The newly appointed Michigan Board of Foresters will hold its first meeting 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in Gaylord. The board will meet in the main conference room at the DNR's Gaylord Customer Service Center, 1732 W. M-32.

The new board was created as part of a restructuring of the registered forester program, as the DNR assumes oversight of this voluntary program. It previously was managed by the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and has undergone a four-year restructuring process that includes required continuing education for registered foresters, appointment of the board and a moderate fee increase.

”Having an active community of registered foresters provides a resource for Michigan forest owners who would like professional expertise to manage their forests to meet their goals and have a healthy, sustainable forest,” said Deb Begalle, chief of the DNR Forest Resources Division.

Learn more about the program at michigan.gov/forestry under Registered Foresters or contact Brenda Haskill at 989-732-3541, ext. 5043.

Hunters with qualifying disabilities are encouraged to take advantage of reserved deer hunting opportunities at the Pierce Road Hunt Unit of the Sharonville State Game Area (in Jackson and Washtenaw counties). As part of the DNR’s Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors initiative, this 600-acre unit was designated as a restricted access hunt area to provide special hunt opportunities.

Remaining reserved deer hunting permits are available from any license agent, DNR Customer Service Center or online at mdnr-elicense.com. The following reserved hunts are available on a first-come, first-served basis:

• Hunt 0405 (Nov. 18-20)
• Hunt 0406 (Nov. 21-23)
• Hunt 0407 (Nov. 24-26)
• Hunt 0408 (Nov. 27-30)

Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors provides improved outdoor recreation opportunities for wounded veterans and individuals with health challenges and coordinates a support network that facilitates their recovery through connecting with nature.

Get more information about this cooperative partnership, including eligibility for hunting, at michigan.gov/dnraccessibility or contact Dennis Tison at 517-522-4097.

Conservation officers are highly trained professionals who protect Michigan’s natural resources, as well as the safety of the people enjoying them. Often, they're first on the scene in a variety of situations. Sometimes, they simply get to take part in others' enjoyment of the great outdoors.

Here's a look at a few CO encounters from a recent two-week period (Sept. 23-Oct. 6):

Baraga County: Conservation Officer Cody Smith checked a group of hound hunters, who reported they hadn't seen a single track in days. Upon talking with the group the next day, CO Smith learned they successfully took a mid-200-pound bear. The hunters were happy for the change in luck and continued to run their dogs in search of another bear.

Delta County: COs Chris Lynch and Stephen Butzin responded to a call of a lost mother with her 2-year-old son in the woods. After a short search, the officers located the mother and her child who, thankfully, did not require medical attention. The COs gave the mother and her child a ride to their car. The mother was very appreciative of the officers' help.

Monroe County: CO Nick Ingersoll responded to an accident along I-75 where a vehicle had rolled over multiple times. CO Ingersoll was first on scene and, upon arrival, found all three individuals had already exited the SUV that had rolled over. The driver received a minor laceration to his head; otherwise, all three individuals were okay. One of the passengers was a 1-year-old who was properly secured in his rear-facing car seat at the time of the accident. All three individuals were shaken up, but relieved that there was only one minor injury.

Conservation officers receive training that equips them to respond quickly to a wide range of duties across all of Michigan. Read more reports from conservation officers in the CO biweekly reports.

For more information, contact Katie Gervasi at 517-284-6181.

Michigan's millions of acres of forest land offer beautiful spaces where people can camp, explore and make memories, and it's important for everyone to do their part to keep our trees healthy. One easy way to help is to buy firewood from a source close to your destination. Buying local reduces the likelihood of introducing a new disease or pest to your favorite campsite or getaway.

Need to find a local firewood vendor? Check out firewoodscout.org. 

Need to complete a hunter safety education field day to get ready for the upcoming firearm season? Several opportunities are available in early November to fit your schedule:

Saturday, Nov. 3 – Crystal Falls
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
DNR Customer Service Center
1420 U.S. 2
Contact: Dave Painter, 906-284-2400

Saturday or Sunday, Nov. 3 or 4 – Plainwell
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
DNR Customer Service Center
621 North 10th St.
Contact: Tamera Bachman, 269-204-7062

Saturday, Nov. 10 – West Branch
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kirtland Community College
2479 M-76
Contact: Glenn Gutierrez, 989-345-3111

Get more details and sign up for these classes or find other options for marine, ORV, snowmobile, bow-hunting or trapping classes in your area at dnr.state.mi.us/recnsearch/recnsrch.asp.