>>> HI, I'M BOB GARNER AND WELCOME TO ASK THE DNR ON PUBLIC MEDIA.

I ALWAYS WANT TO SAY PUBLIC TV, BUT PUBLIC MEDIA.

TONIGHT WE'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS AND ASK THEM TO OUR EXPERTS WHO ARE HERE.

AND THAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

♪ ♪ >>> WELL, WELCOME BACK.

BY THE WAY, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION TO CALL AND ASK OUR EXPERTS, THERE'S THE NUMBER.

AND YOU CAN CALL IT AT ANY TIME HERE.

WE'VE GOT THREE PEOPLE ANSWERING THE PHONES OUT IN ANOTHER ROOM HERE.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT CHAD STEWART IS HERE WHO IS REALLY THE SUPREMEO BIG GAME BIOLOGIST FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

AND JUST A PLEASURE TO BE WITH.

AND OF COURSE, YOU RECOGNIZE JOE AND LIEUTENANT JOE MONTHLY NAR IS HERE FROM THE CADILLAC AND TRAVERSE CITY OFFICE.

HE SERVICES BOTH OF THOSE AND HE'S GOT CHIN WHISKERS, TOO.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO EXPERIMENTAL THING WHERE THEY'RE LETTING CO,s -- C.O.

'S GROW BEARDS?

>> YEAH, LETTING US GROW THEM OUT.

A LOT OF OUR OFFICERS REQUESTED THE ABILITY.

WE PARTICIPATED IN NO-SHAVE NOVEMBER AND DONATED AND RAISED SOME FUNDS FOR SOME DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO ALLOWS US -- ALLOW US TO TRY IT OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR ISSUES.

YOU MAY SEE CONSERVATION OFFICERS OUT WITH MORE FACIAL HAIR.

>> I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, TOO.

I'M YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

FOR THE PERSON -- IT'S NOTICEABLY -- NOTICEABLE IN ITS ABSENT IS MARK, THE FISHERIES WIFEIOLOGIST.

MARK IS NOT -- BIOLOGIST.

MARK HAS COVID!

NOW, BUT MARK TAKES HIS JOB SO SERIOUSLY OF DOING THE SPECIALIST, ASK THE DNR THING, THAT HE HAS SENT A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT NORMALLY GET ASKED AT THIS TIME IN THE PROGRAM ABOUT FISHERIES.

AND HE'S SENT SOME UPDATES ALONG.

AND WE'LL GET TO THOSE IN JUST A MINUTE HERE, JOE.

HE SENT THEM TO JOE.

HE DOESN'T TRUST ME WITH THEM.

BUT ANYWAY, WE'LL -- MARK, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE WATCHING, BUDDY, WE HOPE YOU'RE FEELING BETTER, REALLY.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

I WANT TO START OFF WITH SOME FIRST QUESTIONS LIKE, DO WE HAVE -- CHAD, IT WAS ALL SORTS OF -- ALL SORTS OF HOORAH OVER THIS LAST YEAR AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BIG OF DEAL, BUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO REPORT OUR DEER HARVEST?

>> LAST YEAR IS THE FIRST YEAR WE REQUIRED EVERY SUCKLE HUNT LASER SPIT -- SUCCESSFUL HUNT LASER SUBMIT A A REPORT AND THROUGH THE MOBILE APP.

AND THE REASON WE'RE ASKING HUNTERS TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ESTIMATING OUR DEER HARVEST FOR ALL THESE YEARS, WHICH WAS A POST SEASON SURVEY THAT WAS ONLY ADMINISTERED TO A RAN RANDOM SUBSET OF HUNTERS, PUSH RE -- OUR RESPONSE RATES HAVE STARTED TO DECLINE.

WE'RE UNDER 30% RESPONSE RATES NOW.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN THEY START TO SHRINK, YOUR UNCERTAIN CERTAINTY IN THAT ESTIMATE STARTS TO GROW.

SO WE WERE STARTING TO HAVE LESS AND LESS CONFIDENCE WITH OUR ESTIMATES.

THE TECHNOLOGY JUST RECENTLY BECAME AVAILABLE TO US.

SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MANDATORY HARVEST REPORTING AND BY AND LARGE IT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAD OVER 300,000 DEER REPORTED LAST YEAR THROUGH OUR SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR PATH FORWARD, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> AND YOU'LL GET BETTER NUMBERS.

>> I THINK WE'LL GET BETTER MORE CONFIDENT NUMBERS.

THERE'S ALL THE GOING TO BE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERY DEER IS GOING TO BE REPORTED.

BUT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO CORRECT FOR THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY OUR LEVEL OF CERTAINTY IS MUCH MORE FINE-TUNED, YOU KNOW, FROM THIS POINT MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF ANY OF IT.

>> YES.

>> THE ENTIRE POINT OF ANY OF IT.

WHAT'S THE UPDATE ON BAITING, JOE?

THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSING ARTICLES.

THIS PERSON SAYS LATELY.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT LITTLE AREA IN THE UPPER PENINSULA, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

SO THE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE CDW SURVEILLANCE SCOAN IN THE U.P.

SO ALL OF THE UPPER PENINSULA IS ALLOWED TO BAIT, TWO GALLONS SPREAD OUT IN A 10 BY 10 AREA.

THE LOWER PENINSULA IS COMPLETELY CLOSED TO BAITING.

THE ONLY EXEMPTIONS WOULD BE DURING THE LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE HUNT.

THOSE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ABLE TO BAIT FOR A SHORT DURATION PRIOR TO THE SEASON.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, ARCHERY SEASON, FIREARM DEER SEASON, MUSTLE LOADER, ALL OF OUR REGULAR SEASONS IN THE LOWER IS CLOSED TO BAITING.

>> HERE COMES MARK ENTERING INTO THE PICTURE.

MARK., HOW'S THE SALMON POPULATION?

YOUR CAN YOU GIVE US THE UPDATES.

>> SAYS THE CHINOOK SALMON RUN, GOOD RUMS REPORTS.

FISH ARE NUMEROUS BUT NOT QUITE AS LARGE AS RECENT YEARS.

THE WARM WEATHER HAS STALLED THE RUN FOR A BIT.

BUT THE UPCOMING COLD SNAP THAT WE'RE FEELING TODAY VERSUS THE 80 DEGREE WEATHER SHOULD BE BRINGING IN THE REMAINING FITCH.

THE LITTLE WEIR, THEY'VE FOUR GREAT DAYS OF CHINOOK SPAWNING TAKE IS.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ONE MORE DAY SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HIT THEIR QUOTA.

AND THE FALL STEELHEAD RUN, SO FAR STALLED WITH THE WARM WEATHER AND THE LOW WATER LEVELS.

WE NEED SOME COLD TEMPS IN THIS RAIN, SO MAYBE THE RAIN WILL HELP TO BRING THEM IN.

IF I -- IF IT STAYS DRY, WE WON'T GET A GREAT FALL RUN AND WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR MORE FINISHABLE CONDITIONS IN THE -- FAVORABLE CONDITIONS IN THE SPRING -- >> THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME UP THE RIVER NOW ANYWAY.

>> NO.

>> YEAH.

COOL.

HOW ABOUT ARPs -- APRs.

ANTLER POINT RESTRICTIONS.

>> APRs IS AN ANTLER POINT RESTRICTION.

BASICALLY, WHEN AN APR IS INSTITUTED IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AT LEAST 50% OF THE YEARLING BUCKS OR THE BUCKS THAT ARE GROWING THEIR FIRST SET OF ANTLERS.

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE HUNTING IN THE STATE OR WHAT TAG YOU'RE HUNT WELL, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT A THREE OR A FOUR-POINT RESTRICTION IN.

IN THE UPPER PENINSULA WE HAVE AN ANTLER POINT RESTRICTION IF YOU'RE HUNTING BLGDER A COMBINATION LICENSE, THAT'S A HUNTER'S CHOICE, BECAUSE HUNTERS CAN SORT OF OPT INTO AN ANTLER POINT RESTRICTION OR OPT OUT BASED ON WHICH LICENSE THEY PURCHASE.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT 13 COUNTIES IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF OUR LOWER PENINSULA THAT ARE UNDER A THREE- AND FOUR-POINT ANT WHERE POINT RESTRICTION THAT'S A REQUIREMENT.

SO YOUTHS ARE EXEMPT FROM ANTLER POINT RESTRICTIONS, ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

SO IF YOU'RE 16 AND UNDER O YOU ARE EXEMPT FROM -- UNDER, YOU'RE EXEMPT.

BUT THE WHOLE INTENT OF THAT IS TO PUT THAT RESTRICTION ON AND IT'S BASELINE TO PROTECT A -- BASICALLY TO PROTECT THE YEARLING BUCKS AND IT GRADUATES THOSE BUCKS INTO A 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD OR OLDER AGE CLASS AS THE LONGER THAT REGULATION IS IN PLACE.

>> OKAY.

AND AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, HOW ABOUT THE EARLY SEASON, THE YOUTH HUNT?

WHY NOT JUST MAKE THE KIDS SHOOT DOES?

>> YEAH.

I THINK -- WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

ULTIMATELY FROM A MANAGEMENT STADIUM.

, YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE TO 6,000 DEER BEING TAKEN THAT WEEKEND.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE OVER 300,000 DEER HARVESTED, IT'S ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF DEER THAT ARE ACTUALLY TAKEN.

SO FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, IT'S NOT GOING TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE IN ANY DIRECTION.

AND WE FEEL IT'S THE MENTORSS -- MENTORS' RESPONSIBILITY TO DECIDE WHAT THE KID CAN AND CAN'T SHOOT.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE STATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS COMPETING WITH YOUTH TIME NOWADAYS THAT MIGHT KEEP THEM FROM EVEN PARTICIPATING IN HUNTING.

SO THE UTES SEASON IS REALLY ABOUT AN EXTRA OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND GET OUT HUNTING WITH, YOU KNOW, THEIR PARENT, THEIR GRANDPARENT, ANOTHER MENTOR, WHATEVER, AND YOU KNOW, THEY EXPERIENCE -- THE EXPERIENCE IS UP TO THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO HUNT.

>> AND IF YOU'RE VOSIVE VOCIFEROUSLY AGAINST THE YOUTH HUNT, SOME PEOPLE ARE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE, MOST OF THE DEER THAT ARE HARVESTED IN MICHIGAN, OVER 80% ARE TAKEN OFF PRIVATE LAND ANYWAY.

TELL THEM YOU CAN'T HUNT.

>> AND A WHILE AGO I DID AN ANALYSIS BASED ON THE CHECK STATION DATA THAT CAME IN AND ACTUALLY THE YOUTH SEASON HAD A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF YEARLING BUCKS TAKE 9 THAT WON'T THAN -- WEEKEND -- TAKEN IN THAT DURING THE WEEKEND.

SO WHILE YOU SEE NICE GUKS OLDER BUCKS BEING TAKEN THAT YOUTH SEASON, MOST OF THE HUNTERS TAR I CAN -- TAKING YOUNGER IN THAT SEASON, ARE TAKING YOUNGER ANIMALS.

>> JOE, WHERE CAN YOU TARGET SHOOT?

ON STATE GAME AREAS?

>> SO THE STATE ADMINISTERS A COUPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LANDS.

WE'VE GOT STATE GAME AREAS, STATE WILDLIFE AREAS, OR YOUR GENERAL STATE FORESTS.

STATE FORESTS, GENERALLY UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIFIC CLOSURE FOR THAT COUNTY, YOU CAN TARGET PRACTICE ANYWHERE ON THE STATE FOREST THAT HAS A GOOD BACK STOP SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING AN ISSUE WITH CARELESS OR RECKLESS DISCHARGE.

WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE STATE GAME AREAS OR THE WILDLIFE AREAS, SOME OF THOSE WHETHER HAVE DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS ON THEM AS FAR AS WHEN -- >> THEY'RE USUALLY -- SIGNED, TOO.

>> THEY'RE GENERALLY SIGNED AND WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION POSTED.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A SPECIFIC GAME AREA OR WILDLIFE AREA, GIVE YOUR LOCAL CUSTOMER SERVICES CENTER A CALL.

>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO FORCE PEOPLE TO SHOOT A DOE BEFORE THEY SHOOT A BUCK?

COMPLETELY POSSIBLE, BUT BOY, IF A 10-POINT BUCK WALKS OUT AT 7:30 ON OPENING DAY -- >> YEAH, IT'S NOT A REGULATION AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

SOME STATES HAVE EXPERIMENTED.

IT'S -- >> PENNSYLVANIA.

>> PENNSYLVANIA IS -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE HAD IT.

WISCONSIN ASK EXPERIMENTED WITH IT, WHAT THEY CALL EVAN A BUCK.

AND -- EARN BUCK.

AND AND A FEW STATES EARN A SECOND BUCK IN SELECT LOCATIONS.

IT'S A GOOD DEER MANAGEMENT TOOL TO APPLY THAT REQUIREMENT.

BUT OTHER STATES HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S NOT VERY POPULAR EITHER.

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> IN ONE -- IN WISCONSIN'S INSTANCE, IT WAS SO UNNEWSPAPER THEIR LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY REMOVED IT FROM THE D -- UNPOPULAR THAT THEIR LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY REMOVED IT.

SO IT'S IN STATE STATUTE THAT YOU COULD NOT OPERATE EARN A BUCK IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW.

>> GOES OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.

>> EXACTLY.

>> OKAY.

WHY NOT LOWER THE PRICE ON DOE TAGS?

FOLKS FROM LAPEER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

IF YOU WANT MOWSH DOE -- MORE DOE SHOT?

>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S SOMETHING WORTH REVISITING.

WE'VE OFFERED ACTUALLY DISCOUNTED PERMITS IN 487, WHICH IS OUR NORTHEASTERN PART.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHERE WE HAVE TB.

YOU CAN GET $5 PERMITS UP THERE.

AND THAT WAS A DECREASE FROM $12, SO THEY WERE ALREADY DISCOUNTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AND WHAT WE SAW IS WE DIDN'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN LICENSE PURCHASE WHETHER THAT CHANGE WENT FROM A $12 LICENSE TO A $5 LICENSE.

SO YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT MAYBE THE PART OF THE STATE THAT IT'S IN AND MAYBE YOU WON'T SEE THAT EFFECT ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, WE JUST GENERALLY TEND TO SEE THAT HUNTERS ARE ONLY GOING TO WANT TO PURCHASE ONE TO TWO LICENSES.

AND TAKE ONE TO TWO DEER.

SO IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A TOPIC THAT'S WORTH DISCUSSING AND CONSIDERING, BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF A DRASTIC MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION AND WITH THE -- DECLINING HUNTER NUMBERS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ENOUGH.

>> FOLKS FROM WEST BRANCH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE -- THEY FEEL THE DNR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ANY HUNTER WHO DOESN'T HAVE A COMPUTER.

HAVE WE MADE ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO LETTING PEOPLE REPORT THEIR DEER KILLS WITHOUT A COMPUTER?

>> YEAH.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE THAT QUESTION IS.

SO LAST YEAR IT IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED THAT YOU HAD TO REPORT YOUR DEER HARVEST BY USE OF COMPUTER OR WE WERE HAVING OUR STAFF AT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS HELP OUT WITH THAT.

THIS YEAR WHAT WE HAVE ALSO DONE IS WE HAVE A DEDICATED PHONE NUMBER THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL IN TO AND THEN THE CALL -- OR THE OPERATOR CAN ASSIST THEM WITH THAT REGISTERING OF THE DEER.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT SOME OF THE OTHER STATES HAVE MENTIONED AGAIN, IF SOMEONE IS IN A BAD CELL PHONE RECEPTION AREA AND THEY'RE CALLING THAT INFORMATION IN, THE MESSAGING IS GARBLED.

YOU DON'T HAVE CALLBACK INFORMATION AND THAT'S LOST DATA.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AS GOOD A DATA AS POSSIBLE AND WE HAVE CREATED A DEDICATED PHONE LINE TO ASSIST WITH THAT.

>> HERE'S SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IN YEARS HERE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF DEER/CASH COLLISIONS AND THOSE OF US WHO I -- I THINK I'VE HIT 13 DEER AND I'M NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT WHEN I HIT ONE, TOO, BECAUSE IT'S NEVER A GOOD THING.

BUT FOLKS ARE SAYING, HEY, CAN WE HELP DEER/CAR COLLISIONS IN ANY WAY?

WHAT'S SOME THOUGHTS FROM YOU TWO ON THAT.

>> SO REDUCE DEER/CAR -- >> YEAH.

TOUGH ONE, ISN'T IT.

>> BY GETTING OUT AND HUNTING.

>> YEAH.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF DEER/CAR COLLISIONS, THAT'S A HIGHER DEER DENSITY.

SO UTILIZING THE TOOLS WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL BY HUNTING, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES.

>> YEAH, LAST YEAR THERE'S A WEBSITE CALLED MICHIGAN TRAFFIC CRASH FACTS.ORG AND HAS A LOT OF AMAZING INFORMATION THAT'S PUT OUT.

THERE WERE ABOUT 59,000 REPORTED DEER/VEHICLES COLLISIONS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE 2009.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND IT TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 20% OF ALL COLLISIONS REPORTED IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ARE INVOLVING A DEER.

>> DEER/CLASH COLLISIONS.

>> SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO ADDRESS.

AND AS JOE -- HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, IT'S REALLY ABOUT POPULATION CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME ALERT DRIVING THAT'S -- >> RIGHT.

>> COUPLED WITH THAT AND WE'RE ENTERING THE PEAK OF DEER/VEHICLE COLLISION SEASON.

OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, I THINK ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL THE DEER HIT IN THE YEAR OCCUR IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

>> WHEN THAT RUT COMES ON, EVERYTHING IS WILD OUT THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OKAY.

QUESTION FROM CADILLAC.

WHAT'S THE DNR'S OPINION ON BITE BEING FOR SALE LOWER IN MICHIGAN EVEN THOUGH BAITING ISN'T LEGAL?

WE GET THIS EVERY SINGLE TIME, SEVERAL TIMES.

LET ME TELL YOU THIS.

THE DNR CANNOT CONTROL -- AND THEY HAVE NO -- IT CANNOT -- NO LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY, ANY AUTHORITY ANYWHERE TO CONTROL WHERE YOU BUY YOUR CORN AT OR WHERE YOU BUY YOUR SUGAR BEETS OR HAY OR WHEREVER AT.

THERE'S JUST -- THERE IS NO CONTROL DNR CAN HAVE A THAT, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

AS BOB SAID AND WE'VE SAID FOR YEARS, THERE'S TIMES AND PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN USE THAT APPLES OR CORN OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WHETHER THEY'RE TAKING A TRIP TO THE U.P.

AND TAKING IT UP NORTH OR UTILIZING IT IN A LAWFUL MANNER IN THEORY -- MANNER.

THIS THEORY I COULD BUY APPLES AND FEED TO IT MY LIVESTOCK.

DO WE BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT WITH THE FEED AT THE GAS STATIONS OR FARMS MARKETS?

NO, BUT WE CAN'T REGULATE THAT COMMERCE.

>> I APPRECIATE GETTING THAT -- THIS ONE RIGHT OUT OF THE WAY, BECAUSE IT COMES EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE DONE -- I'VE DONE ASK DNR SINCE BAITING HAS BEEN ILLEGAL EVERY TIME, OKAY?

FOR CHAD, YOU ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHOOT MORE ANTLESS DEER.

WHY NOT OPEN UP UP EARLY OR LATE ANTERLESS SEASONS TO PUBLIC LAND ALSO?

>> WE'VE GOTTEN THAT RECOMMENDATION A FEW TIMES.

AND I THINK THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER THAT IS YOU KNOW, WHILE WE HAVE A DEER POPULATION PROBLEM THAT'S STARTING TO INCREASE, NOT -- DEER ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED EVENLY ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.

AND TYPICALLY ON PUBLIC LANDS, YOU TEND TO SEE LOWER DEER NUMBERS BECAUSE THERE'S AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THAT OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

A LOT OF OUR DEER PROBLEMS AND CONFLICTS ARE OCCUR OGPRIVATE LAND.

SO -- OCCURRING ON PRIVATE LAND.

SO WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT LEAP.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT, DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED, BUT WE'RE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN BETTER WAYS TO MANAGE DEER ON THE PRIVATE LAND.

>> FROM JOE?

QUESTION.

I KNOW YOU'RE READY TO DIG RIGHT INTO THESE.

DOES A FIREARM HUNTER DURING TURKEY SEASON IN THE FALL HAVE TO WEAR ORANGE?

>> NO.

SO TURKEY HUNTING, WATERFOWL HUNTING, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT THERE'S NO HUNTER'S ORANGE REQUIREMENT.

SO A TURKEY HUNTER, DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE THAT HUNTER'S ORANGE.

NOW THAT BEING SAID, IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA TO HAVE AN ORANGE VEST OR ORANGE HAT, SOMETHING YOU CAN THROW WAYING TO AND FROM THE FIELD, IT'S REMOVING ONE MORE CONCERN FOR MISIDENTIFIED TARGET.

>> YEAH.

AND ALSO, TOO, IF YOU'RE CARRYING SOME LIGHT SHOT YOU MIGHT SEE A GROUSE OR WOOD COOK OR -- WOODCOCK OR SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHOOT.

REGARDING TIPPY DAM.

WHY CAN'T RECREATIONS FOR HOOK SIZE AND FISH SIZE BE POSTED FOR ALL TO KNOW?

THERE'S LOTS OF NONRESIDENT FISHER NEN TRUE.

IT'S -- FISHERMEN THERE.

IT'S TRUE -- >> HOW MANY SIGNS DO YOU WANT TO SEE TO LANDSCAPE SOME OF SO YOU COME TO TIPPY DAM OR OTHER STREAMS AND YOU GO THERE FOR THE BUTTE OF IT.

-- BUTTEY OF IT.

ALONG THE STREAM BANK AND WE CAN'T HAVE SIGNS POSTED EVERYWHERE TELLING PEOPLE WHAT EVERY SINGLE RULE AND REGULATION IS.

AND NOT TO MENTION, WE HAVE SO MANY LOCATIONS, WE'D BE PUTTING UP -- THOUSANDS OF SIGNS EVERYWHERE.

WE DO PUT OUT OUR HUNTING, FISHING DIGESTS.

ALL OF THEM ARE AVAILABLE ONTHROUGH OR THE NEW MICHIGAN HUNT FISH APP.

IT WORKS OFFLINE OR IF -- WITH SERVICE, IF THERE'S UPDATES TO IT, THEY PERIODICALLY GET UPDATED.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BETTER WAYS.

BUT WE JUST CAN'T POST SIGNS EVERYWHERE.

>> THIS IS ONE AFTER MY OWN HEART.

GUYS, 68 YEARS OLD.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 68.

OKAY?

NOT A SMART PHONE OR -- DOESN'T HAVE A SMART PHONE OR COMPUTER.

HOW CAN HE REPORT HIS DEER HARVEST?

YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN, JOE?

>> SURE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMART PHONE OR COMPUTER, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A TECHNOLOGY SAVVY FAMILY MEMBER, THEN REGISTER THE DEER FOR YOU.

YOU CAN CALL IN TO OUR DEDICATED LINE, WHICH WE CAN SEE ABOUT GETTING THAT POSTED AFTER THE FACT HERE ON THIS SHOW.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT YOU CAN CALL INTO THAT LINE AND SOMEONE WILL HELP YOU GET IT REGISTERED.

>> AND FROM MIDLAND, GOOD ONE, CHAD.

MUST LING -- MUZ LING SEASON.

WHY DO WE ALLOW OTHER FIREARMS.

>> ZONE 3, WE SWISMED IT TO ANY LEGAL -- SWITCHED IT TO ANY LEGAL FIREARMS, SO IT TURNS IT INTO ANOTHER FIREARMS SEASON IN THOSE COUNTIES THAT HAVE -- THAT HAVE ZONE 3 ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE SUCCESS RATE FOR MUZZLE LOADER HUNTS WAS LOWER THAN -- HUNTERS WAS LOWER THAN OI ANY OTHER SEASON.

SO MUCH WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO TRY TO INCREASE SUCCESSES.

AND THIS GOES ALONG WITH TRYING TRYING TO TAKE MORE DEER AND HAVE HUNTERS BE MORE SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY IN THAT ZONE 3, THE SOUTHERN MICHIGAN AGRICULTURE AREA WHERE A LOT OF DEER EXISTS.

GIVING HUNTERS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT WITH A MORE EFFECTIVE WEAPON JUST SEEMED TO MAKE MORE SENSE.

>> TO ADD ONE MORE THING DO THAT, BECAUSE WE GET THAT QUESTION A LOT.

>> I BET YOU DO.

>> ANY LEGAL FIREARM FOR THAT ZONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO SAY CAN I USE MY 30.06.

AND IT'S LEGAL FIREARMS FOR THAT ZONE.

>> FOR THAT ZONE.

FOR 450 IS LEGAL ABOUT ANYWHERE.

>> BUSHMASTER.

>> THAT HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY POPULAR CALENDAR -- CALIBER, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

>> FROM MIDLAND, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION.

HOW IS THE ROUGH GROUSE POPULATION?

I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I SAW FOR MORE RUFFED GROUSE THIS SPRING THAN IN YEARS.

YOU GOT ANY FEEL FOR THAT, CHAD?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> CHAD IS NOT THE BIRD GUY.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE CYCLE.

I THINK IT WAS -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN OKAY YEAR AND I HOPE I'M NOT OVERSLEPPING -- OVERSTEPPING OUR BIOLOGIST THOUGHTS ON THIS.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT A BOTTOM OF IT -- NOT AT THE BOTTOM AND I WISH I COULD HAVE A BETTER ANSWER FOR YOU.

I HAVEN'T BEEN UP ON ET -- IT YET.

>> I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT VERY FEW ROUSE GROUSE.

WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING RUFFED GROUSE IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER WITH THE LEAVES STILL -- IT'S SOUTH FLORIDA -- IF THERE WERE THOUSANDS THAT YOU SAW EVERY DAY, IT WOULD BE TOUGH TO GET ANY.

WHY ARE -- WHY ISN'T HUNTING DIGEST -- OR WHY ARE THEY NOT AS WIDELY AND MORE TIMELY DISTRIBUTED FROM GLAD WIN, THEY'D LIKE TO KNOW?

BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH TO FIND ONE SOMETIMES.

>> YEAH.

AND WE WERE LATE GETTING THEM OUT THIS YEAR.

IT WAS A COUPLE FACTORS.

IT WAS SORT OF A PERFECT STORM.

THERE WERE SOME PRINTING DELAYS WITH A PRINTER THAT I -- THAT WE NORMALLY GO THROUGH.

WE HAD SOME STAFF ATTRITION TRITION THAT PUTS THESE DIGESTIONS TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER AND MADE THAT -- CAUSED SOME DELAYS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DEDICATED TO BEING BETTER ABOUT IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF GETTING THEM OUT A LITTLE BIT SOONER.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, THE NUMBERS ARE NOT AS HIGH BECAUSE THE COST OF PRINTING HAS EXPLODED.

WITH THE COST OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SEE NOWADAYS.

SO WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T PRODUCE AS MANY AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE -- >> BUT IT'S STILL AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THOSE PEOPLE -- >> STILL AVAILABLE AS A PD FRVETION ONLINE AND WE -- PDF ONLINE.

AND IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.

>> IT IS.

>> YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE OFFLINE WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WOODS.

>> I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THAT ON MY PHONE.

I TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT.

MY SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL GRANDSON, WHO IS A JUNIOR LAST YEAR -- WHO WAS A JUNIOR LAST YEAR, THEY CALL ME BOBBY.

HE SAYS, BOBBIE, GIVE ME YOUR PHONE.

AND I SWEAR HE HANDED IT BACK 30 SECONDS LATER AND IT WAS ALL INSTALLED!

IT'S -- IT WAS -- IT WAS TOTALLY AMAZING TO ME.

FOLKS FROM DRYDEN MICHIGAN TOWARDS THE THUMB THERE, WHERE DOES CWD STAND RIGHT NOW?

IS IT GROWING OR BEING CONTAINED?

WHERE DOES IT STAND IN THE DEER HERD?

>> YEAH.

SO YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT HEARING A LOT ABOUT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE A LOT BECAUSE WE'VE SHIFTED OUR SURVEILLANCE, YOU KNOW.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED GETTING -- FINDING KWD BACK -- CWD BACK IN THE 2015, '16, WE WERE PUTTING A LOT OF SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS IN AND AROUND WHERE THE POSITIVES WERE BEING IDENTIFIED.

WHAT HAPPENED IS WE'VE TESTED SO MANY DEER OUT OF THOSE AREAS, AND WE KNOW THAT CWD DEMANDING BUT IT DOESN'T DEMAND VERY RAPIDLY.

WE STARTED TO DEDICATE OUR EFFORTS IN DOING SURVEILLANCE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE BECAUSE WE'VE LEN OVERLOOKING THOSE AREAS FOR A LONG TIME.

SO WE NEED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT -- WHAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF CWD IS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE STATE.

WHERE IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW IS PRIMARILY IN THAT MONTCALM COUNTY AREA, NORTHEAST OF GRAND RAPIDS.

WE FULLY EXPECT IT TO BE EXPANDING AND GROWING IN THOSE AREAS.

>> WE STILL HAVE IT IN OTHER PLACES LIKE IN THE CENTRAL PART -- >> YEAH.

WE'VE GOT IT IN 12 COUNTIES NOW.

MORE HAVE IDENTIFIED ABOUT 12 COUNTIES.

AND IT MOVES VERY SLOWLY, BUT IT IS A PROGRESSIVE DISEASE AND IT'S GOING TO ACCUMULATE.

SO IT'S STILL A VERY MUCH A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.

AND ONCE WE GET BACK INTO THAT AREA IN A COUPLE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE SOME UPDATED SURVEILLANCE NUMBERS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

AND I EXPECT THEM TO BE HIGHER THAN WHEN WE WERE LAST IN THERE INTENSIVELY.

>> OKAY.

>> ONE MORE THING TO ADD.

WITH OUR REGISTRATION OF THE DEER, WE ARE AS CHAD MENTIONED, EXPANDING OUR SURVEILLANCE AREA TO SOME OTHER AREAS IN THE STATE TO SEE WHERE CWD MAY BE THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF.

WHEN YOU REGISTER YOUR DEER, YOU'LL BE PROMPTED, IF YOU SELECT A COUNTY, THAT WE'RE DOING SURVEILLANCE IN, THEY WILL -- THERE WILL BE A PROMPT SAYING THE DNR IS INTERESTED IN TESTING DEER FROM YOUR AREA.

IF YOU'RE WILLING, PLEASE COME INTO THE DNR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS OR FIELD OFFICES WHERE WE'RE TAKING DEER HEADS AND BRING YOUR DEER HEAD IN TO BE CHEBBED.

>> -- CHECKED.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A SERIES OF BEAR QUESTIONS HERE, WHICH ARE PRETTY COOL.

LAKE COUNTY, IS IT ILLEGAL FOR BEAR HUNTERS TO CROSS -- IS IT LEGAL FOR BEAR HUNTERS TO CROSS PRIVATE LAND WITH THEIR DOGS?

NO.

>> SO -- >> YOU CAN GO RETRIEVE A DOG.

>> THE QUESTION IS -- A BEAR HUNTER IS REQUIRED TO PUT THEIR DOGS DOWN ON PROPERTY THAT THEY EITHER HAVE PERMISSION FROM IF IT'S PRIVATE OR PUBLICLY OWNED LAND.

SO STATE OR FEDERAL LANDS.

YOU GET A LOT OF THAT IN LAKE COUNTY.

THE DOGS, THEY ARE AGREE TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE BEAR REGARDLESS OF WHAT PROPERTY THEY GO ACROSS.

BUT A HOUNDSMEN IS ONLY ALLOWED TO GO GO IN TO RETRIEVE THEIR DOGS OFF OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

THEY CAN'T BRING ANY FIREARMS OR ARCHERY EQUIPMENT.

THEY CAN'T HARVEST THE BEAR ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY.

BUT THERE ARE ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY TO RETRIEVE THE DOGS.

>> THAT GOES TO OLD ENGLISH COMMON LAW.

IF YOUR DOG IS LOOSE ON SOMEBODY'S PLACE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO GET IT.

AND TAKE IT OFF OF THERE, TOO.

I REMEMBER WHEN -- PROBABLY BACK IN 1976, '77, WHEN THOSE AMENDMENTS CAME TO THE TRESPASS ACT.

I REMEMBER THAT WAS A CONTROVERSY THERE.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET MY DOG IF I CAN'T GO GO GET IT, YOU KNOW?

ANYWAY.

NOW, NEAT TOWN, ONEKAMA.

IF YOU EVER HEAR THAT COME OUT YOUR GPS, IT COMES UP AS "ONE COMMA."

WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT THE OTHER NIGHT IN A FUNCTION UP IN BEULAH.

THIS FROM -- CAN I TAKE A BEAR WITHOUT A PERMIT IF IT CAUSES DAMAGE ON MY PRIVATE LAND?

>> SO IF A BEAR IS ATTACKING LIVESTOCK, YOU'RE ABLE TO HARVEST THE BEAR WITHOUT A LICENSE.

YOU'RE REQUIRED TO INSTANTLY CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT.

AND REPORT THAT THE BEAR WAS DOING DAMAGE, AN OFFICER OR BIOLOGIST WILL COME OUT, TAKE THE BEAR.

BUT IF YOU'RE HAVING BEAR DAMAGE PROBLEMS, GET A HOLD OF YOUR LOCAL CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, ASKED TO SPEAK A BIOLOGIST AND WE'LL TRY TO ASSIST OR PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS OR SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.

>> OKAY.

AND WHY CAN PEOPLE USE MY BLIND ON STATE LAND?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU PLACE A BLIND ON STATE LAND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN A PUBLIC SPACE.

YOU KNOW, YOUR BLIND, YOUR TREE STAND, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, IS NOT A PLACE HOLDER FOR YOU.

>> YOU DON'T OWN THAT PIECE OF LAND.

SO -- ANYWAY.

YEAH, SO PUT IT WAY BACK ON STATE LAND AND YOU'LL BE THE ONLY ONE USING IT.

CAN WE HAVE PREDATORS BLINDS AFTER JANUARY 1st ON PUBLIC LAND?

>> SO THE LAW ALLOWS YOU TO PLACE A PERMITTED OR BLIND THAT YOU LEAVE OUT OVERNIGHT UP UNTIL JANUARY 1st.

LAST DAY OF THE SEASON.

AND THEN YOU'RE REQUIRED TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

SO IF YOU WERE TO TAKE YOUR BLIND OUT WITH YOU, THROW THE POP-UP UP, AND THEN TAKE IT DOWN WITH YOU AND TAKE -- CARRY IT BACK OUT, IT WOULD BE LEGAL TO DO THAT.

BUT TO LEAVE THEM OUT AFTER THAT DATE THAT'S SET, THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL.

>> TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ELK SEASON DRAWING.

WHY NOT PEOPLE OVER 65 YEARS OLD BE PUT IN THEIR OWN SEPARATE DRAWING FOR A BETTER CHANCE?

THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

IT'S IT'S A WAITED DRAWING.

>> IT'S WAITED.

AND IT'S REALLY A -- IT'S REALLY A SUPPLIES AND DEMAND THING.

YOU KNOW -- SUPPLY AND DEMAND THING.

IF WE GAVE PREFERENCE TO HUNTERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE DRAWING FOR A LONG TIME, THERE WOULD BE NO INCENTIVE OR ANYBODY YOUNGER OR FIRST-TIMERS TO DRAW.

>> WHEN WE DID THIS, WHEN I WAS ON A NATIONAL RESOURCES COMMISSION, WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THIS DRAWING, WE DETERMINED THAT EVERYBODY WHO DREW A PERMIT WOULD BE LIKE OVER 75 YEARS OLD.

IF YOU DID IT -- THE --THE -- IF YOU DID IT THIS WAY, BY AGE PREFERENCE ONLY.

>> AS IT STANDS NOW, IF YOU WERE TO JUST DRAW THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT ARE AT THE VERY TOP THAT HAVE MAXIMIZED OUR CHANDRAYAAN OR THE NEXT LEVEL, WHICH IS -- THEIR CHANCES OR THE NEXT LEVEL, IT COULD TAKE UP TO 20 YEARS TO CYCLE THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

THERE'S SO MUCH DEMAND TO HUNT ELK IN MICHIGAN, AND WE JUST CAN'T SUPPORT WIT OUR POPULATION.

IT'S BETWEEN ABOUT A THOUSAND AND 1400.

AND WE ONLY HAVE TO HAVE ABOUT 250, 260 LICENSES AVAILABLE TO MANAGE IT AND KEEP IT AT THAT BALANCE.

>> KEEP THAT AT A LOWER LEVEL.

AND YOUR FATHER, DEAN O THIS SHOW MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES, OKAY, DREW ONE OF THOSE PERMITS AFTER PUTTING IN SINCE, WHAT IS IT, 1983?

>> HE HAD MAX NUMBER OF POINTS.

>> HE HAD PUT IN -- AND HE DREW A BULL PERMIT THIS YEAR.

AND GOT HIMSELF A -- YOU CALLED IT SIX BUY SEVEN, BUT YOUR DAD CALLS IT A SEVEN BUY SIX.

>> SHE SHOT A REALLY NICE BULL THIS YEAR.

I STARTED MY CAREER WORKING THE ELK HUNT.

SO IT WAS KIND OF WEIRD HUNTING WITH HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ELK HUNT BUT IT WAS REALLY GREAT.

WE DID END UP HIRING A GUIDE, PRESS TAN AND VANCE DID A GREAT JOB FOR US.

GAVE US ACCESS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.

HAD A SPECTACULAR HUNT.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE HUNTS I'VE EVER HAD.

>> 747 DRESSED?

>> WE HAVEN'T MEASURED THE ANTLERS YET, BUT REALLY, REALLY NICE ELK.

>> REALLY NICE ELK.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, HOW MUCH CAR/DEER ACCIDENTS WITH ELECTRIC OR HYBRID CARS?

HAVEN'T SEEN THIS QUESTION COME UP.

AND THE VIEWER CLAIMS THAT THEY MIGHT BE TOO QUIET.

>> YEAH.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT -- ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S STATISTICS ON THAT, EITHER.

IF THEY ARE, THEY'RE BURIED SOMEWHERE THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN.

BUT IT'S ANTI-ING QUESTION.

I WOULDN'T -- AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I WOULDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR IT.

>> AND IT WOULD TAKE A LOT MORE ELECTRIC CARS TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

WILLIAMSBURG, FOLKS WANT TO KNOW, AND AGAIN, THIS IS MARK'S ALLEY.

I DON'T THINK -- I THINK MAYBE YOU SHOULD CALL THIS ONE INTO THE CADILLAC DISTRICT OFFICE AND -- OR CUSTOMER CENTER.

BUT CALL IT INTO CADILLAC.

I'LL SURE HE'LL GET TO YOU.

WHAT HAPPENED TO BROWN TROUT PLANTED AT ELK LAKE.

>> THAT'S ONE I CAN'T TRY TO SIT IN FOR HIM, BUT GIVE THE CADILLAC OFFICE A CALL.

331-7 STEVEN 5-9727.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE ABLE TO GET YOU OUT OR GET YOU DIRECTED TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

>> QUESTION FROM NATIONAL CITY.

ISN'T THAT CLOSE TO IVA'S CHICKEN PLACE IS?

GREATEST CHICKEN IN THE WORLD THERE?

OKAY.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF OKAY WHEELS ON DEER AND TURKEY, ANY IDEA?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

>> OAK -- YOU KNOW, GENERALLY SPEAKING, OAKS ARE SORT OF ON THE DOWNWARD TREND AND OAK WILLED IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT LIKE LONG TERM, YOU THINK ABOUT HOW GAME MANAGEMENT HAS SHIFTED WHEN THE CHESTNUTS WERE LOST -- CHESTNUTS WERE LOST IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FEWER AND FEWER OAKS ON THE LANDSCAPE BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO SO MANY WILDLIFE SPECIES.

SO CERTAINLY IT'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT FORESTRY AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DISEASES THAT CAN OCCUR IN THE CONSERVATION REALM IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM.

>> OKAY.

FROM GAYLORD, HOW MANY ALBERT LAKE DEER HAVE BEEN CULLEDDED BY -- CALLED BY -- I CAN'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WORD IS.

BY HIRED HUNTERS.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THOSE DEER?

>> WHAT THEY'RE PROBABLY REFERRING TO IS -- BOVINE TUBER CLOSERS MANAGE -- TUBERCULOSIS MANAGEMENT UP IN THE EVIDENT INTO.

WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH PRODUCERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND REALLY ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THERE IS THE POTENTIAL INTERSECTION WITH DEER AND LIVESTOCK AND THE POTENTIAL FOR TRANSMISSION OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO HELP TRY TO MITIGATE THAT SPREAD A LITTLE BIT.

THE DEER TAKEN ON THOSE PERMITS ARE, FIRST OF ALL, TESTED FOR BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS.

THEY -- IF THEY COME BACK POSITIVE FOR T.B., THE VENISON IS DISCARDED.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT TO CONTERM A POSITIVE DEER -- CONSUME A POSITIVE DEER.

IT GETS RECYCLED AND PUT INTO THE -- LIKE A HUNTER'S FOR THE HUNGRY PROGRAM.

SO THIS MEAT IS DONATED AND YOU KNOW, MADE -- PUT TO GOOD USE.

>> GOOD.

AND THE STORY ON WILD HOGS AROUND THE STATE?

NONE UP HERE -- OR VERY FEW UP HERE.

>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB AT BASICALLY ERADICATING A LOT OF THOSE POPULATIONS.

THAT'S NOT THE SAY YOU STILL GET A FEW POTBELLY PIGS THAT ESCAPE AND WHY NOT -- WHAT NOT, BUT WE KEEP GOING BACK TO THE APP.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WHEN YOU REPORT YOUR DEER IS HAVE YOU SEEN ANY WILD HOGS.

AND IF YOU DO SEE ONE AND MARK YES, WE TRY TO CONTACT YOU TO GET AN IDEA AND LOCATION, BECAUSE THEY ARE AN I VA -- AN INVASIVE SPECIES.

WE DO NOT WANT TO GET ESTABLISHED BECAUSE ONCE THEY DO THEY BECOME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO TO ERAD KATE.

>> THEY ADAPT VERY QUICK.

>> YES.

AND THEY'RE INCRED BLY DESTRUCTIVE -- INCREDIBLY DESTRUCTIVE.

SO WE'RE VERY MUCH TRYING TO KEEP OUR THUMB ON THE PULSE OF THAT TOPIC.

>> FROM KINGSTON, MICHIGAN, IN THE THUMB THERE, BEAVERS HAVE TAKING OVER THE AREA WHERE HE LIVES IN TUS COLA COUNTY.

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

DID NNR COME AND TRAP THEM OUT?

>> NO.

WE DON'T DO ANY TRAPPING.

WE'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED OUR NUISANCE ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATIONS.

SO IF A BEAVER IS CAUSING FLOODING, BLOCKING A CULVERT, AND THOSE TWO SPECIFIC INSTANCES, THEY CAN BE TAKEN ACTUALLY ANYTIME OF YEAR WITHOUT A NUISANCE CONTROL PERMIT.

IF IT'S A MATTER THAT THEY'RE JUST DROPPING TIMBER AND DOING OTHER DAMAGE THAT WAY AND NOT CAUSING FLOODING, YOU CAN STILL CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT TO GET A NUISANCE ANIMAL CONTROL PERMIT FOR AN OUT-OF-SEASON HARVEST.

AND THEN YOU CAN EITHER DO THE TRAPPING YOURSELF OR HIRE A TRAPPER TO COME DEAL WITH THE ISSUE.

OR BEFRIEND YOURSELF A TRAPPER AND COME TRAPPING SEASON, THEY WOULD PROBABLY GLAD GLADLY HELP YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.

>> IF YOU CAN'T GET THEM ANY OR WAY, THEY'VE BEEN KNOWN TO ISSUE A SHOOTING PERMIT NOW AND THEN.

BUT THEY DON'T LIKE TO.

>> VERY SELDOM.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, A TRAPPER WILL BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.

BECAUSE THAT TRAP IS THERE ALL DAY LONG, WAITING FOR BEAVER TO GO IN THE RIGHT AREA.

A GOOD TRAPPER CAN GENERALLY TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROBLEM.

>> I GOT TO BRING UP A POINT THAT BOB SCHNEIDER, AND IN 1985, HE WAS THE FIRST CONSERVATION OFFICER EVER TO -- CONSERVATION OFFICER EVER TO APPEAR ON ASK THE SPECIALIST, THE DNR PART OF IT.

AND HE DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.

SO THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN 48 YEARS.

IN EXISTENCE.

48 YEARS.

AND YOU ONLY FIND IT RIGHT HERE ON PUBLIC TELEVISION.

YOU DON'T SEE THIS ON COMMERCIAL TV AT ALL.

HERE'S ONE THAT WILL MAKE YOU BRANCH.

-- BLANCH.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

PROBABLY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TELL USES.

WHY CAN'T THE STATE ALLOW PEOPLE TO SELL VENISON?

YOU CAN BUT IT'S NOT -- NOT TAKEN UNDER A HUNTING PERMIT.

>> -- UNDER A HUNTING PERMIT.

>> VENISON RAISED AT A COMMERCIAL FACILITY CAN BE SOLD.

SO IF YOU SEE VENISON A MENU, THAT WAS RAISED JUST LIKE LIVESTOCK.

WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT HUNT OR THE DEER RA RAISED FOR THE MEAT ITSELF, THEY'RE TRULY LIVESTOCK.

THEY'RE NOT LIKE OUR WILD DEER.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE A MICHIGAN HUNTING LICENSE.

THOSE ARE SOMEONE'S PERSONAL LIVESTOCK RAISED FOR MEAT OR THE ANTLERS.

>> OKAY.

AND FOLKS FROM MILLINGTON.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THE TIME OF YEAR FOR TARGET SHOOTING BELOW M-46?

AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST PERTINENT PART OF THE QUESTION.

WHAT CALENDAR BER CAN YOU USE -- CALIBER CAN YOU USE FOR THE TARGET AREA.

YOU CAN USE A 3006 FOR SQUIRREL HUNTING NOT IN THE REGULAR DEER SEASON.

>> SPECIFIC LOCATIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DNR OFFICE TO FIND IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC CLOSURES.

THEY CAN BE FOUND ONLINE OF THE TARGET SHOOTING, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ARE PEOPLE SHOOTING WITH INSUFFICIENT BACK STOPS.

AND AS GET FURTHER SOUTH IN THE STATE, OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE -- MORE HEAVILY USED BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGER POPULATION DENSITY.

>> AND SMALLER.

>> AND THEY'RE SMALLER CHUNKS OF LAND.

SO TARGET SHOOTING ON THOSE LANDS ARE GENERALLY MORE STRIKELY MONITORING TORE -- MONITORED.

WE HAVE STATE-RUN SHOOTING RANGES.

SO IT'S BEST TO TRY TO IDENTIFY ONE OF THOSE SPOTS OR GET INVOLVED AT YOUR LOCAL SPORTSMEN'S CLUB.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE BEST THING, WHERE THEY HAVE GOOD REGULATED RANGES.

AND BY THE WAY, FROM HILLMAN, WE PICKED THIS THING BACK UP.

HOW DO YOU GET THE HUNTING DIGEST IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMART PHONE OR A COMPUTER?

PROBABLY GO TO THE LIBRARY AND ASK THEM PO PARENT IT OUT -- TO PRINT IT OUT?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE TO PRINT IT OUT.

OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS AND OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE DID GET THEIR SUPPLY OF HUNTING DIGEST.

SO STOP INTO ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS AND CURRENTLY THERE SHOULD BE SOME AVAILABLE.

>> OKAY.

TWO QUESTIONS HERE FROM BENZY IN REED CITY.

I'M GOING TO COMBINE THESE.

WHY RESTRICT ANTLERLESS HUNTS TO PRIVATE LAND?

ACTUALLY, YOU CAN -- UNDER A REGULAR DEER LICENSE YOU CAN TAKE AN ANTLERLESS DEER ON PUBLIC LAND.

>> PREVIOUSLY, IF YOU GOT YOUR COMBINATION LICENSE, YOU COULD ONLY TAKE AN ANTLERED DEER DURING THE FIREARM SEASON OR MUZZLE LOADER SEASON.

ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES WE MADE IN 2020, MAYBE, WE ALLOWED ANTLERLESS DEER TO BE TAKEN ON THOSE LICENSES DURING THE FIREARMS AND MUZZLE LOADER SEASON THROUGHOUT THE LOWER PENINSULA.

SO THAT COULD BE USED ON PRIVATE LAND AND PUBLIC LAND.

AND OUR INTENT WAS TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE FOR HAUNTERS -- HUNTERS TO TAKE ANTLERLESS DEER UNDER THE PURCHASE.

TWO-THIRDS OF MICHIGAN HUNTERS WEREN'T EVEN PURCHASING AN ANTLERLESS LICENSE.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING OUT IN THE FIREARMS SEASON WITH NO OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE AN ANTLERLESS DEER.

SO MAKING THAT CHANGE AT LEAST GIVES THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

>> SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION IS WHY -- FROM REED CITY, WHY NO DEER CHECK STATIONS FOR THE KIDS AND NO FREE PATS FOR -- PATCHES FOR KIDS?

WE'RE NOT DOING PATCHES ANYMORE, ARE WE?

>> YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM NOW.

BUT WE'VE HAD SORT OF A DISTRIBUTION CHALLENGE WITH OUR PATCHES.

WITHCERTAINLY UNDERSTAND -- WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL YOURS OF THEM.

-- IMPORTANCE OF THEM.

WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE COLLECT THEM.

BUT WE'VE HAD TO RETHINK IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE MORD RNIZING DEER -- MODERNIZING DEER MANAGEMENT AND IT'S -- TO GET PATCHES TO PEOPLE THROUGH THE MAIL WITH A SMALL $8 FEE AND OCCASIONALLY YOU CAN STILL GET THEM IF YOU GET THE RIGHT BIOLOGIST THAT HAS A PACK IN THEIR BACK POCKET OR A C.O.

THERE'S STILL A CHANCE TO GIVE A FEW AWAY, SO IT'S JUST -- THEY'RE MORE EASILY AVAILABLE NOW BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST SIMPLY CLICK A BUTTON AND HAVE THEM BASICALLY DELIVERED TO YOU.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY DEER QUESTIONS HERE.

AND I'D LIKE TO GET -- TO SOME OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN DEER QUESTIONS.

BUT HOW DO WE KNOW HOW MANY DOES WE HAVE?

PENZEYS COUNTY FOLKS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

CHAD, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DOES WE HAVE.

COUNTING DEER IS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT.

RIGHT?

IT'S EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR AND YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY IF YOU GET AN ESTIMATE BASED ON WHATEVER TECHNIQUE YOU USE, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH IT.

WHETHER IT'S AN AERIAL SURVEY OR A ROBUST CAMERA SURVEY.

BUT YOU KNOW, HOW WE ARE MANAGING DEER IN THE STATE IS WHAT A LOT OF STATES HAVE STARTED TO SHIFT TOWARDS AND THAT'S BASICALLY UNDERSTANDING TRENDS.

AND WE LOOK AT A TREND MANAGEMENT.

SO YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF BUCKS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN BECAUSE BUCKS ARE A REALLY GOOD INDICATOR OF HOW YOUR POPULATION IS TRENDING.

IF YOU SEE A REALLY HIGH BUCK HARVEST ONE YEAR, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE PROBABLYVAN ANG IN -- PROBABLY HAVING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF BUCKS TO HARVEST.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN EHD IMPACT IN SOME OF THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES AND THE DEER POPULATION GOES WAY DOWN, PRIOR TO THE HUNTING SEASON, OUR BUCK HARVEST CRASHES, TOO.

AND SO THAT JUST GENERALLY TELLS YOU THAT THERE ARE FEWER DEER AVAILABLE TO HARVEST.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT SECONDARY INDICATORS, BAIK LIKE SUCCESS RATES, DEER/VEHICLES COLLISION REPORTS.

AND THEY ALL SORT OF FORM TOGETHER TO TELL A STORY, BASICALLY TO SAY WHETHER OUR POPULATION IS INCREASING, STABLE, OR DECREASING.

AND FROM THERE WE CAN SET OUR MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO TRY TO MOVE THAT DEER HERD.

>> OKAY.

THIS GUY HAS CALLED TWICE, VERY SINCERE.

HE'S 74 YEARS OLD.

HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HUNT IN TWO YEARS.

ONLY VENISON GETS IS GROUND BURGER FROM THE FOOD PANTRY.

WHY NOT GIVE STEAKS AND CHOPS?

WHY NOT GIVE VETERANS A CHANCE TO BUY A DEER?

I THINK THEY GRIND IT ALL BECAUSE THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO HANDLE IT FROM PETOSKEY.

>> TYPICALLY IF A DEER IS DONATED THROUGH ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS, THE PROCESSOR IS OFFERING A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THAT SERVICE.

AND IT'S BEING PAID FOR BY A CHARITABLE FUND.

AND YOU KNOW, THE QUICKEST AND EASIEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO HAVE THAT MEAT JUST SIMPLY GROUND AND THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW THAT MEAT IS DISTRIBUTED.

>> YEAH.

AND YOU CAN PROBABLY DISTRIBUTE IT A BIT MORE EQUITABLY BY WEIGHING IT THAN -- >> I WOULD JUST SAY.

JUST PUT SOME FEELERS OUT.

THERE A LOT OF -- THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HUNTING AND WILLING TO TAKE AN EXTRA DEER IF THEY KNOW THEY HAVE AN OUTLET FOR US.

CAPITALIZING ON YOUR -- THE SOCIAL NETWORK YOU HAVE, THE FRIEND GROUP, CHURCH GROUP, WHATEVER.

SAY I'M LOOKING FOR -- AND HUNTERS ARE A VERY GIVING, YOU KNOW, GROUP OF FOLKS.

>> YES.

>> AND IF THERE IS MEAT THAT'S AVAILABLE, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY GO HUNGRY AND I'M SURE THEY CAN BE DONATED.

>> AND THEY RESPOND WELL WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS, TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OKAY.

VERY HARD TO GET FALL TURKEY PERMITS IN OG IN A COUNTY.

WE DON'T HAVE THE TURKEY BIOLOGIST WITH US.

PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A BIG OF POPULATION OR THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT KNOCKING DOWN FOR THE WINTER, I WOULD ASSUME.

>> TYPICALLY THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE BASED ON POPULATION FRIENDS.

SO IF IT'S VERY -- TRENDS.

SO IF IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A FALL PERMIT IN A SPECIFIC AREA, THERE'S USUALLY A BIOLOGY REASON FOR IT AND THEY'RE -- BIOLOGICAL REASON FOR IT.

PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUPPORTIVE ENOUGH.

>> CALL BE FROM HAMILTON, A TRAIL CAM PICTURE -- THIS IS RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY, JOE.

OF A TRESPASSER OR PICTURE ON A PHONE NUMBER TO PROSECUTE AN INDIVIDUAL?

>> IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THAT'S PART OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE CASE.

IT WOULD AGAIN -- AN OFFICER, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE TRESPASSING, YOU HAVE THAT DIGITAL EVIDENCE.

THEY CAN THEN TAKE THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR INTERVIEWS AND OTHER INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES THEY MIGHT USE AND SUBMIT THAT REPORT TO THE PROSECUTOR.

SO IF YOU HAVE TRAIL CAMERA EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE TRESPASSING AND NOW ONE THING WITH THOSE PHOTOS, MANY TIMES THE QUALITY OF THE PHOTOS MAY NOT BE THE GREATEST.

>> YEAH.

>> IT MAY NOT PERFECTLY IDENTIFY -- >> IF ANYONE SEES THE NEWS PROGRAMS, IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY THESE FOLKS THAT STOLE 400 BUCKS AT WALMART, PLEASE CALL THE STATE POLICE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT SOMEONE THEM -- COULD EVER IDENTIFY THEM.

>> IF YOU HAVE THE CONTACT REPORT ON POACHING.

IT'S CENTRAL DISPATCH.

AND ONOFFICER WILL BE ASSIGNED THAT COMPLAINT AND THEY'LL LOOK INTO IT AND WORK THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION.

>> WE ALSO HAVE, FROM BUELL BEULAH -- BEULAH, AND FROM INTERESTING COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE.

AND THEY'RE FISH QUESTIONS.

OKAY?

AND MARK, MARK WILL PROBABLY KNOW THE ANSWER.

SO WHAT I COULD ASK YOU TO DO IS CALL THE CADILLAC OFFICE.

GIVE THEM A WEEK.

THE MAN HAS GOT COVID.

GIVE THEM A WEEK OR SO AND KNOWING MARK, HE JUST LOVES BEING 4E7FUL TO FISH -- HELPFUL TO FISHERMEN.

SO I'M SURE HE'LL CALL YOU BACK.

CAN YOU -- WE'VE GOT FAR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO GO.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

OKAY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE STEPS TO REGISTER A DOG FOR ANIMAL TRACKING?

HOW DOES THE REPORTING SYSTEM WORK?

FOLKS FROM LUTINGTON.

>> IT IS LEGAL TO TRACK WOUNDED DEER, ELK, OR BEAR WITH DOGS.

THERE IS A BIANNUAL APPLICATION THAT YOU DO FILL OUT.

IT IS ONLINE.

I JUST ACTUALLY PASSED THAT POSITION ON TO SOMEONE.

BUT I CAN'T QUOTE THE STEPS EXACTLY AND HOW TO GET IT.

YOU GO TO BUY AND APPLY ON THE DNR'S WEBSITE.

IT WILL PRODUCE A SEARCH BUTTON.

TYPE IN THE WORLDED "DOG."

I THINK THIS WILL BE THREE -- THERE WILL BE THREE OPTIONS THAT WILL POP UP.

BLOOD TRACKER, REGISTRATION, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

CLICK ON THAT ONE.

IT'S A FORM TO FILL OUT.

YOU GET IN A -- THAT SUBMITTED.

AND YOU JUST NEED TO REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU ARE DOING A TRACK AND THEN ALSO LET US KNOW WHEN IT'S CONCLUDED.

>> MORE FISHING QUESTIONS FOR MARK T. YEAH.

MEAL KNOW ABOUT THE LAKES THAT HAVE PFAS.

ALSO, OKAY.

LET'S GO BACK TO THIS ONE.

WHAT'S THE DNR'S PLAN TO ADDRESS THE LOW DEER POPULATION IN THE IN THE U.P.?

NOT ALL AREAS HAVE LOW POPULATIONS.

>> THE U.P.

IS VERY VARIED.

>> WANT TO KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THE OUT-OF-CONTROL WOLF POPULATION.

THERE PROBABLY IS NO WAY HUNTERS CAN ADDRESS THAT.

>> THEY'RE STILL FEDERALLY PROTECTED.

THEY'RE STILL FEDERALLY PROTECTED IN MICHIGAN.

SO THAT OPTION RIGHT NOW IS REALLY OFF THE TABLE.

YOU START TALKING ABOUT DEER AND LOW DEER NUMBERS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA.

WE'RE EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE IN MANY AREAS.

>> THEY VARY.

>> OF THE U.P.

IN TERMS OF HARVEST.

SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO HABITAT AND TRYING TO BUILD UP THAT HABITAT SPECIFICALLY TO GET THEM THROUGH THOSE LONG HARD WINTERS WHICH WE'VE BEEN HAVING MORE OF RECENTLY.

SO THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE MAJOR PRIORITIES UP THERE.

AND THAT TAKES TIME.

YOU KNOW, HABITATS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SWITCH ON AND OFF, YOU KNOW, IN A GIVEN YEAR.

IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD UP AND IMPROVE AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A FOCUS OF SOME OF THE EFFORTS.

BUT IT'S NOT A QUICK FIX.

>> OKAY.

WHAT AREAS IN CAMP GRAYLING,, ARE OPEN FOR HUNTING.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO CONTACT US THROUGH OUR WHERE SERVICE AREA.

I DON'T COVER THAT AREA, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE OPEN.

>> HOW DO -- DO WE DO THE WEEKLY FISHING REPORT?

WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT?

MARK, MARK, WHERE ARE YOU?

>> THE WEEKLY FISHING REPORT, WE HAVE OUR CLERKS WHO YOU MIGHT SEE AT A BOAT LAUNCH TAKING SURVEYS OF ANGLERS BRINGING THEM IN.

I BELIEVE THEY ALSO.

[EVERYONE TALKING AT ONCE] TO BAIT SHOPS AND CHARTER FISHERMEN AND -- TALK TO BAIT SHOPS AND CHARTER FISHERMEN AND SEE WHAT -- >> WE'RE DOWN TO LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES TO GO.

OKAY.

WHY CAN DNR NOT AFFORD SOME THINGS WHEN THEY HAVE SO MUCH FUNDING?

WHOA.

INTERESTING.

I DIVEST YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT.

-- I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER.

SO MUCH FUNDING IS WHAT?

>> A LOT OF TIMES KEEP IN MIND THAT A LOT OF THE FUNDS THAT THE DNR RECEIVES ARE RESTRICTED IN WHAT THEY CAN BE USED FOR.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT DESIGNATION.

JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MONEY IS COMING IN, THERE ARE CERTAIN DEDICATED REQUIREMENTS.

AND I'LL BE HONEST AND SAY THAT I CAN'T REALLY GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT RECITING ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY CAN BE SPENT.

BUT THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS.

>> SURE.

>> IN TERMS OF WHAT MONEY CAN AND CANNOT BE SPENT ON.

>> EXACTLY.

BOTH PITMAN ROBERTSON AND THE -- >> YEP.

>> THIRD TIME THIS GENTLEMAN HAS CALLED IN.

HE'S NOT HAPPY WITH OUR ANSWERS ON WHY HE CAN'T BY VENISON.

HE SAYS, WHY CAN'T I BUY A WHOLE DEER FROM THE STATE?

YOU CAN.

YOU JUST GOT TO GO HARVEST IT.

NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE WOULD BE.

WE DON'T SELL DEER.

>> THE STATE MADE THE CUSTOMERSATION OF GAME -- COMMERCIALIZATION OF GAME ILLEGAL.

>> 1929, I BELIEVE.

>> MICHIGAN HAD A HISTORY OF THAT.

WE DECIMATED VARIOUS POPULATIONS.

AND AGAIN, THAT COMMERCIAL HARVEST, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH PUT SOME SPECIES TO EXTINCTION.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN REALLY BE DONE AND -- LEGALLY CAN BE DONE AND AND THE ANIMAL STILL HAS TO BE HARVESTED.

IF YOU WORK WITH SPORTSMEN'S GROUP, CHURCH GROUPS, REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, SOMEONE WOULD -- >> I NEED SOME VENISON.

MY MOTHER SAYS THAT.

SHE ALWAYS GETS VENISON.

SO EXACTLY.

AND WHAT WOULD COST -- WHAT COULD CAUSE THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SQUIRRELS SINCE THE SUMMER?

I DON'T KNOW.

REALLY DON'T KNOW.

>> DISAPPEARANCE?

>> UNLESS THEY MOVED OFF TO ANOTHER -- >> FOOD SOURCINGS, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO IF YOU'VE GOT CORNFIELDS AROUND YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SQUIRRELS.

IF YOU GOT GOOD ACORN POPULATIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SQUIRRELS.

BEECH TREES.

ALL COMES DOWN TO HAB HABITAT AND FOOD SOURCES.

>> I WILL SAY THIS IS A GREAT YEAR FOR RED OAKS ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE.

>> LOTS OF ACORNS.

>> AND THE SQUIRRELS AND THE WILDLIFE ARE GOING TO KNOW WHERE THOSE ARE FASTER THAN WE WILL.

SO THEY MAY BE SHIFTING THEIR PATTERNS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THOSE BUMPER CROPS.

>> AS WE'RE CLOSING DOWN HERE, COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE STATION THAT WERE OF GREAT HELP TO ALL OF US.

AND LEE LEFT -- HE WAS OUR PRINTER AND GRAPHIC ARTIST.

-- LEFT JUST RECENTLY.

AND ALSO MATT LEFT.

HE WAS THE PERSON THAT DID A LOT OF THE -- STUFF FOR THIS SHOW AND ALSO HOSTED THE DESTINATION MICHIGAN SHOW.

AND HE WAS DARN GOOD AT IT.

AND WE CERTAINLY -- WE CERTAINLY MISS HIM.

YOU KNOW, FOLKS, WE'RE JUST ABOUT -- THERE'S A QUESTION HERE ABOUT THE TRIBAL -- ABOUT THE TRIBAL SETTLEMENT AND WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT AND MARK WILL KNOW MORE.

THAT QUESTION CAME FROM NEWBURY.

AND HOW CAN YOU TELL AN OLD STYLE BEAR COMPARED TO A SMELL?

IS IT ETHICAL TO DO SO?

THEY'RE ALL LEGAL TO TAKE.

AND BEAR NUMBERS ARE NOT IN ANY SORT OF DESPERATE SHAPE AT ALL.

>> BUT AGAIN, IT IS ILLEGAL TO HARVEST A SOW WITH CUBS OR A CUB BEAR.

>> OR A CUB BEAR, RIGHT.

SO WHERE WANT -- WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

REMEMBER, THIS IS PUBLIC TELEVISION., WITHER CMU.

WE'RE THE ONLY -- WCMU.

WE'RE THE ONLY PLACE WITH AN ASK THE DNR SHOW LIKE THIS.

I REALLY THANK YOU, CHAD.

ALSO I WANT WANT TO THANK DAVE AND SUE AND MR. KELSO FROM THE -- FROM THE WEXFORD MISSOKI DISTRICT.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE.

TAKING THE QUESTIONS AND GETTING THEM TO US.

JOIN US NEXT APRIL WE'LL BE BACK FOR MORE "ASK THE DNR."

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