(AP photo) Public feedback will be accepted through Oct. 27 on updated rules for dog leashing on lands managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will look to reduce confusion for land users and law enforcement as it updates rules for dog leashing on state-managed land under its control.

The draft rule changes include:

— Updating the terminology — “state owned land” — to “land under the control of the department.”

— Clarifying that dogs in an area designated as leash-free do not need to be leashed.

— Providing consistency regarding leash requirements across all land under control of the department

— Clarifying that dogs being used for hunting, field trials and hunting-related training, as approved by DNR, don’t need to be leashed.

The DNR welcomes public attendance regarding these updates at a hearing at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time Thursday in the Hutchinson Conference Room of Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan, in downtown Lansing.

Anyone interested in providing input is encouraged to send comments via email to RostM@Michigan.gov or in writing to: Department of Natural Resources, Legislative and Legal Affairs Office, ATTN: Legal Policy Specialist, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909-7528.

Public feedback will be accepted through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27.

A regulatory impact statement and cost-benefit analysis and additional documents related to the hearing are available at https://ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us/Transaction/RFRTransaction?TransactionID=1433&utm_medium=public+hearing+regarding+leashed+dogs&utm_source=govdelivery.

After the public hearing and comment period have concluded, the final draft rule will be sent to the Administrative Rules Division in the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules.