Northern Michigan Conservation Network

Over the past nearly 80 years, the Sport Fishing and Wildlife Restoration programs (authorized by the Pittman-Robertson & Dingle-Johnson Acts) have provided well over fifteen billion dollars in grant funds to state fish and wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance all species of fish and wildlife – $1.1 billion will be […]

Story by Bob Gwizdz and published courtesy of MDNR – The upper Black River, in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, has long been recognized as one of Michigan’s best brook trout streams. Earnest Hemingway, who fished there, wrote about it glowingly. “It’s renowned for its wild brook trout population,” said Tim Cwalinski, fisheries biologist who oversees […]

When John M. O’Shea, the Emerson F. Greenman Professor of Anthropological Archaeology at the University of Michigan, and associates from the University of Michigan’s Museum of Anthropological Archaeology first began to suspect that the unnatural rock formations lying beneath Lake Huron were those of an earlier hunting culture, they stated that they were reserving celebration […]

by David Smethurst – The last Saturday in April is always a special day to trout fisherman. It’s the Trout Opener. Even though today it is more of a tradition that an event, with so many streams open, some under special regulations, I think you can fish for trout somewhere every day of the year. […]

January 28, 2014 Report Courtesy of Ducks Unlimited (DU) WASHINGTON – Jan. 27, 2014 – After three long years of compromise, the four primary Agriculture Committee negotiators announced the final farm bill agreement today, and it enhances and strengthens vital polices for wildlife, sportsmen and women and all citizens. The 2014 Farm Bill includes the […]

Although it remains well short of a seismic shift, there are increasing signs that the traditional makeup of the hunting community is changing.  For those who have seen past national survey data for hunters and anglers, you know that the biggest bubble on the participation curve has always been represented by 40+ year-old white males. […]

Some of our readers may recall that back in July we discussed the need for Michigan’s own version of the conservation educational campaign which has become known as the Colorado Model.  The recently approved Michigan hunting and angling license restructuring package includes funding for Michigan’s own outreach initiative, but requires formal legislative authorization. This legislative […]

The dreaded “Turnover.” No, we’re not talking about football, we are talking about a process which has been going on for weeks in all of our northern Michigan lakes. For many anglers, this not only means cooler and shorter days on the water, but that the fish are also tougher to find. Although most anglers […]

Here are few “newsy” items that may be of interest for northern Michigan outdoor types. Still Time for Forestry Open House/Compartment Review Comment Although some have come and gone, there is still time to participate in several MDNR Forestry Compartment Review and Open House sessions for the 2015 Year of Entry.  Those sessions for Atlanta, […]

Several newsworthy events took place at this past week’s annual meeting of the Great Lakes Commission.  For those unfamiliar with the Great Lakes Commission, it is comprised of  members from each of the eight Great Lakes states with associate members from the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec. Each state may assemble a delegation of […]