Starting Thursday, the DNR will begin accepting applications for its next Conservation Officer Training Academy, which starts in April. Applications will be accepted until Nov. 3.

This is a precertified law enforcement academy, meaning that qualified applicants must be at least 21 years old (by the time of hire) and meet one of the following requirements:

• Hold a current Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards license.
• Be eligible for immediate licensure upon employment.
• Be a licensed law enforcement officer in another state and meet MCOLES requirements.

Out-of-state applicants must be Michigan residents by the time training ends.

The academy will take place April 25-July 15 in Lansing. Training will include laws and rules specific to fish and game, species identification, and safe, legal operation of boats, off-road vehicles and snowmobiles.

“This is a great opportunity for current law enforcement officers who are looking for a change of pace,” said Sgt. Kyle Bucholtz, training academy commander with the DNR Law Enforcement Division. “Conservation officers are able to set their own daily schedule, eliminate going to an office by using a take-home vehicle, and patrol via boat, off-road vehicle, snowmobile or other equipment that many traditional police agencies don’t regularly use.”

Previous fishing and hunting experience and a college education are not required to become a conservation officer.

Candidates will be able to give preference for which county they would like to be assigned. Applicants will be offered their county assignments at the time of receiving a conditional offer of employment, prior to the beginning of the academy.

Successful candidates will be hired as probationary conservation officers and outfitted with all necessary equipment. As State of Michigan employees, these PCOs will receive biweekly paychecks and the opportunity to earn health and retirement benefits.

Sign up for October webinar

Join us for an upcoming hiring webinar at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, open to all qualified applicants who would like to learn more. Preregistration is required.

Questions? Contact Sgt. Kyle Bucholtz, 810-280-2274.

Don't miss the chance to talk with archaeologists about investigations and artifacts that tell the story of 14,000 years of Michigan history! Michigan Archaeology Day returns to the Michigan History Museum in Lansing, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Archaeologists and experts in related fields will be stationed throughout the first and second floors of the museum, ready to talk about their research, show artifacts they have found and answer questions. Plus, there will be many hands-on activities. This all-ages annual event is free, and parking is, too.

Outdoor recreation classes

The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy — which offers expert instruction, gear and immersive learning for a range of outdoor activities — has two upcoming classes:

• Wild Mushroom Clinic at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Oct. 4. Learn about mushroom identification and cooking preparation, then head outside to hunt for (and keep) some local specimens.
• Trapping Clinic at Mitchell State Park, Oct. 10-11. A two-day, hands-on opportunity to learn safe, ethical and effective trapping techniques.

The DNR's Becoming an Outdoors Woman program is a great way for women to learn skills needed to safely and confidently enjoy the outdoors, and October brings Beyond BOW classes exploring several different activities, including:

• Backpacking 101, Oct. 10 at Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea. Learn about the gear and gain the skills needed to successfully complete your first overnight backpacking adventure.
• Preparing for the Deer Hunt, Oct. 10 at the DNR Pocket Park in Escanaba. Add to your hunting knowledge and increase your proficiency to help harvest a deer. 
• Fall Waterfowl Identification Workshop, Oct. 23 at Muskegon State Game Area. Hone your bird ID skills by focusing on how to identify Michigan’s native waterfowl.

Get out and explore Michigan’s managed waterfowl areas this fall! You’ll hear from local staff about hunting conditions, tour the areas and see what each unique location has to offer for the upcoming waterfowl seasons. All open houses begin at 6 p.m. at each area’s headquarters.

• Shiawassee River State Game Area in St. Charles, Oct. 13.
• Harsens Island at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsens Island, Oct. 14.
• Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Rockwood, Oct. 15.

These managed waterfowl areas, part of Michigan’s Wetland Wonders, provide exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities and are managed to provide waterfowl habitat for nesting and migration.

Harvests and haunts

Harvest festivals at state parks continue throughout October. These family-friendly events offer activities like hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume contests, haunted trails, nature programs and more. While many of the activities are reserved for registered campers only, and camping reservations do fill up quickly, there are some festivities open to day visitors.

Outdoor Adventure Center events

If you’ll be in the Detroit area in October, the Outdoor Adventure Center activity schedule is filled with fun and learning for all ages, including programs especially for seniors, a variety of archery classes and more. Don’t miss Grown Up Gatherings: Archery and Trivia, Oct. 9, featuring a one-hour archery lesson at the OAC’s indoor range and a fun trivia competition.

The Volunteer Stewardship Program provides year-round opportunities to protect and restore southern Michigan’s native ecosystems. By joining our network of dedicated volunteers, you can make a direct impact through invasive species management, bird monitoring and native seed collection — essential work that ensures our state parks thrive for generations.

October workdays include:

• Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County): Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-noon.
• Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County): Sunday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m.-noon.
• Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County): Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County): Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-noon.
• Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County): Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon County): Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-noon.
• William G. Milliken State Park (Wayne County): Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m.-noon.
• Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County): Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-noon.
• Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County): Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-noon.
• Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County): Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Prescribed burns, timber harvests, tree planting and other activities are carefully planned to keep Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forest thriving. Plans for these activities are currently being made for 2028, but public input is welcome now. Find out what’s being planned and how to offer your comments at Michigan.gov/ForestInput.

You can submit online feedback during designated 30-day periods or attend an open house or compartment review meeting, where plans are finalized. See all scheduled comment periods, open houses and compartment review meetings for the 2026 season.