(Provided by Michigan DNR)
Two years after the Michigan DNR introduced the $10 Recreation Passport as a new way to fund state parks and outdoor recreation opportunities, the DNR announced it will raise the price to $11 effective Jan. 2. The Passport is required for vehicles entering Michigans state parks, recreation areas and forest campgrounds.
The $1 increase is based on a statutory requirement built into the 2010 legislation that created the Recreation Passport that says the purchase price of the Passport must keep pace with inflation. Every year, the state treasurer will evaluate changes in the Consumer Price Index and make a recommendation accordingly. This year, the state treasurer has determined the price increase is $1.
(Provided by Michigan DNR)
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Three recent trail camera photos of cougars in the Upper Peninsula have been verified by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.Trail camera photo of cougar verified by Michigan DNR
Two of the photos, both of a cougar with a radio collar, were taken in October in Menominee County one near Cedar River and one near Menominee just north of the Wisconsin border.
The third photo was taken in northern Marquette County in November. The cougar in the Marquette County photo is not wearing a radio collar.
(Provided by Michigan DNR)
With more than 1.1 million Michigan residents annually seeking food assistance, the DNR encourages hunters to keep this critical need in mind as they head out this season.
You can make a cash donation to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger (MSAH) when purchasing hunting licenses this year or donate your deer at one of the participating processors.
Cash donations will be used to support the processing of deer donated to participating processors. Last year, the venison donated to local food banks and food kitchens throughout Michigan supplied enough meat to provide more than 100,000 meals.
(Provided by Michigan DNR)
Brian Birchmeier, 51, of Shiawassee Countys Owosso Township, was arraigned last week in Michigans Shiawassee County District Court on 125 misdemeanor charges related to poaching deer and turkey in Michigan.
Earlier this month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division found Birchmeier to be in illegal possession of more than 100 parts of animals, including deer and turkey.
The Michigan DNR has been busy gathering the necessary eggs for the continued production of hatchery fish to support Michigans world-class fisheries. Fall egg takes are starting or are under way for wild Chinook and coho salmon and for captive broodstocks of brown, rainbow, brook and lake trout.
Chinook salmon eggs were collected at the Little Manistee River Weir while coho salmon eggs will be collected at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery Weir Oct. 15-23.
From these wild egg sources, we expect to collect nearly 4.4 million Chinook salmon eggs and nearly 5.5 million coho salmon eggs, said Gary Whelan, DNR fish production manager. The number of Chinook salmon eggs is 3.4 million less than last year as a result of Lake Michigan stocking reductions.