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Michigan DNR seeks advisory group applications

Outdoors report

By Jim Anderson 6 min read

IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications until Thursday for open volunteer positions on the Western Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Council.

Application forms and more information including meeting agendas and minutes, can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/boards/up-citizens.

The council is designed to provide local input to advise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive and offer insight and guidance from members' own experiences and constituencies.

Council members represent a wide variety of natural resource and recreation interests. Agenda items are set by the members and recommendations are forwarded to the DNR for consideration.

A joint meeting of the Eastern and Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Councils is scheduled for Tuesday in Marquette. The session will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern time in the Ridge/Timber Rooms at the Holiday Inn, 1951 U.S. 41 West.

The councils are scheduled to hear presentations on DNR managed dams across the U.P., a new technique to monitor walleye populations, as well as updates from the DNR's deputy directors. The meeting is open to the public.

For public comment instructions, please contact Kristi Dahlstrom at dahlstromk@michigan.gov or 906-226-1331.

Meanwhile, the next public meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission is scheduled for Wednesday in Marquette. The location is the Peninsula II Room of the Northern Center at Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave.

Coffee with the Commissioners, an informal meet-and-greet, begins at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, followed by the meeting at 9:30 a.m.

A livestream is available on the Michigan DNR Meetings YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@MichiganDNR-Meetings/streams.

Agenda items include a walleye stocking evaluation, presentations on deer disease and baiting, and an updated fisheries order that would allow the harvest of smaller northern pike at Gibson Lake in Iron County and Hanbury Lake in Dickinson County.

For more information, go to https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/boards/nrc.

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Wisconsin's annual youth deer hunt is taking place today and Sunday.

Any time a firearm deer season is taking place in Wisconsin, including the youth deer hunt, all hunters' clothing above the waist must be at least 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink.

This requirement also applies to archery hunters and small game hunters. Waterfowl hunters are exempt from this rule.

Wisconsin residents and nonresidents may participate in the youth hunt, which is for hunters 15 years old and younger. One mentor may not accompany more than two youths at the same time.

For more, go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/youth.

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Hundreds of deer were harvested in the central U.P. during the first week of Michigan’s archery deer hunt, which opened Oct. 1. As of 6 p.m. Friday, the DNR’s harvest summary showed 102 bucks and 45 antlerless deer taken in Dickinson County. Iron County’s totals were 49 antlered and 23 antlerless. Menominee County led the U.P. with 167 bucks and 103 antlerless. Marquette County showed 88 bucks and 13 antlerless deer harvested.

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The Wisconsin DNR has released an initial draft of its next Turkey Management Plan and is seeking public input through Nov. 20.

The plan can be found at https://widnr.widen.net/s/pzgs7gdxtd/draft-wisconsin-wild-turkey-management-plan-2026-2036_for-public-review-and-input.

The public is encouraged share their thoughts via the online comment tool at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026TurkeyMgmtPlan.

The DNR will review and consider feedback submitted during the comment period while preparing the final draft of the plan. Once the DNR has reviewed all public input, staff will revise the draft plan as necessary and present another draft plan to the Natural Resources Board for final approval.

The DNR will host a series of open houses next week on the proposed management plan. The sessions are in LaCrosse, Merrill and Appleton.

A virtual open house will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81705397474#success.

For more, go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/131076.

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The Michigan DNR reported this U.P. activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting yellow perch reported scattered schools and had difficulty locating fish. Some anglers reported catching yellow perch in shallow water using worms. Walleye anglers reported slow fishing, though fishing overall was good. Drifting or trolling crawler harnesses worked well. Anglers also reported having success using jigheads tipped with nightcrawlers or leeches. Coho salmon anglers reported slow fishing and fewer fish sightings. Anglers fishing the Escanaba River had success.

Marquette: Anglers caught lake trout in 80 to 160 feet of water. Most anglers continued to troll north of White Rocks out toward Granite Rock and the Clay Banks, as reports west of the Chocolay River yielded poor results. Anglers reported catching lake trout throughout the water column, primarily near the bottom using downriggers. A few reports indicated anglers caught lake trout and coho salmon off the lower breakwall early in the morning and near sunset. Anglers trolling the river mouths near Lower Harbor caught decent numbers of coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Brown trout and coho salmon were caught in both the Chocolay River and Carp River. Fish numbers increased with cooler evening temperatures.

Manistique: Anglers reported Chinook salmon and pink salmon in the river. Anglers reported having the most success using skein, though some anglers had success using spinners and shallow-diving crankbaits. Orange, chartreuse, and pink were popular lure colors. The best success occurred at night and early in the morning.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported fair to good fishing, with catches consisting primarily of coho salmon and splake while trolling near river mouths, along with a few brown trout. Shore anglers reported that the bite picked up, with many anglers successfully catching coho salmon and splake. Anglers jigging for lake trout and lake whitefish reported a slow bite.

Black River Harbor: Angling effort from the harbor was light over the past week. Inclement weather limited lake access. When weather permitted, anglers reported mixed catches of brown trout, steelhead, coho salmon, and lake trout in low numbers. These fish were caught by anglers trolling in depths of 30 to 150 feet of water.

Grand Marais: Shore anglers caught coho salmon and rainbow trout at the mouth of the Sucker River. Fishing with spawn and casting spoons brought success. Boat anglers did well jigging for lake trout.

Au Train: The tribal nets were removed, opening the Flats northwest of Au Train Island toward Five Mile Point for lake trout fishing. The Wood Island Reef and areas northwest of Au Train Island out toward the Laughing Whitefish River also remained available for lake trout fishing, while Au Train Bay to the Laughing Whitefish River was open for salmon, brown trout, and steelhead.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported fair fishing for lake trout when trolling spoons and flasher/fly rigs around structure in 50 to 100 feet of water. Anglers reported a few coho salmon, but in very low numbers. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite when using natural presentations, with most fish caught in 80 to 120 feet of water.

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