Northern Michigan Conservation Network

Well, that didn’t take long.  Just when we had naively thought that the supporters of Senate Bill 288 really meant it when they passed legislation granting the Michigan Department of Natural Resources authority to name game species based upon “scientific wildlife management,” some of these same bill sponsors now want to rescind the DNR’s authority […]

On the same day that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) press release came out announcing the celebration of the upper peninsula’s Crisp Point land acquisition project, a national “Sign On Letter” was being circulated by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Besides their crossing in cyberspace, what’s the connection?  I’m glad you […]

Late last month, an alternative to the failed 2012 Sportsmen’s Act was introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).  Unlike the 2012 version which was introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), the latest iteration excludes reauthorizations of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (S. 51) and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The good news […]

Delta Waterfowl has released its 2013 annual duck breeding survey.  Although a slight breeding population decline is suggested on a year-to-year basis, the long term recovery trend remains strong. Last year’s low water levels which were symptomatic of many areas of the Prairie Pot Hole region have been supplanted with abundant breeding grounds.  The survey’s […]

Although we had hoped that they would at least allow us to have the summer off, it certainly comes as no surprise that the”brainstorming” has already begun on new ways to possibly divert the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF). Fresh off last session’s failed attempt to dredge the Fund, they appear to be back […]

As many of you know by now, last week brought with it not only the 4th of July holiday, but the not-so-surprising news that the organization which identifies itself as Keep Michigan Wolves Protected (KMWP) has begun efforts to place its second wildlife management-related referendum on Michigan’s 2014 ballot. Although it was clearly wishful thinking, many […]

Those that follow our site are likely to read the following discussion on the topic of “issue fatigue” and remark, “Hello pot, meet kettle.”   For those of us who spend time trying to mobilize citizen interest in matters pertaining to natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation, the high volume of policy issues over the past […]

I know that few people understand why paying more for recreational activities would be a cause for celebration, but then again, few understand the merit in walking through knee-deep snow before daylight or standing in a river waving a stick during a driving rain.   It was for these same reasons that many of us struggled […]

As we wrote on multiple occasions last summer, the U.S. Farm Bill has far-reaching implications on a variety of local and regional conservation and fisheries/wildlife habitat programs.  In spite of the political rhetoric which focuses more on food stamps and agricultural subsidies, this legislation represents far more than that.  For most of us in northern […]

The State Senate is on the threshold of voting on HB 4668, the Hunting/Fishing license restructuring package which will provide long term funding for natural resource management that is much needed.  Although it was just a week ago that we thought that this was a “done deal,” it’s now our understanding that at least one […]