Michigan Mixed Bag: Sixth annual Joe Johnson Memorial Youth Pheasant Hunt on tap

Kalamazoo, Mich. — A youth pheasant hunt for ages 12-17 will be held Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Gordon Guyer-Augusta Creek State Wildlife Area in Kalamazoo County.

Hunter safety-certified youth hunters are invited to join this free pheasant hunt. Groups of two will hunt with a guide, dog, and dog handler. Pheasants will be planted for each group to hunt, and lunch will be provided.

Hunters should bring their base license, firearm and ammunition, hunter orange garments and a cooler for their harvested birds.

This pheasant hunt is held in honor of conservationist Joe Johnson, director of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary from 1985 to 2007 and a leader in many conservation efforts throughout Michigan, the Great Lakes and beyond.

There are limited spots available for this hunt. Register now to reserve a spot for your youth hunter.

Contact Wayne Block at (269) 578-3182 or PheasantsForever76@gmail.com for more info or visit https://pfqf.myeventscenter.comOutdoor

MORE COVERAGE FROM MICHIGAN OUTDOOR NEWS:

Michigan DNR staffers provide regional deer outlook

Observations: Will southern Michigan hunters heed the call to shoot more antlerless deer this season?

Michigan’s venison donation program works through changes

B&C Club Welcomes U.S. House Passage of Fix Our Forests Act

Missoula, Mont. — The Boone and Crockett Club welcomed recent action by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 8790) by a bipartisan vote of 268-151.

“The Boone and Crockett Club applauds bipartisan passage of the Fix Our Forests Act in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Tony A. Schoonen, B&C Club chief executive officer. “This legislation would allow the U.S. Forest Service to accelerate active forest management on our national forests – reducing the risk of severe wildfires, improving big-game habitat, and creating jobs in rural communities. Active forest management such as harvesting trees, thinning dead and dying trees, creating fuel breaks, prescribed and managed burns, and creating defensible spaces are all effective tools to reduce wildfire threats and improve wildlife habitat.”

Help Guide Future Planning at Keweenaw Point and Fort Wilkins State Park

Keweenaw County, Mich. — The Michigan DNR is seeking public input on two new general management plans in the Keweenaw Peninsula. One is for Keweenaw Point state-managed lands and the other is for Fort Wilkins Historic State Park in Keweenaw County.

Feedback collected will help shape the plans that help protect the natural communities, historical significance and recreational value of both these locations.

The Keweenaw Point lands, comprised of current and future state-managed lands at the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, include DNR-managed state forest lands and a portion of The Nature Conservancy-owned Keweenaw Heartlands. Together, the lands would comprise nearly 20,000 acres and be managed by the DNR as one unit.

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is set along Lake Superior and features a modern campground, trails, a historical fort with a living-history program, two 1860s lighthouses and much more.

People are encouraged to participate in online surveys, available through Nov. 24. An in-person public meeting will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Grant Township Hall, 220 Gratiot St., Copper Harbor. A virtual public meeting will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. Pre-registration is required.

Links to the surveys, meeting registration, project information and more are available at Michigan.gov/ParkManagementPlans.

For more information, contact Bob Wild, park supervisor, at (906) 289-4215 or WildR@Michigan.gov.

Upper Tahquamenon Falls Viewing Areas to Remain Open During Construction

Newberry, Mich. — The Michigan DNR has announced a major enhancement to the popular upper falls day-use area at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

The upper falls will soon feature a new, fully accessible, 900-footlong boardwalk winding through an old-growth forest and providing views of the 200-foot-wide falls. The new structure will also feature benches.

Construction began Oct. 14 and is expected to be completed by Aug. 1, 2025.

All other upper falls viewing areas will remain open to visitors during construction, including the three viewing platforms situated above the falls.

The privately owned Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub also will remain open during construction.

DNR Urges Extreme Caution as Crews Battle Small Fires Across Upper Peninsula

Marquette, Mich. — Michigan DNR firefighters across the Upper Peninsula are reminding the public to be extra careful with fire as numerous small blazes have ignited across the region in recent days.

Lightning fires touched off during thunderstorms may smolder for a few days before being discovered. These fires are often located in remote locations that can make fighting the fires challenging.

Nine of the blazes are burning in Marquette County, with the largest being the so-called Section 27 North Fire, which has burned 9.8 acres north of the Dead River Basin and west of Marquette County Road 510.

Stay tuned to local media for updates as the situation unfolds.