As part of an effort to help people connect with the outdoors more by honing their hunting, fishing and other skills – known as the Outdoor Skills Academy – the DNR will run a series of bear hunting clinics over the next few weeks.

The clinics, at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac July 29, Aug. 5 and Aug. 11, offer an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of bear hunting with experienced hunters and DNR educators. The $30 class, which includes lunch and door prizes (donated by the Michigan Bear Hunters Association), will cover habitat, gear, stand placement, baiting, rules and regulations, carcass care and hide care. 

In previous years, more than 150 students from around the state – many of them new to hunting for bears – have attended this series of bear hunting clinics.

Former student Eric Lardi called the class “an excellent introduction to hunting for my grandkids,” and said he used what he learned at the clinic during a later bear hunt in Canada, when he took a bear weighing over 300 pounds.

“The guides in Canada reinforced everything said,” he added. “The conservation officer’s experience was invaluable to us, as to bear behavior and what to expect.”

The Outdoor Skills Academy offers in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of outdoor activities at locations around the state. Other upcoming classes will cover photographing birds, archery, hiking, downhill skiing and snowboarding.

“Whether you need some help getting started with a new outdoor activity or want to brush up on your skills and learn some tips and tricks, we can help,” said Jon Spieles, DNR field manager for educational services. 

Learn more about the Outdoor Skills Academy at michigan.gov/outdoorskills.

For more information about the bear hunting clinics, contact Ed Shaw at 231-779-1321.

Looking to spend a few hours or a whole day fishing this summer? Michigan’s waters offer plenty of opportunities to catch a variety of fish, and summer is an ideal time to try. Charter fishing businesses throughout the state offer a great way to explore Michigan’s world-class fisheries. 

Licensed charter captains provide the boats and all the equipment, plus the knowledge needed for a fun half-day or day on the water. Charter businesses in Michigan help children and adults have memorable fishing experiences – whether it’s reeling in a fish for the first time or trying your hand at catching a new species.

“Last year 72,000 anglers in Michigan participated in more than 18,000 charter fishing trips on the Great Lakes and other navigable waters,” said Donna Wesander, a DNR fisheries technician who tracks charter fishing data. “These anglers caught nearly 300,000 fish that included a variety of salmon and trout, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and muskie.” 

When hiring a professional charter, customers need only to provide personal supplies and fishing licenses. Those licenses can be purchased online (mdnr-elicense.com) or through a DNR customer service center or license agent.  

Find a fishing charter for a specific location by searching online for charter operators and regional charter fishing organizations, contacting the local chamber of commerce or city tourism office, or visiting the Michigan Charter Boat Association website at michigancharterboats.com. 

For more information, contact Donna Wesander, 231-547-2914, ext. 223 or Elyse Walter, 517-284-5839. 

A new, interactive map available on the DNR website provides information on access to state-owned lands, while welcoming the public’s involvement in the management of state forest roads. 

The map allows users to view state forest road locations, see which roads are open or closed to ORV use, and submit comments about specific roads. 

It’s easy to navigate on the map to an area of interest, click to view a road segment, and then provide your comment on that segment. The current map accepts comments for the northern Lower Peninsula. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, comments will be accepted for the Upper Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula, too.

This new forest road inventory map is part of the DNR’s implementation of Public Act 288 of 2016, and it ensures continued public access and involvement in the forest road inventory process. PA 288 encourages more people to enjoy Michigan’s public lands by enhancing ORV opportunities in the northern Lower Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula. 

PA 288 also requires that state forest roads in the Upper Peninsula be inventoried and legally designated as open or closed to ORV use. The inventory and designation process is finished for the northern Lower Peninsula, but is still under way in the U.P. and southern Lower Peninsula. PA 288 requires a full, completed inventory by year’s end. 

“This tool ensures easy access to important information for accessing and using public lands. It also facilitates involvement by interested members of the public in the forest road inventory process,” said Bill O’Neill, DNR natural resources deputy director.

Comments submitted via the forest road inventory map by Aug. 31 of each year will be reviewed to determine what, if any, action is needed. Proposed changes to state forest road status for ORV or conventional vehicle use will be available for public review and comment in the fall. After review, the DNR director will make a decision at a Natural Resources Commission meeting. New maps showing state forest roads and whether they’re open to ORV use will be published by April 1 each year.

The interactive map is available at michigan.gov/forestroads. Printable maps (updated annually) also are available at this website.

Learn more about designated trails in Michigan and sign up for email updates at michigan.gov/dnrtrails. For more on the forest inventory map, contact Kerry Wieber at 517-643-1256.

Hot, dry conditions across much of the state are leaving many trees drought-stressed and in need of water, a situation the DNR says can lead to challenges for trees now and in the future. 

“Drought stress might not kill trees outright, but it weakens them and makes them more susceptible to other problems such as winter injury or secondary disease and insect problems,” said Kevin Sayers, manager of the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program. 

In most cases, it’s easy to tell if your trees have drought stress. Symptoms include:

• On deciduous trees (those that shed their leaves every year), leaves may curl or droop, turn brown at the margins (scorching), fall prematurely or exhibit early autumn color.
• Evergreen needles may turn yellow to red and eventually brown. 
• Leaves may drop prematurely or become brown and stay attached. Twigs or branches may die back.

Sayers said that when watering trees, it’s best to: 

• Make newly planted trees and high-value trees a priority.  
• Provide long, slow soakings to saturate the soil to at least 10 to 12 inches deep.  
• Water newly planted trees weekly and established trees every two to three weeks. 
• Water under the tree’s dripline (from the trunk to the edge of the tree canopy).
• Retain water by applying 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch under the tree canopy, but not touching the trunk.
• Not water in the middle of the day or use mist sprinklers; they lose water through evaporation. Watering frequently and lightly doesn’t benefit trees much, either. 
• Not use fertilizer. It can injure tree roots when conditions are dry. 

To learn more about taking care of trees, visit michigan.gov/ucf or contact Kevin Sayers at 517-284-5898. 

Construction is set to begin this month on a project to connect 14 miles of upstream habitat on Milligan Creek, a tributary of the Upper Black River in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. The water is home to several species of fish, particularly those looking for colder water.

The project aims to replace two undersized culverts with a new 35-foot-wide plate arch. This effort is being spearheaded by Huron Pines and supported by the DNR’s Aquatic Habitat Grant Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Walters Family Foundation and the Cheboygan County Road Commission. 

DNR fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinski said this work should improve fish passage (a fish’s ability to move up and down stream without barriers in the way), as well as help prevent future flooding, sediment buildup and pollution – all good news for anglers who visit this area.

“The Black River watershed is a big draw for brook trout fishing, and of course Milligan Creek enters the Black River in the sturgeon spawning grounds,” Cwalinski said. “Milligan Creek is fished by anglers, but overall this watershed is a key trout fishing location in Michigan.”

Other Aquatic Habitat Grant Program-supported projects in Antrim, Barry, Dickinson, Ionia and several others counties have helped to restore water flow and connectivity and fish movement.

A temporary bridge has been installed at Waveland Road to divert traffic during the Milligan Creek project construction, expected to finish in August. These reconnected stream miles will support a healthy river corridor, which promotes fishing, birding, hiking, kayaking and scenic views. 

For more information, contact Tim Cwalinski, 989-732-3541, ext. 5072 or Colby Chilcote (Huron Pines), 989-448-2293, ext. 10.