Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

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Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Victor Skinner

Purple paint law is back in Michigan’s legislative spotlight

Michigan lawmakers are considering legislation to allow purple paint to signify no trespassing on private property, though the Department of Natural Resources has opposed the idea in the past.
Kalamazoo Democratic Rep. Julie Rogers partnered with Hancock Republican Rep. Greg Markkanen earlier this year to introduce House bills 5561 and 5562, which would add purple paint marks on trees or posts as an option to signify no trespassing.

Purple paint law is back in Michigan’s legislative spotlight Read More »

Dam removal, repairs benefitting brook trout nearly complete on Michigan’s Boardman River

A 15-year, $27 million Boardman Ottaway River Reborn project that removed three dams south of Traverse City has been a boon for brook trout, and plans for a fourth dam will bring the world’s first fish passage research facility to the waterway.
Kimberly Balke, program director for the Conservation Resource Alliance, outlined how the dam removals completed between 2012 and 2018 transformed the Boardman River, known as the Ottaway by American Indians, during a presentation to the Natural Resources Commission during a May meeting in Traverse City.

Dam removal, repairs benefitting brook trout nearly complete on Michigan’s Boardman River Read More »

Michigan legislation would provide free hunting, fishing licenses to first responders and corrections officers

An Upper Peninsula lawmaker and many colleagues in the Michigan House want to offer free hunting and fishing licenses to first responders and corrections officers, though they face concerns about revenue loss.
Cedar River Republican state Rep. Dave Prestin introduced House bills 5558-60 alongside Jackson Republican Rep. Kathy Schmaltz and Detroit Democratic Rep. Tyrone Carter earlier this year to offer EMS personnel, firefighters, law enforcement, and corrections officers free licenses. The legislation has 16 other co-sponsors.

Michigan legislation would provide free hunting, fishing licenses to first responders and corrections officers Read More »

Sharecropping continues on state land in Michigan; here’s how it works for wildlife

Across Michigan, farmers are prepping fields and wetlands on state game and parks and recreation areas through partnerships with Department of Natural Resources managers that benefit both sides.
The sharecropping agreements allow farmers to lease lands for crops in exchange for leaving some for wildlife forage and cover for hunters, or to help prepare areas to return to native grassland habitats. And while the DNR is working to shift those state-owned agricultural lands to native habitat on parks and recreation properties, state game area managers plan to continue to leverage the agreements for a variety of objectives well into the future.

Sharecropping continues on state land in Michigan; here’s how it works for wildlife Read More »

Michigan DNR discards 12,000 pounds of diseased or metal-tainted venison in 2023

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has discarded more than 12,000 pounds of donated venison since last season as a result of tests that have uncovered metal fragments and chronic wasting disease.
In August of 2023, DNR officials began testing samples of deer submitted to the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program from counties with known CWD and bovine tuberculosis outbreaks. Weeks later, additional sampling of deer donated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services disease management program revealed metal fragments, Dean Hall, executive director for Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger, told Michigan Outdoor News.

Michigan DNR discards 12,000 pounds of diseased or metal-tainted venison in 2023 Read More »

No major changes for Michigan’s 2024 elk season

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission at its meeting earlier this month formally approved elk season lengths and quotas for the next two years that largely are unchanged from recent seasons.
The biggest change for the 2024-25 elk seasons will be a return to elk check stations following several years of field checks during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

No major changes for Michigan’s 2024 elk season Read More »

Michigan Natural Resources Commission sued over vote on coyote season

Two conservation groups are suing the Michigan Natural Resources Commission over its March decision to close coyote hunting during the whelping season, alleging the change violates Proposal G.
The Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association filed a lawsuit in Mackinac County Circuit Court on March 27 to challenge the commission’s 4-2 vote on March 14 to approve Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment 1. Michigan United Conservation Clubs filed a separate lawsuit over the same issue the next day in Ingham County.

Michigan Natural Resources Commission sued over vote on coyote season Read More »

Expanded use of trail cameras making a big difference for Michigan wildlife researchers

After about two decades using trail cameras to supplement wildlife studies in the Upper Peninsula, the Michigan DNR is leveraging artificial intelligence to take research to the next level.
Following a test run in 2022, the DNR is deploying a new method of estimating wolf and deer abundance with 1,200 trail cameras distributed across the UP that will bring management benefits for other species, as well.

Expanded use of trail cameras making a big difference for Michigan wildlife researchers Read More »

Michigan’s hunting, fishing license sales increased in 2023

Michigan hunting and fishing license sales were up across most categories and demographics in 2023, with total unique customers swelling by 2.24% over 2022.
Dustin Isenhoff, manager with the Michigan DNR, recently presented the numbers to the Natural Resources Commission.
“This year, almost every category in hunt and fish is up compared to last year,” Isenhoff told Michigan Outdoor News.

Michigan’s hunting, fishing license sales increased in 2023 Read More »

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