Catch-and-keep bass season is still a ways off in Michigan, but the best fishing of the year may be right now.
“No doubt about it,” said Ben Nielsen, who hosted me on his bass boat on Hardy Dam Pond in mid-April. “Fish are coming out of their winter pattern, they’re hungry, their metabolism is speeding up, they’re going to be spawning soon, and they’re putting on the feedbag.”
In 2001, federal wildlife officials changed the framework for woodcock hunting, shortening the season from 60 days to 45 days and mandating that the Michigan season open no sooner than the Saturday closest to Sept. 22. Previously, woodcock season opened when most of the other small game seasons – rabbit, squirrel and ruffed grouse – opened on Sept. 15.
Many grouse hunters were unhappy with the woodcock season opening later than grouse because both birds are often found in the same habitat and are generally hunted at the same time.
Michigan DNR does not recommend change to woodcock opening day Read More »
For the first time since the Michigan Department of Natural Resources began requiring registration of fishing tournaments in 2015, the number of permitted bass fishing competitions has declined. Tournament directors reported 3,041 scheduled events in 2024, down from 3,088 in 2023, or about 1.3%.
A total of 572 events were either cancelled or deleted.
Number of Michigan bass tournaments dips in 2024 Read More »
If you drive the backroads of southern Michigan, you likely notice some grass fires or the charred results of recent prescribed burns in uninhabited swatches across the landscape. And though it’s wildfire season, it’s a fair bet they are the result of deliberately set burns.
“Native prairies of North America burned regularly, either naturally or we’re finding out native Americans burned them intentionally,” said Todd Losee, an environmental consultant who spent a recent Saturday burning part of his prairie as well parts of two his buddies’ properties.
Bob Gwizdz: Examining the benefits of spring burns for native grasses Read More »
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has changed its philosophy about the purpose of the fall turkey season and has proposed regulation changes that emphasize recreational opportunity over management objectives.
“We took a look at the whole picture and Michigan has historically claimed that fall season is about population management and nuisance control,” said Adam Bump, the upland bird specialist with the DNR’s Wildlife Division.
Michigan NRC considering changes to state’s fall wild turkey hunt Read More »
The early-April ice storm that caused extensive timber damage, power outages, and blocked miles of road in 12 northern Michigan counties almost certainly killed some wildlife. But in the long run, it’ll likely have beneficial effects, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The downed timber will cause regeneration of the forest, says Scott Eggeman, the DNR’s field operations manager for the Gaylord, Pigeon River Country, and Atlanta management units.
Late ice storm should benefit Michigan wildlife in long run Read More »
It might have gone relatively unnoticed by a lot of folks, but the recent announcement that Rebecca Humphries has been appointed to the Natural Resources Commission can only be construed as good news for natural resources policy in Michigan.
I can’t think of a better candidate as Humphries brings a wealth of knowledge as well as a lifetime of service to the board that makes policy decisions for the Department of Natural Resources.
Back in the day, when I was a full-time outdoor scribe and was out there as many days as not, I used to joke that ice fishing was the price I had to pay to have my job the rest of the year.
It wasn’t because I don’t like it, but of my top 10 outdoor pastimes, ice fishing is No. 11. Part of what doesn’t especially excite me about ice fishing is that by mid-winter, you’re not really outdoors anymore, you’re in a shack or a tent.
Bob Gwizdz: What’s all the excitement about ice fishing? Read More »
The battle over tribal fishing rights resulting from the Treaty of 1836 appears to finally be over as the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has dismissed a pair of lawsuits challenging the decree.
The rules governing tribal fishing on the Great Lakes have been in effect since 2023 despite lawsuits filed by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Coalition to Protect Michigan Resources, a group of sport fishing organizations, which were not happy with the agreement worked out by the state of Michigan, the U.S. government, and the remaining tribes.
Court dismisses challenges over tribal fishing rights in Michigan’s Great Lakes Read More »
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