DNR News Digest – Week of Oct. 12, 2020

by | Oct 14, 2020 | Local News, Recreation, Uncategorized

DNR News: Independence Hunt opener, interactive trails map, grouse/pheasant updates

 

News Digest – Week of Oct. 12, 2020

pheasant header

Many hunters are eager to take part in the state’s pheasant seasons.
Some of the items in this week’s news digest reflect the impact of COVID-19 and how the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is adapting to meet customers’ needs. Public health and safety are our biggest priorities, and we will continue to share news and information about the safest, and sometimes new, ways to enjoy our state’s natural and cultural resources.

Follow our COVID-19 response page for FAQs and updates on facilities and reopening dates. For the latest public health guidelines and news, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Here’s a look at some of this week’s stories from the Department of Natural Resources:

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

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of the images used below, and additional ones, are available in this folder.

Independence Hunt opens Thursday

deerMichigan’s Independence Hunt, which offers firearm deer hunting for people with disabilities, is an excellent opportunity to get out and enjoy the sport. It’s open statewide on private lands Oct. 15-18. Some public lands, requiring an access permit, also are open to the hunt.

This year, the Independence Hunt is open to hunters who are deaf, a qualification that was added at the request of the DNR Accessibility Advisory Council. A list of qualifying criteria for the hunt is available in the 2020 Hunting Digest or at Michigan.gov/DNRAccessibility.

Valid licenses for this hunt include a deer, deer combo, or antlerless deer license or a deer management assistance permit. Antler point restrictions do not apply. This hunt’s bag limit is one deer. Hunters with disabilities may bait through Oct. 18. All bait must be removed from the bait site by the final day of the season.

Additional regulations for all seasons can be found in the 2020 Hunting Digest or at Michigan.gov/Deer.

Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors is a proud partner of the Independence Hunt. Learn more about the organization at MiOFO.org or by calling 734-612-6677.

All hunters participating in the Independence Hunt are required to wear hunter orange. Hunters of all ages and experience levels are urged to put safety first. Find hunting safety tips and resources at Michigan.gov/HuntingSafety.

Some locations offer track chairs, elevated hunting blinds or hunting blinds equipped with adaptive gear. Learn about additional outdoor recreation opportunities at Michigan.gov/DNRAccessibility.

Questions? Contact [email protected].

MPHI releases paused; sharp-tailed grouse, pheasant seasons open

pheasantLast year, the Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 618, which appropriated $260,000 from the General Fund to the DNR for a pheasant release program during fall 2019 and 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated budget reductions for fiscal year 2020, no Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative releases of pheasants are taking place this fall.

Plenty of hunting is underway, though, starting with sharp-tailed grouse season, open now through Oct. 31 in Zone 1 (parts of Chippewa and Mackinac counties). The bag limit for sharp-tailed grouse is two birds daily and six per season. See the Hunting Digest for more info on the sharp-tailed grouse management unit and hunting regulations

Additionally, the Upper Peninsula pheasant season is open through Oct. 31. The Zone 1 pheasant management unit includes all of Menominee County and portions of Delta, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties. To find additional season dates and bag limits, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting.

Before heading into the woods, hunters need a base license and a free pheasant/sharp-tailed grouse endorsement. Anyone hunting pheasants or sharp-tailed grouse will need this endorsement, except those hunting only on hunting preserves. Get licenses and endorsements online through eLicense or anywhere licenses are sold.

Need more information? Visit Michigan.gov/Hunting or email DNR Wildlife Division.

Use interactive map to find nearby nonmotorized trails

equestrianSometimes you just need to hit the trails – for a run, a ride or a mental or physical reset. No matter how Michigan’s trails call to you, the DNR wants to make it easy to find perfect trail escapes all over the state.

The department manages more than 4,600 miles of nonmotorized trails, offering plenty of opportunities for horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, paddling and other exploring. Next time you’re looking for a place to lace up your shoes, drop in a kayak or saddle up your horse, check out the DNR’s interactive map of nonmotorized trails. With the map you can:

  • Search for a trail by name or location.
  • Find maps, trailheads, campgrounds and other amenities.
  • Turn layers (fat-tire biking, water trails, linear trails, etc.) on and off to find specific resources.
  • See satellite imagery, roads and topography.

Learn more about this map and all DNR-managed trail resources at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails.

Questions? Contact Dakota Hewlett at 517-331-0280.

THINGS TO DO

The new Holly Oaks ORV Park in southeast Michigan opened last month. Are you ready to check out the new trails and terrain? Make sure you have an ORV license and trail permit before you go.

BUY & APPLY

Last year, nearly 83,000 pounds of venison were distributed to families in need thanks to hunters! You can help, too, by donating to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger when buying your hunting license.

GET INVOLVED

Love spending time in Michigan’s forests? Here’s your chance to have a say in how we keep them thriving! Take this survey (available until Oct. 23) to help guide our 10-year state forest management plan.
DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
Lieutenant Governor Statement on 2020 Census Deadline 

Lieutenant Governor Statement on 2020 Census Deadline 

by | Oct 14, 2020 | Regional News, Uncategorized

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 14, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

 

Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist II Statement on the 2020 Census Deadline 

 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II issued the following statement on the 2020 Census, following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the federal government to end the count early on Oct. 15:

 

“Michiganders cannot afford to be shortchanged in the 2020 Census. The national count is used to determine where to allocate resources for education, job training, infrastructure, health care, and more for the next 10 years, and an incomplete count will have a disproportionate impact on our most vulnerable communities and the institutions that serve them. In light of the many obstacles the 2020 Census has faced during the pandemic, I am calling on the federal government and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to continue the 2020 Census to its original deadline of Oct. 31. These extra days will give us the needed opportunity to ensure all of our residents can be counted – because every Michigander counts.”
time to swap your old card for a new sticker

time to swap your old card for a new sticker

by | Oct 13, 2020 | Uncategorized

Mackinac Bridge Banner
 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

 

CONTACT: Kim Nowack, Mackinac Bridge Authority, 906-643-7600

 

MacPass account holders: time to swap your old card for a new sticker

 

October 13, 2020 — The MacPass toll cards were good, but the new windshield-mounted stickers are better. That’s why the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) is retiring the old cards and urging MacPass account holders to make the switch before the end of the year.

               The stickers, which are automatically scanned when drivers pull up to the toll booth, were introduced in September 2019 as part of the MBA’s new toll software system. MacPass account holders along with new customers have been rapidly switching from the MacPass cards to the new stickers, and more customers are paying with the stickers now than cards. Cards will no longer work after Dec. 31.

               “We continue to hear from our customers who love the new system and the convenience of not needing to stop and roll down their window to scan their MacPass card,” said MBA Executive Secretary Kim Nowack. “During the pandemic, they’ve also appreciated the quick MacPass transaction time and touch-free toll paying.”

               The stickers, which can be linked to a single account for multiple vehicles, cost $1 each. Existing customers do not need to open a new account; they can add a sticker tag to their existing MacPass account.

               Customers can obtain the sticker tags in the MBA administration building at the north end of the bridge around the clock, seven days a week. They will need to provide the license plate number, make, model, color, and year of each vehicle that will be linked to the account, though new vehicles can be added later. MacPass account holders can also order new sticker tags online by logging into their account at https://MacPass.MackinacBridge.org (instructions at www.MackinacBridge.org/MacPass). 

               New passenger vehicle MacPass accounts require an initial deposit of $80 and a $7 one-time set-up fee; commercial accounts require a $200 deposit and the same $7 one-time set-up fee.

               MacPass customers can use toll lanes designated for MacPass by the overhead signs, or any open lane. Drivers should still watch for toll collectors and customers walking across lanes.

               Though the MacPass is not exclusively for commuter customers, MacPass holders with passenger vehicles can still qualify for the commuter discount toll if they make both a northbound and southbound trip within 36 hours. The toll will be $4 for the first trip but customers will not be charged for the return trip if completed within 36 hours.

               MacPass is the only tolling transponder currently in use at the Mackinac Bridge; I-Pass, E-ZPass, SunPass, etc., though similar, are not accepted. Surveys have shown that few Mackinac Bridge customers currently use other tolling transponders.

               The MBA still accepts cash, credit and debit cards for tolls. Other payment types on phones, including Google Pay and Apple Pay, also are accepted.

LARA Urge Licensees to Beware of Phishing Emails

LARA Urge Licensees to Beware of Phishing Emails

by | Oct 13, 2020 | Uncategorized

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contacts:

Ryan Jarvi
(c) 517-599-2746

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020

AG, LARA Urge Licensees to Beware of Phishing Emails

LANSING – To ensure Michiganders are aware of the continued attempts to obtain their personal information, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is drawing attention to an urgent alert issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). This alert warns residents to beware of phishing emails sent to Michigan licensees by scammers impersonating LARA officials.

Michigan licensees refers to anyone who holds a professional license issued by LARA, such as those under the Public Health Code, the Occupational Code and other relevant statutes.

State of Michigan licensees have reported receiving fraudulent emails similar to the example linked here with numerous grammatical errors.

“Scammers will stop at nothing to cheat someone out of their personal information and hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Nessel. “My office provides a library of resources for Michiganders to ensure they know how to spot and stop attempts to rob them of their personal information. We all must look for warning signs such as misspelled words, unrecognizable email addresses and suspicious links in the emails we receive.”

Attorney General Nessel wants consumers to keep the following in mind:

  • Misspelled words or poor grammar in the subject line or body of the email are red flags identifying a scam.
  • The name listed on the “from” line is not always an indication of who is emailing you. Pay close attention to the actual email address. If that email address doesn’t match up with what you know to be correct or is abnormally long, it’s likely a phishing scam.
  • Always be cautious of any unsolicited requests for any personal information. LARA will not contact you directly asking for personal information.
  • Do not respond to, or open hyperlinks in email or text messages about validating your personal data.

Remember: Do not reply to any suspicious emails and never provide personal information. If personal information is compromised, it may be used to commit identity theft or in other fraud schemes.

More details on how Michiganders can protect their personal information are available on the Consumer Protection Team’s webpage.