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Outdoors

Spark Grants program to benefit outdoor recreation

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will offer a 45-minute webinar at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time Friday on the new Spark Grants program for outdoor public recreation projects. Eligible applicants can include regional or statewide organizations, units of government or public authorities and federally designated tribes. Up to $15 million is available in the first round of the program that’s aimed at helping local communities renovate or redevelop public outdoor recreation. Preregistration is needed for the free webinar. For more go to the Michigan Spark ...

Grants available for fisheries projects, assessments

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering over $1.6 million in funding for a variety of activities tied to improving state fisheries and aquatic resources, including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies and access to ...

Funds available to improve Michigan forest habitat

EAST LANSING­ — A partnership including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Bird Conservancy is offering financial assistance to forest owners in the Upper Peninsula to improve habitat for at-risk bird species and other wildlife. Private forest owners can submit applications to their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office. The Improving Forest Health for At-Risk Wildlife Resources Partnership was created through the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The funding is intended to create young forest habitat for the benefit of the ...

Whitmer vetoes bill that sought to end mandatory reporting of deer harvests

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed a House bill that removed the authority of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to require online reporting of deer harvests within 72 hours of bagging a deer. Whitmer and her administration originally supported House Bill 6354, but ...

Spotted fawn will need some luck

Watching the year’s young fawns roam around the yard normally is among the many delights of life on Six Mile Lake. But not in early October. Not seeing one this small, with spots still vivid, while all other deer around it sported the solid gray coats better suited for the coming ...

Michigan has GEMS for grouse

IRON MOUNTAIN — Hunters are reminded that Michigan offers 13 grouse enhanced management sites across the Upper Peninsula, which are large blocks of land with young forests open to hunting. GEMS feature accessible walking trails. They also have parking lots with local area information available. Nearest locations include Gold Mine, 10 miles north of Iron River; Ralph in northern Dickinson County; and Bill Rollo Memorial, about 7 miles south of Gwinn. More information is available at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hunting/where. Locally, grouse hunters were reporting good ...