Public input sought on proposals



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"DNR News"



Sept. 22, 2025
Contact: Jeremy Wood <[email protected]>, 231-340-3770

DNR proposals would expand deer hunt, improve forest diversity on Beaver Island

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites public comment on proposals to expand the deer hunting season on Beaver Island and to improve the island's forest diversity.

*Proposal: Expand deer hunting season on Beaver Island*

a mature tan and white white-tailed deer with large, rounded, upright ears stands in a dark-green forest, brightly backlit.

Deer hunters on Beaver Island would have an additional 20 days of antlerless-only hunting under a DNR proposal to help simplify hunting regulations and control the island’s deer population.

The proposal would add both early and late antlerless firearm deer seasons for the 2026-2028 hunting seasons. 

Public comment on the proposal can be submitted through Oct. 31 to DNR wildlife biologist Jeremy Wood at [email protected] <[email protected]?subject=Beaver%20Island%20Deer%20Proposal>. In the email subject line, please indicate “Beaver Island Deer Proposal.” A summary of public input will be provided to the Natural Resources Commission, which has final authority for establishing deer hunting regulations.

Currently, the DNR allows the following deer hunting seasons on the island: Liberty Hunt, early and late archery segments, Independence Hunt, regular firearm and muzzleloader seasons.

Adding early and late antlerless firearm seasons would simplify regulations across the Beaver Island Archipelago and the remainder of mainland Charlevoix County.

The change would also address concerns about elevated deer densities on Beaver Island, which is impacting sensitive vegetation and limiting forest regeneration.



*Proposal: Improve forest diversity on Beaver Island*

The DNR is proposing multiple projects to improve forest diversity and wildlife habitat on about 240 acres of state-managed land on Beaver Island.

The plan consists of seven timber harvesting projects on both the east and west side of the island, all within the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area. The harvests would regenerate deciduous species such as aspen, birch and maple, improving age class diversity of the forest as well as wildlife habitat.

The proposals address outcomes for forest management identified in the Beaver Island implementation plan [ [link removed] ], which was developed in collaboration with the Northern Lake Michigan Islands Collaborative [ [link removed] ] and finalized in May 2022.

The public can submit comments about the proposals online via the MI State Forest Application [ [link removed] ] or by contacting DNR wildlife biologist Jeremy Wood at [email protected] <[email protected]?subject=Beaver%20Island%20Forest%20Proposals> until Oct. 15. In the email subject line, please indicate “Beaver Island Forest Proposals.”

In addition, an open house will be held from 3-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at the Beaver Island Community Center, 26215 Main St. Attendees can learn more about the forest management proposals, make comments and ask questions of DNR staff.  


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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources · Deborah A. Stabenow Building, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 · 1-800-439-1420