties along Lake Superior each year beginning in early January and in the southern counties if accumulated snowfall meets established minimum depths by mid-January. However, if snow depths continue to rapidly climb this winter and exceed the supplemental feeding triggers before the January dates, the DNR will consider taking emergency action to allow feeding at an earlier date.

“With more than 20 inches of snow already on the ground in some of the southern U.P. counties and more than 40 inches reported in some northern locations, we are looking at ways to mitigate potential detrimental impacts of the early and significant snowfall on the deer herd,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason.

According to Mason, the DNR’s Wildlife and Forest Management divisions are also evaluating current timber sale contracts to identify opportunities to retain tree tops at logging sites on public land for deer to forage on throughout the winter.
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Southeast Lower Peninsula – Jackson and Washtenaw Counties A lovely spot for deer hunting is Sharonville State Game Area in Grass Lake. With a combination of agricultural fields, forested ridges and open grasslands, Sharonville has outstanding deer habitat. With money from the 2014 Wildlife Habitat Grant program, extensive work has been done this spring and summer to increase hunter accessibility to the area, especially for hunters with disabilities as part of the Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors partnership. Food plots have also been planted in several parts of the game area to improve deer habitat. Take a trip to Sharonville this fall!   

South Central Lower Peninsula – Gratiot County Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area is seeing positive improvements for deer and deer hunters alike. Currently, within the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, timber sales have created great young forest that deer will use as food and cover. Several areas also have been mowed for more accessible hunting places for hunters and grazing habitat for deer. If you’ve never visited or hunted Gratiot-Saginaw, you will find over 16,000 acres to explore. Take the time this deer season to expand your hunting range!   

Upper Peninsula – Southern Marquette County Several small openings, totaling 16 acres, have been planted to rye or mowed in southern Marquette County this year to provide a great food source for deer. The openings are located on a two-track used by hunters, just north of the deer wintering complex, and were last managed in 2009 with U.P. Whitetails helping to sponsor the project.  “This is great to be able to work these fields again,” said DNR wildlife biologist Brian Roell.  “Because of the new license structure, the fields have been put back into production, providing more great places for deer and deer hunters.”  

Northern Lower Peninsula – Isabella and Midland Counties Sometimes access to public land can be a big draw to hunters establishing deer camps and looking to find an area to hunt.  In both Midland and Isabella counties, thousands of acres of public land are available for those not wanting to travel too far north. Major highways and county roads can get you to these areas for a quick hunt after work or a weekend of hunting, not driving.  Recently road work was completed on two-tracks into the public land in order for the roads to be passable by vehicles.  “These counties can have some pretty wet low-lying areas, great for hunting, but hard to maintain good vehicle access,” said DNR wildlife biologist Bruce Barlow. “We try to make sure areas are accessible with a few roads, but balancing the habitat to provide a great hunting experience.”  Visit Mi-HUNT to see public lands in the area to plan your hunting adventure.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is updating the 2008 Michigan Wolf Management Plan and is seeking comment on the implementation of the plan. The plan, and more specifically the four principal goals within the plan, has guided wolf management in Michigan for the last six years.

During this time, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the wolf population in the western Great Lakes region (including Michigan) had recovered and the species no longer required the protection of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). After the removal from the ESA, the State of Michigan had full management authority for wolves.

The Wolf Management Plan was created using extensive public input to identify important issues and assess public attitudes towards wolves and their management, as well as a review of the biological and social science on wolves. The four principal goals within the plan are:

• maintain a viable wolf population;
•  facilitate wolf-related benefits;
• minimize wolf-related conflicts;
• and conduct science-based and socially acceptable management of wolves.

These goals will remain the same in the updated plan. The update will include reviewing scientific literature and including of new information, evaluating implementation based on the action items in the plan, updating action items, and addressing outdated information or clarifications that may be needed.

The DNR is seeking comment from those interested in wolf management to aid in the evaluation of plan implementation so far. Review of the plan update will occur in two distinct phases. The first phase will consist of a 30-day period in which interested parties, DNR staff members and Natural Resources Commission members can provide comment on the implementation of actions in the 2008 Plan. The second phase will be a 30-day period to comment on the Draft Updated Plan before it goes to the Natural Resource Commission for endorsement and the DNR director for signature.

The Phase 1 electronic survey is now open (www.surveymonkey.com/s/wolfplanupdate). Read more