- Details
By Louie Stout
The legal battle over the proposed Eagle Lake Public Access in Cass County, Michigan appears to have ended.
Maybe.
The Eagle Lake Improvement Association lost yet another court appeal in circuit court and had 21 days to file an appeal.
It didn’t file. However, DNR sources say the association still has the option of filing a late appeal, but had not done so as of late last week.
The lake association has spent thousands of dollars in its fight to prevent the DNR from building the badly needed ramp and parking area. The battle has lingered for 11 years despite the fact DNR has won every court case and met all of the environmental requirements and objections the lakers have made.
If the group decides to no longer pursue litigation, the DNR will still have to put it through public hearing process which, in all likelihood, will require local officials blessing.
We’ll keep you posted if there are any further developments.
- Details
By Louie Stout
There’s good news for those anglers who fish Pipestone Lake in Berrien County, Michigan.
There are plans to repair the steep ramp which historically has had a big hole in the pavement near the water’s edge. The access is not a Michigan DNR property and the ramp is located at the end of a road with limited parking at roadside.
According to details published online, the county is teaming with the township to repair the ramp. County commissioners will be working with the township to “implement an interlocal agreement” in which the township will reimburse the county for repair expenses. It also must get approval from Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes and Energy division.
We have been told the ramp is presently closed. As of right now, it sounds like repairs won’t begin until next spring.
- Details
MDNR Report
With the recent discovery of two new invasive aquatic plants in Michigan, the Michigan Invasive Species Program is asking waterfowl hunters across the state to take extra precautions this season to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Hydrilla, considered one of the world's most invasive aquatic plants, was found in private ponds in southwest Michigan in fall 2023. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is working with landowners to eradicate the infestation. This month, a hydrilla detection in Ontario, Canada forced the closure of a portion of the Hillman Marsh Conservation Area popular with waterfowl hunters.
Glyceria maxima (also known as rough mannagrass) an invasive plant similar to phragmites, has been found in the Dollarville Flooding in Newberry. The Department of Natural Resources is working with the Three Shores Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area to manage the infestation.
In addition to these new invasive plants, concern remains about the spread of European frog-bit and invasive phragmites. All four species tend to grow in slow-moving waters – just the kind of places that ducks and geese flock to.
Invasive phragmites and Glyceria maxima are tall reed-like grasses that out-compete native species along shorelines and in shallow waters and block access for humans and wildlife.
- Details
MDNR Report
The Michigan DNR is offering up to $1.5 million in Fisheries Habitat Grants for activities that can improve state fisheries and aquatic resources, such as fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies and recreation opportunities. The funding is available through an open, competitive process to local, state, federal and tribal governments and nonprofit groups.
“Recreation and local economies throughout Michigan rely on healthy rivers, lakes and wetlands to support fishing, boating and other enjoyment of our natural resources,” said Joe Nohner, DNR fisheries resource analyst. “These grants help our partners protect and rehabilitate fisheries and aquatic ecosystems in a state that depends heavily on those resources. In cases where we remove, repair or renovate dams, we also can improve public safety for residents and visitors.”
- Details
MDNR Report
Earlier in July, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the scheduled deer hunting regulations for this fall. The full package of regulations includes updates that won't begin until after the 2024 seasons have ended; those updates will be explained at a later date.
The following updates apply to the fall 2024 deer hunting seasons. (For ease of reading, the acronym DMU is used throughout for deer management unit.)
Lower Peninsula
Extended archery season
- Archery season is extended through Jan. 31, 2025, for select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.
Legal firearm expansion – Zone 2 muzzleloading season - If you are hunting deer during the muzzleloading deer season in the Lower Peninsula, you can use all legal firearms to take a deer. If you are hunting in the limited firearms deer zone, you must follow equipment requirements for that zone.
Early and late antlerless firearm season expansion to public land
- Early and late antlerless firearm seasons in open counties have been expanded to include public land in addition to private land. The early antlerless firearm season runs Sept. 21-22, 2024, and the late antlerless firearm season runs Dec. 16, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025.
New EXTENDED late antlerless season
- A new extended late antlerless firearm season is open Jan. 2-12, 2025, in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Shiawassee, Wayne and Washtenaw counties; DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties); DMU 312 (Branch, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties); and DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties).
A discounted antlerless license for this extended season will be available for $5 per license.
Upper Peninsula
- A 3-point antler point restriction, or APR, was implemented on the single deer icense in DMU 122.
- In the western central part of the Upper Peninsula, in DMU 352 when using a universal antlerless deer license, it is required to also have an antlerless deer hunting access permit. The eastern central part of the U.P., DMU 351, is closed to antlerless hunting with a universal antlerless deer license in 2024.
- DMU 352 is made up of DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252. DMU 351 includes DMUs 017, 021, 117, 149, 249 and 349. See the online deer management units map for locations of all DMUs.
- 500 access permits will be available in DMU 352. The application period is July 15-Aug. 15.
- For each deer harvested, you will need one antlerless deer hunting access permit for the DMU you're hunting in, plus one universal antlerless deer license.
- Antlerless deer can be taken in DMUs 017, 021, 027, 036, 117, 149, 152, 249, 252 and 349 during archery season on the single deer license or the combination deer license until Dec. 10, 2024.
Other clarifications
- Baiting regulations remain unchanged from 2023.
- Antler point restrictions, with the exception of DMU 122, remain unchanged from 2023.
- The combination license, with opportunity for two antlered deer, remains unchanged from 2023.
- Early and late antlerless season counties remain unchanged from 2023.
Questions?
If you still need information or assistance, learn more at Michigan.gov/Deer or contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-WILD (9453).