Eggs today, trout and salmon tomorrow: Fall and winter egg collections wrapping up at DNR facilities
In all, fisheries staff collected more than 16 million trout and salmon eggs this season
 The Department of Natural Resources stocks fish in Michigan waters every year, providing fishing opportunities and helping maintain healthy ecosystems. Where do the fish being stocked come from? It begins with collecting fish eggs, and the DNR has been working hard this fall gathering the necessary eggs to produce fish for stocking. Fall egg collections have been completed for wild Chinook and coho salmon and for captive broodstocks of brown, brook and lake trout. Egg collection for rainbow trout will soon begin.
Chinook salmon eggs were collected Sept. 29 through Oct. 8 at the Little Manistee River Weir. Eggs and milt (sperm) are gathered from fish during the annual salmon run. At the weir, salmon swim up a fish ladder and into holding ponds. From there, fish are brought into the facility, where eggs and milt are collected and the eggs are fertilized. Read more |
DNR announces support for park upgrades in 11 counties in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today 13 community recreation facilities projects recommended for a combined $11.9 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants.
“This year, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is directing just under $12 million in federal funds through the state of Michigan to local park improvements, acquisitions and development,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “Pathways, boardwalks, playgrounds, pools and more will be improved with this year’s Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, providing a valuable injection of funds into local communities for important recreation-related projects.”
The projects recommended for funding are in Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Houghton, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Oceana, Van Buren, and Wayne counties. That funding will support replacing dilapidated play structures, restroom buildings, developing multi-use sport courts, outdoor community pool and much more.
The 2025 Land and Water Conservation Fund recommendations are:
- Village of Lawerence (Van Buren County) Lawrence Village Park Playground Improvements $301,200.
- City of Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County) Milham Park Improvements $500,000.
- St. Joseph Charter Township (Berrien County) Eaton Park Restroom and Park Improvements $359,000.
- City of Farmington Hills (Oakland County) Heritage Park Playground and Parking $500,000.
- City of Ferndale (Oakland County) Martin Road Park Playground Replacement $150,000.
- City of East Grand Rapids (Kent County) Waterfront Park Improvement Project Phase 2 $500,000.
- Shelby Township (Oceana County) Shelby Community Pool $500,000.
- Village of Elberta (Benzie County) Terminus Park Acquisition $5,347,600.
- Macomb Township (Malcomb County) Lucido River Park Pathway and Boardwalk Project $500,000.
- White Lake Township (Oakland County) Stanley Park Improvements $500,000.
- City of Dearborn (Wayne County) Splash Pad at Camp Dearborn $500,000.
- DNR Parks and Recreation Division (Bay County) Bay City State Park Campground Utilities Upgrades $1,250,000.
- DNR Parks and Recreation Division (Houghton) Houghton Douglass Falls Phase 2 Development $1,000,000.
Projects were scored and selected from a field of 11 grant applications from local units of government and 2 applications from the DNR totaling $11,907,800. All eligible proposed projects received a site visit from DNR Grants Management staff, and all applications were evaluated, scored and ranked.
Check out an online list of the 2025 Rankings and Recommendations.
Program background
Funds are available to states through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program for land acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities.
The DNR uses Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to help develop public outdoor recreation facilities to give people better, broader access to quality public outdoor recreation opportunities. The program supports Native American tribes, villages, cities, townships and counties and divisions within the DNR.
Following federal appropriation, LWCF funds are apportioned to the states each fiscal year, and then, the state’s project recommendations are sent to the National Park Service for approval.
Application information
Eligible applicants include any unit of government, such as Native American tribes, school districts or any combination of units with the legal authority to provide recreation. Applicants can seek funding for a variety of projects, including development of and improvements to playgrounds, trails and walkways, skate parks, boat launches, picnic areas, sports fields and campgrounds, in addition to improved access for users of all abilities beyond Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
Application materials and information for LWCF grants will be available early in 2026 at Michigan.gov/LWCFGrants. Applications for the 2026 funding cycle are due April 1.
Hodgdon Releases the 2026 Hodgdon Annual Manual
Hodgdon Powder Company, The Gunpowder People®, is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Hodgdon Annual Manual.
This reloading manual features data for Hodgdon, Accurate Powder®, IMR®, Ramshot® and Winchester® Smokeless Propellants. In total, more than 12,000 loads are represented in this title, with updates for more than 116 rifle and pistol cartridges and more than 1,000 shotshell loads. Along with comprehensive load data, the 2025 Hodgdon Annual Manual offers authoritative articles by leading firearms industry writers from Shooting Times magazine.
“This year’s Annual Manual reflects our continued commitment to both new and experienced reloaders,” said Aaron Oelger, vice president of marketing. “For 2026, we expanded our educational focus with a series of Reloading 101 articles for beginners and advanced Reloading 301 features for seasoned handloaders. This edition also includes a memorial honoring JB Hodgdon, whose influence continues to guide our work.”
This manual also includes articles on the following topics: Read more
Henry Repeating Arms Unleashes the Most Accurate Lever-Action Ever Built
Henry Repeating Arms, one of the country’s leading firearms manufacturers and the world leader in the lever-action category, has launched a new product from its performance-oriented Special Products Division called the SPD PREDATOR – the most accurate lever-action rifle ever built and the only one backed by a three-shot sub-MOA guarantee from the factory.
Built on the same advanced architecture as the Lever Action Supreme Rifle, recently named 2025 Rifle of the Year by Guns & Ammo, the SPD PREDATOR adapts that award-winning platform for smaller, more agile targets, longer distances, and rapidly changing shot opportunities. The result is a lightweight yet stable suppressor-ready rifle optimized to deliver the precision needed for successful predator and varmint hunting.
In testing, the Special Products Division team made repeated one-mile shots, an unheard-of feat for any lever-action. At the core of its performance is a match-grade 416R stainless steel barrel tension-wrapped in carbon fiber for improved rigidity, faster cooling, and reduced weight. The barrel is threaded 1/2×28 to accept a suppressor, giving hunters major advantages when pursuing predators, including reduced recoil, a quieter sound signature for improved communication in calling setups, and help preventing spooking multiple animals during a stand. Read more
Barnes Bullets Announces 2026 New Product Lineup
Barnes Bullets is excited to announce its 2026 new product lineup. Beginning in early 2026, all new products will be available at independent dealers, major retail sporting goods stores, farm and home stores and their websites. Visit www.BarnesBullets.com to purchase new products, or find a dealer near you.
“We spent 2024 and early 2025 listening to the valuable feedback of our customers and consumers. Barnes has developed more ammunition offerings and families aligned to market demands as we continue expanding our brand globally and provide options for hunters and competitors,” said Andrew Sparks, VP of Marketing & Business Development.
Suppressor Series™
The Barnes Suppressor Series ™ is a purpose-built ammunition line engineered for the explosive growth in suppressor ownership, featuring premium Sierra projectiles loaded to Barnes’ exacting standards. The initial subsonic loads utilize clean-burning propellants to reduce gas blowback, improve cycling in semi-auto platforms and deliver noticeably quieter shots through suppressor-ready firearms.
Optimized load development and purpose-built projectiles ensure exceptional performance and precision—even at subsonic velocities. The lineup includes a 300 BLK 205gr Sierra GameKing designed to expand reliably, providing hunters with a true subsonic option for consistent, dependable terminal results.
Offerings: Read more
Davidson’s Exclusive Adds New Colorway to Ruger RXM Lineup
PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Davidson’s, one of the nation’s top firearms, ammunition, optics, and accessories wholesalers, is pleased to announce their latest exclusive firearm produced in collaboration with Ruger.
This Ruger RXM is now produced with a flat dark earth slide finish and a Magpul® FDE frame, exclusively available at Davidson’s and GalleryofGuns.com.
Launched on Davidson’s LIVE in December of 2024, the RXM pistol is the result of a tremendous collaboration between Ruger and Magpul. This fully American-made handgun stands out with a variety of upgraded features, exceptional ergonomics, and an affordable price.
This Magpul FDE exclusive variant has all the desirable features of the original and represents Davidson’s fourth exclusive RXM. Read more
Steiner’s T1Xi Selected as Top Performer in Texas DPS Optic Evaluation
Steiner Optics, the leader in high-performance sighting systems for military, law enforcement, and armed professionals, announced the Steiner has been officially recognized as the top-performing red dot rifle optic in a recent Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) evaluation.
Conducted as part of a statewide effort to equip officers with the most reliable sighting system available, the test sought a non-magnified red-dot optic capable of consistent performance under extreme operational conditions while meeting demanding requirements for ruggedness, battery life, zero retention, night-vision compatibility, and compatibility with the agency’s issued patrol rifles.
The evaluation process was exhaustive, objective, and purpose-built for law enforcement. Optics were assessed through verification of construction quality, specifications, warranty, battery access, control function, mechanical precision, and mounting integrity. They were then subjected to a series of environmental, durability, and reliability trials including the following: Read more
SIGHTRON Announces New S6 10-60×56 ED Field Target Riflescope is Now Shipping
SIGHTRON, one of the world’s most innovative optical observation and aiming device companies, is pleased to announce the long awaited S6 10-60×56 ED Field Target riflescope is now shipping. The S6 field target scope is premium choice for airgun, small caliber field target and benchrest shooters.
At the core of the riflescope are 15 meticulously crafted Japanese optical-grade glass lenses. The scope includes two Extra-low Dispersion elements that are precisely positioned within the objective to boost optical resolution by 55%*. This means everything is clearer, crisper, and sharper edge-to-edge. Now, you’ll see those shots on target like never before and avoid hitting the same target twice.
SIGHTRON redesigned the parallax cam system with 291º of precision field target rotation, plus an extra 39º of diopter and environmental condition protection, for a total 330º of parallax control. The scope is optimized for precise field target parallax adjustments ranging from 9-300 yards and allows an additional 39º of adjustments to compensate for Diopter Correction and Environmental Changes (DCEC) which effect target-ranging accuracy. Where it matters most, SIGHTRON provides 91º of parallax correction in the critical 40-60yrd target range. Read more
Watch, Learn and Support Birds with Project FeederWatch
If you’re an avid wildlife watcher but prefer a perch from the warmth and comfort of indoors, give Project FeederWatch a try. With Michigan temps predicted to stay fairly frigid, it may be the coziest way to connect with nature – and collect helpful birding data.
A November-April survey of birds that visit backyards, nature centers, community areas and other locales in North America, Project FeederWatch is headed up by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada. People of all ages and skill levels are invited to help: children, families, solo seekers, classrooms, retirees, youth groups, nature centers and bird clubs.
While most people focus on birds coming to feeding stations, DNR wildlife biologist Karen Cleveland said a feeder isn’t a necessity.
“The only requirement is having an area from which you like to watch birds; the location and setting are entirely up to you,” she said. “The schedule is flexible, too. Count the birds you see every week or once all winter. You choose how much time you put into it.” Read more