Plus, check out a DNR shooting range before the start of firearm deer season.



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"News Digest - Week of Oct. 31, 2022
"

A dull orange sun sets on a shadowed landscape as the gnarled trunks of a tree curls toward the sun.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!



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


* Photo ambassador snapshot: Grand Haven glow [ #link_1 ]
* Comment on state forest road maps by Dec. 1 [ #link_16 ]
* Pitch in to restore natural areas; help feed hungry families [ #link_17 ]
* Pure Michigan Trail, Water Trail or Trail Town applications due Jan. 15 [ #link_2 ]

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

PHOTO FOLDER [ [link removed] ]: Larger, higher-res versions of the images used below, and others, are available in this folder.

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Photo ambassador snapshot: Grand Haven glow
A lighthouse and pier are backlit by the gradient red and oranges of a brilliant sunset as the shadows of three gulls fly overhead.

Want to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador Carolly Maiyo [ [link removed] ] at Grand Haven State Park in Ottawa County? Visit?Instagram.com/MiStateParks [ [link removed] ]?to explore photos and learn more about the photo ambassadors! For more on the photo ambassador program [ [link removed] ], call?Stephanie Yancer <[email protected]>?at 989-274-6182.

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Comment on state forest road maps by Dec. 1

A paved road winds through a dense forest.

Tall trees swishing by, the crackle-crunch of gravel roads under your tires, birdsong filtering through the canopy ? these are the sounds of Michigan?s forest roads.?

What noise could help improve forest roads? Your voice! Michigan?s state forest roads offer thousands of miles of adventure ? and these roads are yours to use and explore. As part of a yearly review process, public comments will be accepted through Dec. 1 on proposed changes to vehicle use on state forest roads.

?Your eyes in the field help inform our road review to protect natural resources and ensure safe recreational access,? said DNR Forest Resources Division Chief Jeff Stampfly.?

Proposed changes to road maps include:


* Adding roads that previously were unmapped.
* Removing roads that no longer exist.
* Closing or opening roads to conventional vehicle use.
* Closing or opening roads to off-road vehicle use.

Public input will be accepted online and via email. Comment on or view the locations of proposed changes on an interactive web map or printable PDF maps at Michigan.gov/ForestRoads [ [link removed] ] or send emails to [email protected] <[email protected]>.?

Comments also will be accepted at upcoming Michigan Natural Resources Commission meetings [ [link removed] ] in early 2023. State forest road proposals will be brought before the DNR director for information at the January meeting. At the February meeting, the DNR director is expected to make a formal decision on the proposed changes.?

New maps will go into effect and be published online April 1, 2023.

Questions about state forest roads? Contact Jason Caron <[email protected]>?at 906-235-4361.


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Pitch in to restore natural areas; help feed hungry families

Two adults and a child collect seeds from a field of tall grasses.

If you care about protecting, preserving and promoting Michigan?s natural and cultural resources, there are many ways to get involved in tending to them. Here are some opportunities coming up in November.

*Fight invasives, collect natives*

Several state parks in southern Michigan are hosting volunteer stewardship workdays. Volunteers are needed to help restore natural areas by removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems or collecting native wildflower and grass seeds. Workdays will take place:


* 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County).
* 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, and noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County).
* 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 6, at Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon County).
* ?9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 12, at Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County).
* 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 12, at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County).
* 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County).
* 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19, at Belle Isle Park (Wayne County).
* 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Ludington State Park (Mason County).
* 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 26, at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County).

More details about each workday and how to register can be found on the DNR volunteer events calendar [ [link removed] ].

*Donate a deer*

Hunters can help hungry families in their community by donating a deer to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger [ [link removed] ], an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that partners with the DNR to help connect donors, wild game processors and charities like food banks, pantries and shelters that help feed those in need. Hunters also can make a monetary donation to support venison processing when they buy a hunting license.

For more opportunities to volunteer, contribute and provide input, visit Michigan.gov/DNRVolunteers [ [link removed] ].


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Pure Michigan Trail, Water Trail or Trail Town applications due Jan. 15

Two young children, dressed in fall clothing and jackets and bike helmets, ride bikes away down a paved path, line by lush green trees

Each year, Pure Michigan and the DNR spotlight some of Michigan's best trail experiences through the Pure Michigan Trail, Water Trail and Trail Town program ? and it's time to submit your recommendations on deserving destinations.?

?In 2014, the Michigan Trailways Act was revised to give the DNR the ability to designate trails and towns with the Pure Michigan registered mark,? said Tim Novak, state trails coordinator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. ?We really want to elevate the state?s incredible array of trails, especially those that were developed and maintained by local governments, nonprofits, foundations and volunteers.?

Successful recipients will demonstrate quality trail or trail town experiences and access to clear information for users. Broad community support and a sustainable business, maintenance and marketing plan also must be established. Designations are reviewed against a set of standards and criteria, not by comparison to one another.

Several marketing advantages and Pure Michigan-branded signage come with the recognition.

?Michigan is known for having thousands of miles of hiking, biking, equestrian and kayaking trails, but the trails and communities that receive this designation are truly outstanding and embody what Pure Michigan is all about,? said David Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan. ?We are pleased to partner with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to honor Michigan?s exemplary trails and trail towns.?

Applications and required documentation are due Jan. 15. Get?Pure Michigan Trail and Trail Town [ [link removed] ]?details at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact Tim Novak <[email protected]> at 517-388-8347.


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THINGS TO DO [ [link removed] ]

There's still time before firearm deer season to sight your scope and practice your accuracy. Check the DNR's shooting ranges webpage [ [link removed] ] for?important updates [ [link removed] ], rules, range locations and more.?




BUY & APPLY [ [link removed] ]

It's bonfire season! Break out the flannel and cider, but be sure you know how to safely tend a fire [ [link removed] ], and have a burn permit [ [link removed] ] if you need one. Need wood? Get a fuelwood permit [ [link removed] ] while you're at it.




GET INVOLVED [ [link removed] ]

Whether you're out enjoying a Michigan trail, helping at a stewardship workday or just out and about, please?report any invasive species [ [link removed] ] you see ? you are the first line of defense.



Download the new Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app [ [link removed] ]
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