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MDNR Report

Fall turkey hunting license applications for the 2023 season are available now through Aug. 1.

You can buy an application for $5 online at eLicense, anywhere DNR licenses are sold, or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. When applying, enter your email or phone number to be automatically alerted of drawing results Aug. 14.

MDNR Report

Lake frontage, river frontage and vacant forested acreage surrounded by private ownership are just some of the 95 parcels available in the next round of surplus land auctions from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Surplus land sales are a regular part of the DNR’s strategy to manage 4.6 million acres of public land owned by the people of Michigan.

Land is available in a dozen counties throughout the Lower and Upper peninsulas: Alger, Allegan, Chippewa, Dickinson, Iosco, Lake, Kent, Mackinac, Midland, Montcalm, Oscoda and Presque Isle. Several of the largest parcels are in Alger, Chippewa, Dickinson, Iosco, Midland, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties, while lakefront and riverfront parcels are in Allegan, Chippewa, Iosco, Lake, Montcalm and Presque Isle counties.

Nine online auctions will feature available land parcels by county:

  • Aug. 4 – Lake County.
  • Aug. 10 – Montcalm County.
  • Aug. 15 – Alger, Chippewa and Mackinac counties.
  • Aug. 16 – Dickinson County.
  • Aug. 22 – Oscoda County.
  • Aug. 23 – Presque Isle County.
  • Aug. 29 – Allegan and Kent counties.
  • Sept. 6 – Midland County.
  • Sept. 7 – Iosco County.

“Offering state-managed public lands at auction is the final step of a lengthy, ongoing land review process, built on a conservation framework, that ensures these lands’ best use for the benefit of Michigan residents, visitors and natural resources,” said Scott Whitcomb, acting DNR deputy director.

“Many of the sale parcels are forested or have road frontage, but are better suited for private ownership for a number of reasons,” Whitcomb said. “Much of the land is isolated from other DNR- managed property, and that can create management challenges. Other parcels are included for auction because they offer limited public opportunities for quality outdoor recreation experiences.”

How bidding works

Interested bidders may pre-register and get more information about the online auction schedule at www.tax-sale.info. All bidders must register before a property’s auction date. Absentee bids can be made up to 30 days before the auction.

The “interactive” bidding portion of an auction will open at 10 a.m. on that auction date. At that time, bidders will be able to see current high bids for each property. Bidders can continue to place bids on a property until 7 p.m. that day, when bidding closes and the winning bidder is determined.

A detailed list including minimum bid, acreage, maps and location information of offered properties can be found at Michigan.gov/LandforSale. Interested bidders are encouraged to review the

MDNR Report

Michigan White-tail deerMichigan White-tail deer

The Michigan DNR and Natural Resources Commission has approved the regularly scheduled three-year duration of deer regulations, which will be in effect for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 hunting seasons.

DNR deer program experts say that while many of the traditional regulations remain unchanged, there are several important updates aimed at enhancing deer hunting opportunities for Michigan deer hunters this year and beyond.

“There are many challenges facing deer hunting in Michigan and across much of the Midwest in the coming years,” said Chad Stewart, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose management specialist. “While the approved regulations for the 2023-2025 deer seasons are geared toward increasing opportunities for a declining hunter base, we recognize that we’ll have to continue to evaluate all possible options to sustainably manage Michigan’s deer herd in the future.”

Updated regulations include:

  • Restricted tag of the deer combo license. The four-point antler point restriction on the restricted tag of the deer combo license has been reinstated in 19 Lower Peninsula counties: Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lenawee, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa and Shiawassee. Under the updated regulation, all deer combo licenses in southern Lower Peninsula counties will now have an unrestricted regular tag and a four-point restricted tag.

MDNR Report

The Michigan DNR reminds muskellunge anglers to participate in the state survey to help biologists obtain valuable data on this important sport fish.

“Muskellunge are difficult to survey, so biologists are dependent upon information provided by anglers to help us manage this species, says DNR fisheries biologist Neal Godby in Gaylord.  “Angler survey reports give us insight into the relative abundance of muskellunge in a waterbody, size structure of the population, and whether the muskellunge in that waterbody are creating a fishery.”

The DNR’s online muskellunge angler survey gathers information about muskellunge angler demographics and catch data, such as length of fish caught, angler effort, water body fished and methods used. Since 2014, fisheries managers have used survey data to recommend fishing regulation changes to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, evaluate the muskellunge stocking program and understand more about self-sustaining populations. The survey is your opportunity to contribute to the proper management of this species.

MDNR Report

Fish KillFish Kill

With increasing temperatures across Michigan, anglers, boaters and lakefront property owners may discover dead fish or other aquatic animals. While such sights can be startling, the Michigan DNR reminds everyone that it is common — summer heat conditions can cause fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish to die.

“The majority of summer fish kills are due to low oxygen in the water, a natural phenomenon associated with weather,” said Jeremiah Blaauw, DNR fisheries biologist. “However, some other factors such as chemical treatments of aquatic plants and algae can increase the risk of a fish kill.”

Environmental conditions strongly affect the stress level of fish; temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations are key variables. Fish need oxygen just as humans do, but fish absorb dissolved oxygen (oxygen gas that is dissolved in water) directly through their gills into the bloodstream.