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NEWS!
Michigan Hunters comments sought on whitetails
Lansing - Deer hunters interested in how the DNRE manages the state's deer herd are invited to attend one of the six remaining public open houses and give their opinions on the new draft statewide deer management plan. That plan is available for review at www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting.
"This is a strategic plan for deer management in the state of Michigan," John Niewoonder, a DNRE wildlife habitat biologist, told Michigan Outdoor News. "It kind of sets a broad direction of where we're going. It's not etched in stone and there will be changes as we move along, but it will set our direction for deer management."
The 42-page plan sets detailed goals for deer management. Under each goal are several objectives regarding the goals, along with related action items to achieve the goals. In total, there are 69 action items.
The goals of the plan are:
1. to maintain deer populations at levels that do not degrade the vegetation upon which deer and other wildlife depend;
2. to promote deer hunting to provide quality recreational opportunities as the primary tool to achieve population goals, and as an important social and cultural activity;
3. to manage habitat to provide for the long-term viability of white-tailed deer in Michigan while limiting negative impacts to the habitats of other wildlife species;
4. to reduce conflicts between humans and deer;
5. to reduce the threats and impacts of disease on the wild deer population and on Michigan's economy;
6. to develop methods and materials to enhance public engagement in deer management decisions, increase public awareness regarding deer management issues, and ensure accurate information is provided to promote education regarding deer ecology and management.
The draft deer management plan was put on the DNRE website on Feb. 10 and is up for public comment for 30 days, during which the public meetings will also be held. The DNR will then craft a final draft of the plan, and is expected to present it to the Natural Resources Commission and DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries at the April 8 NRC meeting at Lansing Center. The final draft again will be available for public comment for 30 days. The NRC and DNRE director are expected to take action on the plan at the May 6 NRC meeting, also slated for Lansing Center.
The upcoming public meetings will be held 7-9 p.m. on the following dates at these locations:
1. Tuesday, March 2, Alpena Civic Center, 133 Johnson St., Alpena;
2. Wednesday, March 3, Cadillac High School All Purpose Room, 400 Linden, Cadillac;
3. Tuesday, March 9, Comfort Inn, 13954 State Highway M-28, Newberry;
4. Wednesday, March 10, Forest Park Elementary School, Multi-purpose Room, 810 Forest Parkway, Crystal Falls (6 to 8 p.m. CST);
5. Tuesday, March 16, Quality Inn, 3121 East Grand River Ave., Lansing;
6. Thursday, March 18, Northwood University, Sloan Building, Rm. 210, 4000 Whiting Dr., Midland.
(Editor's note:_Two other public meetings were held, Feb. 23 in Kalamazoo and Feb. 25 in Novi, but neither meeting was announced in time to get the information to MON readers.)
Niewoonder and some of the local biologists will be on hand at the meetings to present deer information and answer questions.
"We want to focus on the plan in general," Niewoonder said. "We'll try not to get into specific local issues and other, non-deer, issues."
Individuals who cannot attend a meeting but who wish to submit written comments may do so via e-mail or U.S. mail. Send comments to: John Niewoonder, DNRE Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909 or via e-mail to: dnr-wld-wild@michigan.gov.
Michigan Hunters comments sought on whitetails
Lansing - Deer hunters interested in how the DNRE manages the state's deer herd are invited to attend one of the six remaining public open houses and give their opinions on the new draft statewide deer management plan. That plan is available for review at www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting.
"This is a strategic plan for deer management in the state of Michigan," John Niewoonder, a DNRE wildlife habitat biologist, told Michigan Outdoor News. "It kind of sets a broad direction of where we're going. It's not etched in stone and there will be changes as we move along, but it will set our direction for deer management."
The 42-page plan sets detailed goals for deer management. Under each goal are several objectives regarding the goals, along with related action items to achieve the goals. In total, there are 69 action items.
The goals of the plan are:
1. to maintain deer populations at levels that do not degrade the vegetation upon which deer and other wildlife depend;
2. to promote deer hunting to provide quality recreational opportunities as the primary tool to achieve population goals, and as an important social and cultural activity;
3. to manage habitat to provide for the long-term viability of white-tailed deer in Michigan while limiting negative impacts to the habitats of other wildlife species;
4. to reduce conflicts between humans and deer;
5. to reduce the threats and impacts of disease on the wild deer population and on Michigan's economy;
6. to develop methods and materials to enhance public engagement in deer management decisions, increase public awareness regarding deer management issues, and ensure accurate information is provided to promote education regarding deer ecology and management.
The draft deer management plan was put on the DNRE website on Feb. 10 and is up for public comment for 30 days, during which the public meetings will also be held. The DNR will then craft a final draft of the plan, and is expected to present it to the Natural Resources Commission and DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries at the April 8 NRC meeting at Lansing Center. The final draft again will be available for public comment for 30 days. The NRC and DNRE director are expected to take action on the plan at the May 6 NRC meeting, also slated for Lansing Center.
The upcoming public meetings will be held 7-9 p.m. on the following dates at these locations:
1. Tuesday, March 2, Alpena Civic Center, 133 Johnson St., Alpena;
2. Wednesday, March 3, Cadillac High School All Purpose Room, 400 Linden, Cadillac;
3. Tuesday, March 9, Comfort Inn, 13954 State Highway M-28, Newberry;
4. Wednesday, March 10, Forest Park Elementary School, Multi-purpose Room, 810 Forest Parkway, Crystal Falls (6 to 8 p.m. CST);
5. Tuesday, March 16, Quality Inn, 3121 East Grand River Ave., Lansing;
6. Thursday, March 18, Northwood University, Sloan Building, Rm. 210, 4000 Whiting Dr., Midland.
(Editor's note:_Two other public meetings were held, Feb. 23 in Kalamazoo and Feb. 25 in Novi, but neither meeting was announced in time to get the information to MON readers.)
Niewoonder and some of the local biologists will be on hand at the meetings to present deer information and answer questions.
"We want to focus on the plan in general," Niewoonder said. "We'll try not to get into specific local issues and other, non-deer, issues."
Individuals who cannot attend a meeting but who wish to submit written comments may do so via e-mail or U.S. mail. Send comments to: John Niewoonder, DNRE Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909 or via e-mail to: dnr-wld-wild@michigan.gov.
