Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Officials are seeking information about elk poaching in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said that a bull elk was shot and killed in Otsego County during the week of April 19 and a pregnant cow elk was shot on or around March 14 in Montmorency County.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Gaylord Operations Center at (989) 732-3541 or the state’s poaching line at (800) 292-7800.
As spring turkey season opens in Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that commemorative patches are available from the Michigan Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
A new Elk Management Plan was approved by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rodney Stokes at the April 5 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in Lansing. The plan incorporates an adaptive approach to management, whereby necessary changes to the plan can be implemented based on results.
Michigan’s current elk herd in an area north of Atlanta is the result of a release of seven animals from “various city parks and public institutions” in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine. The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300-400 in 1939 and 900 to 1,000 in 1958. The Department of Natural Resources (department) is officially charged with the management of resident wildlife in Michigan by virtue of a 1996 referendum requiring the department to use principles of sound scientific management in decisions relative to the taking of game. With this in mind, the department has unveiled a new elk management plan with the following goals: Read more
On Tuesday, April 10, 2012, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources filed a civil complaint against Ronald McKendrick and Charlene McKendrick, who own and operate the Renegade Ranch Hunting Preserve in Cheboygan County. The McKendricks are being sued for violations of Michigan’s Invasive Species Act, which outlaws certain types of swine.
The complaint, brought in Cheboygan County Circuit Court, asks the court to require the McKendricks to comply with the state’s Invasive Species Act and to remove prohibited swine from their property. Read more
Michigan’s current elk herd is the result of a release of seven animals from “various city parks and public institutions” (Stephenson 1942) in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine. The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300-400 in 1939 (Shapton 1940) and 900 to 1,000 in 1958 (Moran 1973).
…while no formal objective has been defined for bull-to-cow ratio in the Michigan herd, it is believed that about 60 bulls to 100 cows is most desirable. This is about twice as many bulls to 100 cows as are in many western herds.
A new Elk Management Plan was approved by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rodney Stokes at the April 5 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in Lansing. The plan was developed to provide guidance for managing elk by focusing on three goals:
1) Manage for an elk population that can be sustained by available habitat;
2) Use hunting as the primary method to control the number of elk; their distribution so that difficulties involving elk interactions with people are abated; and the proportion of males to females in the population; and
3) Enhance the public’s understanding of elk management in Michigan.
The planning process began Read more
Cougars and wolves are like present in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, says Dennis Fijalkowski, executive director for Bath-based Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. However, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says there’s no real evidence. Tell that to Bob and Nancy Dalley, who claimed to have seen a wolf on their property near Manton. No pics or tracks yet, but the debate is here…
On February 10, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved an NRA-backed program that encourages youth participation in hunting, trapping and fishing. Although this program contains unnecessary and vague language requiring mentored hunters to “stay at arm’s length” of an adult mentor, Michigan’s Mentored Youth Hunting Program is a significant step in the right direction. As has been proven in other states, mentored hunting programs are an essential tool for recruiting the next generation of hunters. Read more
State Senator Phil Pavlov will be hosting a conservation town hall meeting on February 27th, 2012 at the Donald E. Dodge Auditorium in Port Huron beginning at 7:00p.m. The Senator is pleased to host Rodney Stokes, Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as well as members of his staff to provide insight into the Department and hear your concerns regarding conservation issues in our state. Please forward this e-mail to anyone whom you know would be interested in attending this meeting. More details to follow. Read more
Springfield, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement announced recent charges filed in Cook and Sangamon counties against five men from Illinois and Michigan. The arrests came after a five month long deer poaching investigation.
Illinois DNR Conservation Police conducted an investigation into a group of hunters who were taking several trophy-quality whitetail deer. After a thorough investigation with the assistance of Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, five hunters were charged with committing numerous Wildlife Code violations involving 31 whitetail deer. The largest buck, taken in Cook County, was a large non-typical deer scoring 213 5/8 inches and valued at $25,000. Read more