Plus, there's plenty of winter hunting and trapping opportunities across the state!



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"News Digest – Week of Feb. 9, 2026"

about two dozen caught yellow perch laid out on the snow-covered, icy ground [ [link removed] ]

"Fish for yellow perch and many other species during Free Fishing Weekend [ [link removed] ] Feb. 14-15!"



Here are a few of this week's stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources: 


* Hunters Feeding Michigan program is all heart(s) for school science [ #link_16 ]
* Natural Resources Commission to meet Wednesday in Lansing [ #link_17 ]
* Enjoy hunting, trapping options now through March [ #link_2 ]
* Photo ambassador snapshot: Winter wonder [ #link_1 ]

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom [ [link removed] ].

*PHOTOS:* Larger, high-res versions of some of the photos used in this email (white-tailed deer [ [link removed] ] and hunters [ [link removed] ]) are available in the DNR's online image collection [ [link removed] ]. Others (fish on ice, students in class and state park ambassador snapshot) are available in this folder [ [link removed] ].

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Hunters Feeding Michigan program is all heart(s) for school science

teen boy in navy blue jacket and teen girl in navy blue scrubs, both wearing latex gloves, dissect a deer heart in a classroom

The DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program is sharing the love to support high school science education, recently teaming up with the Potter Park Zoo Animal Science and Zoo Management program in Lansing to provide hearts from donated deer to help students learn about anatomy.

Run through the Eaton Regional Education Service Agency – whose mission is to serve the community by providing and enhancing educational opportunities for students, families and educators – the zoo program includes students from 15 schools across four counties.

“The students had a great time, and they all agreed they felt like they had a better understanding of the anatomy of the heart because of dissecting the deer hearts. We are very thankful for the opportunity,” said Becky Morningstar, ERESA educator.

Select Hunters Feeding Michigan processors worked with hunters directly to collect hearts from donated deer to be used for this initiative. The DNR aims to expand this project to other classrooms in the state.

"This initiative wouldn't be possible without the generosity of hunters, program processors and science educators,” said Joe Presgrove, HFM program specialist. “This is another example of how we can utilize the donated deer outside of our typical Hunters Feeding Michigan venison donations. Hunters are conservationists and understand how important it is to provide opportunities like these to the next generation.”

Just last week, the DNR highlighted another unique program offshoot: the donation of deerskin gloves to emergency shelters [ [link removed] ] throughout the state.

Since 2007, Hunters Feeding Michigan has contributed more than 3.4 million servings of ground venison to those in need throughout the state. Each deer donated (at no cost to the hunter) will provide an estimated 160 high-protein, nutritious meals. Learn more at Michigan.gov/HuntersFeedingMichigan [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Joe Presgrove <[email protected]> at 517-643-3809.



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Natural Resources Commission to meet Wednesday in Lansing

A group of Michigan white-tailed deer are shown in wintertime.

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will meet Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Lansing. The DNR will livestream the meeting [ [link removed] ].

The day includes presentations of Distinguished Service, Lifesaving and Hunter Education Instructor awards, updates on furbearer regulations and furbearer/small game management seasons, a presentation on the history of bovine tuberculosis and a legislative update.

The day starts at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms M119-121 on the West Campus of Lansing Community College, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, in Lansing. See the draft meeting agenda [ [link removed] ] and upcoming 2024 meeting dates at Michigan.gov/NRC [ [link removed] ].

For more information about Wednesday's meeting, email [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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Enjoy hunting, trapping options now through March

Older man and younger boy, both in camo and hunter orange gear, stand in a snowy field looking ahead

If you or someone you know is hoping to squeeze in some cold-weather hunting and trapping, don't worry; February and March offer plenty of opportunities:


* Late goose seasons wrap up during the first half of February.
* Small game seasons for cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, fox and gray squirrel run now through March 31.
* Raccoon trapping season ends March 31.
* Badger, beaver, bobcat, muskrat, mink and otter trapping opportunities are available in some parts of the state. 

Check out this recent DNR hunting and trapping update [ [link removed] ] for more details on season dates, regulations and more. 



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Photo ambassador snapshot: Winter wonder
young child dressed in blue and black snow coat, pants and knit hat stands on a snowy shore, looking out at icy Lake Michigan

See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors [ [link removed] ] at Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]> at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Danielle Grandholm [ [link removed] ], for the Michigan DNR, at Van Buren State Park in Van Buren County.) 

*NOTE:* This picture is a good reminder that no matter how pretty or awe-inspiring winter ice may be, you can never be too cautious! If your plans involve being on near any frozen bodies of water, visit Michigan.gov/IceSafety [ [link removed] ] first for valuable information to keep you and others safe.

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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

Winter Free Fishing Weekend [ [link removed] ] is back: Enjoy Michigan's world-class fishing on both inland and Great Lakes waters Feb. 14-15. No license needed all weekend long!




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

Learn from the experts and get hands-on instruction during the Outdoor Skills Academy [ [link removed] ]'s upcoming ice fishing and snowshoe building classes.




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Show some love to state parks in southern Michigan: Find a nearby volunteer stewardship workday [ [link removed] ] and help protect parks' natural areas and ecosystems.

 




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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