April NRC Recap: Elk Season Dates Set

Justin Tomei • April 14, 2022

At the April Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting, commissioners passed a single Wildlife Conservation Order related to elk.

The order, passed unanimously, sets elk season dates for the 2022, 2023 season and removes language allowing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to hold a January hunt. Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) has no position on this removal of language. 

DNR Director Dan Eichinger gave a brief update on the Governor’s executive budget proposal, including a number of generational investments. He noted the governor’s signing of a supplemental budget appropriation providing critical and unprecedented spending in Michigan’s parks and public lands.

Commissioners also heard for information Fisheries Order 253.22A which lowers lake trout and splake daily bag limit from three fish to two in combination for the region MH-1.  Dr. Seth Herbst of the Fisheries Division presented the order , the history and alternative regulations that could be considered. This change is born from overharvesting by recreational anglers under the 2000 consent decree. This order will be up for action at the May meeting. 

Commissioners asked Herbst about the department’s ability to  manage MH-1 and MH-2 as a single unit. Recreational harvest in MH-2 is well below the maximum under the consent decree and increasing the harvest limit in MH-2 is “unlikely” to cause an over harvest in the unit.

Commissioner Baird also asked for the department to prepare an amendment to the fisheries order raising the bag limit in MH-2 from three fish to four fish in addition to the reduction in MH-1.

DNR Director Dan Eichinger indicated he will sign a number of land transactions. MUCC only takes positions on land transactions in excess of 80 acres. Transaction case number 20190202 trades 520 privately owned acres, for 520 state-owned acres, the only transaction on the agenda greater than 80 acres. The state land currently has no legal easement and the private land would extend public access to existing state land. MUCC supports this transaction.

The NRC meeting was preceded by a wildlife committee meeting which consisted of various presentations by department staff. 

Dr. Megan Moriarty was introduced as the new Wildlife Division Veterinarian. Dr. Moriarty comes to the department from California, and has a “plethora of experience” according to Wildlife Division Chief Jared Duquette. Dr. Moriarty brings a diverse background to the department and is excited to work within the division’s new “one health” direction.

Committee members saw a presentation on Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Surveillance Update from Dr. Norah Wineland, MDARD and Dr. Megan Moriarty, DNR and Emily Sewell, DNR. TB is a one health issue according to the department because it affects animal health, human health, and environmental health. 

2021 TB Surveillance consisted of deer check stations and 24 hour drop boxes. Efforts were targeted in the Northeastern Lower Peninsula. Last year was the first time the department worked with deer processors to collect heads. Processors were reimbursed for their time.

Of the 11,791 deer tested in 2021, 18 were positive for bovine tuberculosis. That brings the total positive since the program began in 1995 to 967 of 334,090 tested. A TB vaccine for free ranging whitetailed deer is currently being tested in the field, currently trying different methods for delivery of the vaccine, Dr. Moriarty has no timeline available for further development of this vaccine. 

Following the TB update, Scott Whitcomb from DNR Executive Division and Melinda Cosgrove from Wildlife Division gave an update on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance . In 2021, the department tested more than 7,000 deer —  a substantial increase from 2020.

Scott Whitcomb highlighted a department plan for rotating surveillance of free-ranging deer. In the upcoming phase two, effort will focus largely on the thumb as new territory. The plan will keep moving north, with the Upper Peninsula coming in year five. After completion of the fifth year, the department will reassess but current intent is to start a similar rotational surveillance plan over.

The last presentation to the wildlife committee is a deer regulation update by Chad Stewart of Wildlife Division. Deer harvest peaked in the late 1990s with over 600,000 deer. We are still well below that in terms of annual harvest and it is not a situation that the department views as favorable or even achievable. 

Stewart made it clear that the department’s management plans and goals will not, as critics claim, eliminate the white-tailed deer from the Michigan landscape. 

The next meeting of the NRC will be at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville on May 12.

MUCC streams and covers NRC meetings at no cost to the public. Please consider joining MUCC to help support our conservation efforts: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC

Recent Posts

New Partnership: Certified Wildlife Habitat with National Wildlife Federation

By Olivia Triltsch • October 23, 2025
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to bring the Certified Wildlife Habitat ™ program to communities across Michigan. This collaboration connects MUCC’s long-standing commitment to conservation with NWF’s national effort to create, restore, and certify habitats that provide food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Together, the organizations aim to inspire individuals, schools, and communities to take action in their own backyards to support native species. Through this initiative, MUCC will help expand awareness of the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, integrate it into its volunteer network, and provide resources to landowners interested in enhancing habitat on their property. One of the greatest benefits for volunteers comes from the knowledge gained in understanding wildlife habitat enhancement, allowing for the application to private land habitat enhancement. In addition to this, much of the work we do for habitat can apply to a variety of species, from rabbits to wood ducks, even birds of prey. The partnership will also promote community engagement opportunities through educational events, workshops, and collaborative restoration projects. In coordination with efforts like the certified wildlife habitat, MUCC hopes to expand conservation efforts across Michigan. Our award-winning, statewide volunteer habitat program, On the Ground (OTG), works to conserve, protect, and enhance wildlife habitat. In 2025 alone, OTG worked with 739 volunteers across 27 habitat projects, from invasive species removal to river clean-ups. Through the hard work contributing over 2,900 volunteer hours, habitat stewards were able to improve 423 acres of land for wildlife conservation in Michigan. Although OTG projects are not active year-round, we encourage Michigan residents to continue land stewardship on both public and private lands. To qualify for certification through the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, a property must include: Three natural food sources One water source Two places for shelter Two places to raise young Two sustainable practices To determine if your habitat qualifies, visit the NWF website and take the habitat quiz or download the checklist. If your habitat needs native plants, check out Garden for Wildlife to find species native to your area. The $25 application fee includes a personalized paper certificate, a 1-year NWF membership, and the option to purchase lawn plaques and garden flags. Habitats located on school grounds do not have a fee to get certified, so check to see what you might need to qualify today. If you are interested in joining our On the Ground program for the 2026 season, stay connected through our Facebook , Instagram , and OTG webpage for upcoming events.

On the Ground Junior: Fall Event Recap

By Olivia Triltsch • October 16, 2025
In 2025, the On the Ground program conducted 8 junior projects with schools involving 316 students from across the state. From tree plantings to invasive species removal, these students worked to enhance 39.3 acres of public land after contributing over 200 volunteer hours. Visit our website to learn more information about our On the Ground program and On the Ground Junior . To wrap up the 2025 field season, the On the Ground program worked with two classrooms to enhance wildlife habitat and recreational access. Junior programs like these allow teachers to get their students out of the classroom and into hands-on learning about the importance of habitat work while meeting individuals in the field.

October NRC Recap

By Justin Tomei • October 9, 2025
The Natural Resources Commission met today, Thursday, October 9th for their October meeting. The commission reaffirmed its intent to allow for lethal year-round coyote management on public and private land via a unanimously passed resolution before passing fisheries orders, and tabling more for consideration in November. The commission passed Fisheries Orders 210.26 , and 254.25 before tabling 206.26, 219.26 , and 253.26 . Commissioner John Walters provided an amendment to the fisheries order to expand underwater spearfishing opportunities to most of the Great Lakes, allowing for some spatial closures for the protection of particularly sensitive areas. The commission took steps to make good on their promise to allow year-round coyote management, unanimously passing a resolution more clearly stating their intent and what the pending wildlife conservation order will look like. The next meeting is Thursday November 6 in Lansing.
More Posts