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Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.
PHOTOS: Some of the photos used in this email (deer, park volunteers, firewood, shooting range, museum, dark sky) are part of the DNR's online photo collection. Others (Happy Little Trees, turkey patch, venison) are available in this folder.
Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays in November. Volunteers are needed to help collect seeds from native plants and restore natural areas by removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems.
Volunteers learn plant identification, see rare ecosystems and connect with others who care about conservation. No experience is necessary, and equipment and instruction are provided.
Workdays will take place:
- Sunday, Nov. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County).
- Saturday, Nov. 7, at Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve (Washtenaw County).
- Saturday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 28, at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon County).
- Sunday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 22, at Waterloo Recreation Area (Jackson County).
- Sunday, Nov. 8, at Ludington State Park (Mason County).
- Saturday, Nov. 14, at Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County).
- Sunday, Nov. 15, at Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County).
- Saturday, Nov. 21, at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County).
- Sunday, Nov. 22, at Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County).
See more details and register for volunteer stewardship workdays.
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Let us know about bear den locations
In case you missed it, the DNR is asking those who spend time outdoors to keep an eye open for black bear dens this fall and winter. Reporting den locations is a simple yet effective way to support bear management programs.
These reports can help DNR biologists with the department’s ongoing research project studying Michigan’s black bears.
Learn about Michigan’s new firewood quarantine
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently announced a quarantine, effective Jan. 1, 2027, designed to stop the movement of uncertified firewood into Michigan.
How does that affect campers or anyone who travels in and out of state? Find out during the NotMISpecies webinar “What Does it Mean? Michigan’s New External Firewood Quarantine Explained,” at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Amber Neils, MDARD quarantine compliance and export specialist, will provide an overview of the quarantine, its purpose and how to comply with its rules. Guests from the DNR and Michigan’s Invasive Species Program will be on hand for an extended Q&A session following the presentation.
Supported by the Michigan Invasive Species Program, the monthly, hourlong NotMISpecies webinars are designed to keep people informed about available programs, current research and emerging issues in the state and the Great Lakes region. If you are interested but cannot attend the live session, a recorded version will be available on the NotMISpecies webpage.
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More ways to help
From mentoring new hunters and sharing Michigan's history to supporting conservation projects and cleaning up forests, there are dozens of ways to show love for your favorite places and outdoor spaces. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers and find your perfect fit!
Since launching in 2019, Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K has raised more than $1.5 million for tree planting and forest health. Returning April 22-30, 2027, the event invites participants to walk, run or roll their way through a virtual 5K to support a greener future for state parks across the country.
Registration costs $36 and includes a Happy Little T-shirt, commemorative bib and finisher’s medal. Participants can also choose which state they want to support during registration. Funds are distributed to participating states in proportion to race participation, supporting tree planting and forest protection efforts in state parks and recreation areas. These efforts include invasive plant and forest pest management, as well as early detection surveys.
With California and Texas joining the event in 2027, the program now includes 20 states! More than 90,000 people have participated in the race, which also honors Bob Ross — the iconic art instructor and "Joy of Painting" television host — and is hosted by the DNR in collaboration with Bob Ross Inc.
Registration for the 2027 race is open; for more information, contact Michelle O’Kelly.
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The 2026 Michigan wild turkey patch is available now to hunters, collectors and other turkey enthusiasts. It's free to hunters 16 and younger who had a 2026 wild turkey hunting license, but anyone can purchase the patch for just $8, postage and handling included.
The state’s wild turkey patch program is coordinated by the Michigan chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, in partnership with the DNR. Each year, patch sales from this program contribute more than $20,000 to wild turkey management, outreach and research.
To order a patch, visit the NWTF Michigan website.
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Help design the 2028 patch
K-12 students, here’s a chance to make your mark by submitting the winning design for the 2028 wild turkey patch! All entries must be received by Dec. 31, 2026.
Original, hand-completed designs should include an eastern wild turkey or components of a turkey (e.g., feathers, tracks). Drawings may be done in any medium (pencil, oil, pen and ink, chalk, crayon, etc.) and be color or black and white. If color, no more than 13 colors may be used. All entries must be submitted on 8.5-inch-by-11-inch paper and without mat, glass, frame or cover sheet (spray chalk with fixative).
Each patch design entry must include the following phrases or elements:
- "Wild Turkey Management Cooperator"
- "2028"
- The DNR logo (or simply create a circular placeholder for the logo with a minimum size of 1 inch)
First-, second- and third-place winners will receive cash awards of $250, $100 and $50, respectively.
The winning design will serve as the basis for the 2028 Michigan wild turkey management cooperator patch. Contest details and entry form are available at minwtf.org/patch-contest-rules.
Questions can be emailed to miturkeypatch@gmail.com.
The days may be growing shorter, but Michigan is long on opportunities for outdoor/indoor fun! Check out these highlights and see what else is on tap at Michigan.gov/DNRCalendar.
Mystery, and more, at the museum
 Like a good whodunnit? Try your hand at solving ours during Mystery at the Museum — where “Clue” meets “Night at the Museum” — an after-hours event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Michigan History Museum in Lansing. You'll explore the museum to search for clues, interview suspects and identify opportunity and motive.
Tickets are $30 per person and include the mystery, parking and light refreshments. While this mystery is a work of fiction, the event is best suited for older audiences. You must be 18 years or older to participate. Interested? Don't wait: Ticket sales close Nov. 2!
For younger visitors, the Michigan History Museum offers Pop-Up Storytime with Capital Area District Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Each month, this series explores a new corner of Michigan's past through stories, songs and hands-on fun designed especially for young children and their families. November's theme is farming. Admission and parking are free.
STEAM, fly tying and nature learning with the OAC
In the Detroit area, the Outdoor Adventure Center activity schedule offers a wide range of fun and education for all ages. On the agenda for November are programs especially for seniors, a variety of archery classes, birding, owl prowls, live reptiles and amphibians, yoga and more.
Don’t miss the STEAM Expo: Full STEAM Ahead, noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Science, technology, engineering, art and math — hands-on, minds-on, STEAM-related activities, demonstrations and resources will let you and your family explore connections among STEAM, nature and the everyday world.
Check out Grown-Up Gatherings: Fly Tying, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. For ages 21 and older, this introduction to fly tying with Flygirls of Michigan will cover the basics and teach you step by step how to tie the most popular fly patterns. No experience is necessary, and all materials will be provided, along with light snacks and drinks. Cost is $40 per person.
Astronomy, fish lure crafting at state parks
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Dark Sky Night at Negwegon State Park in Black River, 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. An evening of astronomy, stargazing and dark sky education along the Lake Huron shoreline. The program will feature presentations by experienced astronomy educators, telescope viewing, guided constellation and laser sky tours, and discussions about light pollution, dark sky preservation and astronomy opportunities in northeast Michigan. It will also include family-friendly educational activities and a bonfire on the beach. Registration is required.
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DIY Lure Crafting at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, Saturday, Nov. 7; drop in anytime from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Looking for a special handmade gift for that angler in your life? Let us help you craft a fishing lure that will be treasured. We’ll provide step-by-step instructions to create your own lure to catch the most common fish found in lakes Mitchell and Cadillac: perch, panfish or perhaps a mighty bass! All materials provided, and all ages welcome.
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Hunter appreciation events statewide
This fall, we again want to say "thank you" to Michigan hunters. The DNR is hosting appreciation events across the state, and all hunters are invited to drop in and say hello. Harvested deer are welcome but certainly not required.
These events offer the chance to bring in a deer or lower jaw for aging, pick up free hunting swag* like patches, stickers, hand warmers, field-dressing gloves and more, enjoy light refreshments and connect with DNR staff and fellow hunters to talk about the season. We hope you you’ll stop by and share your stories with us!
*Swag may vary by location, while supplies last.
Event dates (follow links for location details):
Hunters — and everyone else — can help fight hunger by contributing to the DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program and ensuring that more Michiganders have access to a nutritious protein source when they need it the most.
The program gives hunters a way to share their harvest by donating their deer, at no cost to the hunter, at a participating processor.
Hunters Feeding Michigan also will host a series of deer donation drives:
- Friday, Nov. 20, to Sunday, Nov. 22, at Jay’s Sporting Goods locations in Clare and Gaylord and Frank’s Great Outdoors in Linwood.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, to Sunday, Dec. 13, at Monroe Rod and Gun Club/Emersen Archery in Monroe.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, at RealTruck in Rochester Hills.
“More than a million people in Michigan don’t have enough to eat, and hunters can make a real difference,” said Joe Presgrove, Hunters Feeding Michigan program specialist. “Donating is fast, simple and changes lives.”
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Each deer donated provides an estimated 160 servings of high-quality protein. Since 2005, hunters have donated 3.5 million servings of venison. The DNR partners with Feeding America and deer processors throughout the state to ensure the donated meat is fresh, safe and delivered to Michigan residents in need.
Hunters can also support the program by making a monetary donation when they purchase their licenses, and nonhunters can contribute by donating online. Monetary donations help offset the cost of processing and packaging venison.
Questions? Contact Joe Presgrove at 517-643-3809 or learn more at Michigan.gov/HuntersFeedingMichigan.
Firearm deer season is quickly approaching. Are you ready? If you need to sight in your firearm or get in some target practice, the DNR’s 15 shooting ranges across the state offer a safe, comfortable, low-cost — in many cases, free — option.
Several DNR-staffed ranges will be open every day Nov. 1-15. They also will offer extended hours, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the three weekends leading up to firearm deer season opener: Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 14. This includes:
- Barry County Shooting Range
- Echo Point Shooting Range (Allegan County)
- Ortonville Shooting Range (Lapeer County)
- Pontiac Lake Shooting Range (Oakland County)
- Rose Lake Shooting Range (Clinton County)
- Sharonville Shooting Range (Jackson County)
These ranges are staffed with friendly, highly trained employees and include amenities like modern restrooms and accessible features.
For more information about locations, hours and more, visit Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges. Note: Some ranges require you to bring your own paper targets; check before you go.
To learn more about what to expect when visiting and safety rules at DNR ranges, watch our DNR shooting ranges video.
Questions? Contact Gary Jones, 734-431-2147.
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 See more pictures by Michigan state parks social ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, email Stephanie Yancer. This photo is by Sarah Goodwin, for the Michigan DNR, at Muskallonge Lake State Park in Luce County.
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