Funds ready for Upper Peninsula Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership grants

Lansing — The application period for the Upper Peninsula’s Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative competitive grant program is now open.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources initiative is a cooperative grant program designed to enhance deer habitat on private lands in the U.P.

“There are three primary goals applicants should strive to meet,” said Bill Scullon, DNR field operations manager and administrator for the grant initiative. “The projects should produce tangible deer habitat improvements, build longterm partnerships between the DNR and outside organizations and showcase the benefits to the public.”

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The initiative is supported by the state’s Deer Range Improvement Program (DRIP), which is funded by a portion of deer hunting license revenue.

“This important grant program has been operating in Michigan for more than 15 years now,” said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer. “Over that time, grant recipients have created almost 150 projects across portions of nearly all 15 Upper Peninsula counties, improving thousands of acres of deer habitat.”

The DNR has announced a March 14 deadline to apply for a total of $100,000 in UP deer habitat improvement grant funding for 2025. Scullon said the maximum amount of individual grants is $15,000 and the minimum is $2,000.

“These projects are prime examples of how conservation minded partners and landowners can come together to enhance deer habitat all across the UP,” Scullon said.

Project applications must be received electronically or postmarked by Friday, March 14 and successful applicants will be notified by Friday, April 4.

The complete grant application package is available on the DNR website at Michigan.gov/DNR-Grants.

For more information or questions regarding eligibility, contact Bill Scullon at (906) 250-6781 or ScullonH@michigan.gov.