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5/18/2001
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Article/Press
Release
FALL
2001 HUNT REGULATIONS APPROVED BY NRC
News from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
LANSING—The
Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) today approved
regulations for the 2001 fall hunting seasons for white-tailed deer,
elk and wild turkey.
“The
Commission is very pleased with the DNR Wildlife Division’s work
on these regulation changes,” said NRC Chairman Keith Charters.
“These recommendations are the culmination of careful research and
scientific management.”
The
NRC actions include:
Fall
Wild Turkey Regulations: Following field research showing strong
population growth in the southern and western regions and limited
growth in the northeast portion of the Lower Peninsula, the NRC
approved a fall wild turkey hunt, opening 12 units, comprising
approximately 27, 329 square miles. The regulations also include one
new unit that encompasses Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties, and
reduced hunting in one Northeast Michigan unit. DNR Director K. L.
Cool will announce specific season season dates and quota
recommendations in June.
Elk
Hunting Dates and Management Units: The NRC approved dates for three
elk hunting seasons. The first season is split into two hunt
periods, Aug. 25-29 and Sept. 19-23. The second season will be held
Dec. 4-11. If harvest objectives are not met during the first two
seasons, a special third season will be held Jan. 19-24, 2002, to
help the DNR achieve its management objective to have between 800
and 900 elk in the winter herd. The NRC also approved changes in the
boundaries of the two elk management units to ensure the proper
harvest of animals on the east and west sides of the range. The
harvest allotment in the area east of M-33 has been increased in
response to a TB positive elk taken in Montmorency County last
December.
Deer
Hunting Regulations: The NRC approved increased deer hunting
opportunities on private lands. Early and late antlerless seasons
now include any county having one or more confirmed bovine TB
positive deer. A September season on private land in part of the U.P.
is established, and the special “youth” deer season will allow
12- and 13-year-old archery hunters to participate. Antlerless deer
hunters are now allowed to tag a male antlerless deer with an
antlered license. The Commission also approved language allowing
increased deer management assistance permits for those areas with
excess deer on private property.Click here for the conservation
order.
Deer
Management Units: The NRC approved new deer management units
statewide in an effort to simplify boundaries and help meet
ecosystem management objectives. These management units are used to
define harvest quotas and other deer management functions.
Details
on the regulation changes listed above, as well as information on
other NRC actions, can be found by clicking here. All aspects of the
new fall hunt period regulations, including hunt unit maps, are
available. The information also is available from the DNR Wildlife
Division at 517-373-1263, or at local DNR offices and license agents
statewide.
Finally,
the NRC today continued its discussion regarding the use of
crossbows for hunting in Michigan. Charters said the Commission
expects to act on the proposal at the June 7-8 meeting in Lansing.
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