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MDNR Report
If you spent any time on the water last year, you may have seen Michigan DNR fisheries management units at work conducting fisheries surveys across the state. Crews completed 171 surveys of Michigan’s inland lakes and 110 surveys of Michigan’s streams in 2023.
These surveys are valuable, helping track inland fisheries populations, evaluate stocking efforts to increase angler opportunities and address concerns from anglers.
Collecting key data on Michigan’s world-class fisheries is critical for successful management of the state’s diverse fisheries resources, but what exactly do crews look for? According to Jim Francis, DNR Fisheries Division Lake Erie basin coordinator, surveys fall into three categories:
- Evaluating management actions.
- Understanding status and trends.
- Finding answers to new questions or concerns.
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MDNR Report
Late-season hunters can help fight hunger and ensure Michiganders have access to a nutritious protein source when by taking part in a deer donation drive in Jackson County this weekend.
Knutson’s Sporting Goods in Brooklyn, Mich. will be accepted deer donations for the Hunters Feeding Michigan program Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday 11-4.
The program connects hunters, wild game processors and charities to feed Michiganders in need. Each deer donated will provide an estimated 160 high-protein and nutritious meals.
All deer must be whole (with head attached), legally harvested/tagged, harvest-reported and field-dressed prior to donation. The donated deer will be tested for chronic wasting disease.
All donated venison will be distributed to Michigan food pantries.
The deer donation drive takes place during the new extended late antlerless firearm deer hunting season, Jan. 2-12 in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula.
A discounted antlerless license for this extended hunting season is available for $5 per license, or you can use any unused deer tags you already have. For more details on this season, see Michigan.gov/Deer.
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MDNR Report
Fish Habitat
Each year, Michiganders purchase millions of live Christmas trees. When the holidays are over though, many people wonder if there are beneficial uses for their trees rather than sending them to a landfill. The answer is yes — there are many ways that your old Christmas trees can keep on giving as habitat, but it’s important to think carefully about the best way to do so.
Christmas trees for fish?
People often ask the Michigan DNR whether their Christmas trees would make good habitat for fish. This is a great question, as many of Michigan’s lakes once had woody habitat, such as a fallen tree, every 5 to 50 feet! This woody habitat is important for fish, turtles, frogs, herons and other animals, because it provides refuge from predators and opportunities to bask in the sun, reduces wave energy that erodes shorelines and encourages growth of aquatic plants. Harder-wood trees with an open branch structure provide high-quality habitat.Â
However, Christmas trees are classified as softwoods, and are typically species such as balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. These softwoods break down relatively quickly in aquatic environments. The dense branches on Christmas trees that are perfect for holding ornaments are often too dense for many fish to use as habitat.
Additionally, pesticides applied to Christmas trees, leftover decorations and anchors used to sink trees may introduce unwanted materials into our waters. So, if you’re thinking about sinking that tree in your favorite lake for fish habitat, we urge you to consider an alternative.
Suggested Christmas tree uses
What is the best use for that Christmas tree? Here are some options:
- Create a brush pile on your property to provide habitat; wildlife may use it for nesting or as a food source. Just make sure that the tree is pesticide-free and that you’ve removed all of the ornaments and other decorations.
- Cut the tree into small pieces or mulch it to use in garden pots or landscaping, which will return nutrients to the soil. Depending on the type of gardening you’re doing and the type of tree you have, you may need to confirm that the tree is pesticide-free and that it won’t negatively affect soil composition for whatever you’re growing.
- Give the tree to a friend who has chickens or goats. Chickens can roost on trees and goats love to chew on them. Again, make sure the tree is pesticide-free before allowing animals to use it.
- Recycle your tree through your municipality. Many cities and towns collect trees or have designated drop-off locations; these trees are usually turned into mulch.
Improving lake habitat the right way
Underwater Structure
If you’d like to improve your local lake’s woody habitat for fish, birds, turtles and other wildlife, it is best to use the shoreline woody structure methods promoted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the DNR. These approaches, often called fish sticks or turtle logs, provide long-lasting benefits. Woody habitat should be placed in areas where it won’t impede navigation on the water and be secured to the shoreline or lake bottom to ensure that the habitat structure stays in place.
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By Louie Stout
Sportsmen who fish and hunt in Michigan may be faced with license increases across the board for 2026.
A bill in the Michigan Legislature, House Bill 6229, calls for increases in every fee sportsmen pay for fishing and hunting. The bill is sponsored by three Southeast Michigan Democrats, Amos O’Neal, Laurie Pohutsky and Penelope Tsernoglou. It’s been assigned to the Natural Resources Committee.
Michigan hasn’t had a license increase for 10 years and the proposed increases would lift DNR revenue by $22 million.
Also, rather than allow the fees set for a period of time, the plan calls for the licenses to adjust annually for inflation.
Here’s what it would cost you the first year if approved:
Fishing
All species fishing licenses would rise from $25 to $38 for residents and $78 to $88 for non-residents. It also would lower the required age for a fishing license from 17 to 16.
A resident combined fishing and hunting license would go from $75 to $113.
There are several other increases as well as new fees. Non-resident 24-hour licenses would rise from $10 to $15. A 72-hour license jumps from $30 to $60.
Resident seniors currently receive a 60 percent discount off regular fishing licenses. If the bill passes, that discount drops to 25 percent.
Hunting
Increase in small game hunting would rise from $10 to $15 for residents, $5 to $8 for resident minors and $150 to $163 for non-residents.
Also, wild turkey would go from $15 to $23, deer from $20 to $30, waterfowl from $12 to $18, pheasant from $25 to $38, bear from $25 to $38 and elk from $100 to $150.
In another move that would affect sportsmen, House Bill 6230 would raise boat registration fees across the board.
For instance, the fee for a motorboat or pontoon between 21 and 28 feet long would increase 30% to $149.50 from $115, and then rise every three years to $198.57 by 2034.
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D&R Sports Report
If you’re looking after the kids Saturday and need something to keep them occupied, carry them to D&R Sports Center in Kalamazoo to see Santa Claus and some of his reindeer.
Santa will be at the store between 9 a.m. and noon. Kids can get their pictures taken with Santa at no charge. Coca will be available and there will be a coloring contest for the kids.
In addition, it would be a good chance for mom and dad to check out the store’s pre-season ice fishing gear sale. Bargains will be offered on electronics, augers, lures, line and other ice fishing gadgets.
For more information, call the store, 269-372-2277.