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The public again this year is invited to purchase surplus salmon that has been harvested at Michigan DNR weirs around the state.
Seasonal salmon runs include large numbers of fish returning to their native streams to spawn and die. The DNR maintains multiple sites (weirs) where fisheries biologists and technicians collect eggs and milt (sperm) from Chinook and coho salmon for use in state fish hatcheries. Once egg-take needs are met, fish in prime physical condition are made available to the public by American-Canadian Fisheries, a private vendor that assists the DNR with the salmon harvest.
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The Michigan DNR will offer free tours to the public and school groups this fall at the Boardman River Weir (in downtown Traverse City), the Little Manistee River Weir (in Manistee County) and the Platte River Weir (in Benzie County). Tours are available throughout September and October.
Weirs are dam-like structures that block upstream fish passage on a river. A weir is used on the Boardman River each fall by the DNR to harvest Chinook and coho salmon that would otherwise create significant river congestion between Union and Sabin dams. One is used on the Little Manistee River at the same time to harvest Chinook salmon to support the DNRís fish production efforts.
Tours are being offered this fall at the Boardman River, Little Manistee River and Platte River weirs by staff from the DNRís Fisheries Division, Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center and Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. Students and visitors will learn all about salmon, how weirs and fish ladders work, invasive species, state fish hatcheries, and the DNRís annual egg-collection efforts and their impact on Michiganís fisheries. The programs tie in components of history, ecology, biology and stewardship.
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Young hunters, ages 16 and under, will once again have the opportunity to get a free junior deer hunting license at all Meijer stores in Michigan on Sept. 12 and 13.
Youths must be accompanied by an adult, and should print out and bring the free junior hunting license coupon or mPerks digital coupon to the store's sporting goods department.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
The Michigan DNR now has a third official Michigan online hunter education course available at www.hunteredcourse.com/state/michigan.
A Michigan-based company, Hunter Ed Course offers its online hunter education course for $17.99. The course features lessons on safe, legal and responsible hunting practices and uses narration, closed captioning, interactive exercises and photos that replicate what a hunter will see in the field.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
The Michigan DNR has announced the DNR Fisheries Division and tribal partners stocked more than 4.8 million walleye fingerlings in more than 90 water bodies located throughout Michigan this spring and summer.
Walleye ponds are a critical component of the DNRís coolwater fisheries management and have been used extensively since the mid-1970s. More than 20 walleye ponds†throughout Michigan were used this year and most rely heavily on the support of local sportsmen's organizations, which†assist with the pondsí finances and supply volunteers to help with fertilization, pond maintenance and fish harvest.