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MDNR Report
Every year from April to November, the Michigan DNR is on the Great Lakes, surveying the important and diverse Great Lakes fisheries. Crews from research stations in Marquette, Charlevoix, Alpena and Harrison Township gather data on fish populations, fish health and the presence and effects of invasive species. It’s vital information that directly informs fisheries management decisions — such as stocking levels or regulated catch limits — and provides data to help gauge the success of past actions.
With surveying for 2024 wrapped up, DNR fisheries biologists are now synthesizing the findings and preparing for next year’s surveys. Interested in what the surveys found? Check out highlights from each research station’s survey efforts.
- Lake Superior and northern Lake Michigan (Marquette Fisheries Research Station)
- Lake Michigan (Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station)
- Lake Huron (Alpena Fisheries Research Station)
- St. Clair-Detroit River System (Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station)
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MDNR Report
The Michigan DNR worked hard this past fall to stock fish in waters across Michigan — fish that will provide anglers with more opportunities in seasons to come. The fall 2024 effort saw DNR crews stock seven different species at 78 locations throughout the state; in all, 590,504 fish, weighing in at 10.7 tons, were added to Michigan waters.
“It was another exceptional fall fish stocking season, enhancing fishing opportunities throughout Michigan,” said DNR Fish Production Program manager Aaron Switzer. “Combined with our successful spring and summer stocking efforts, that brings the total for 2024 to more than 9.7 million fish stocked in Michigan’s waters.”
The number and type of fish stocked vary by hatchery, as each facility’s ability to rear fish differs due to water supply and temperature. In Michigan, there are six state and three cooperative hatcheries that work together to produce the species, strain and size of fish needed by fisheries managers. These fish must then be delivered at a specific time and location for stocking to ensure their success.
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MDNR Report
Mecosta is now the 14th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan DNR. An adult buck harvested in Millbrook Township recently tested positive for the disease.
Mecosta County includes the city of Big Rapids, located northeast of Grand Rapids.
The CWD finding was confirmed by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which works with the DNR to identify CWD in Michigan’s wild deer herd. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, in Ames, Iowa, also confirmed the test result.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland, Montcalm and Ogemaw.
Intensive CWD surveillance was conducted from 2017 to 2019 in Mecosta County, with over 5,600 deer tested and no positives identified during that time. However, Millbrook Township borders Montcalm County, where 167 deer have tested positive for CWD through combined DNR collections and direct hunter submissions to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
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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.