>> IT'S APRIL 8 AND WE ARE BACK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF ASK THE DNR.

I'M BOB GARNER AND WE ARE BACK AT THE STUDIOS WHERE WE'VE GOT SHELBY ADAMS AND MARK AND LT. MOLNAR.

CALL THE NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION, WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MINUTE TO GET THAT THOSE QUESTIONS.

I EXPECT A LOT OF THEM TONIGHT, SO GET THEM LINED UP.

HERE WE ARE WITH SOME OF MY FAVORITE FOLKS AGAIN, SHELBY FROM THE ATLANTA FIELD OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, SHELBY.

THANKS FOR AGREEING TO COME BY AND DO THIS.

THE FIRST TIME YOU DID THIS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE GOT YOU IN ABOUT A SEVEN MINUTES TO GO BEFORE THE SHOW CAME ON AND YOU WERE GREAT TO DO IT, AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU'VE AGREED TO DO IT EVERY SINCE.

MARK, FISHERIES BIOLOGIST, OUT OF CLACK, MARK, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BIG BIRTHDAY COMING UP HERE SOMETIME IN THE FALL.

IS IT 30 OR 40, I THINK?

>> YEAH.

>> ONE OF THOSE.

>> AND OF COURSE, YOU REMEMBER DEAN MOLNAR, IT WAS ON FOR SO MANY, MANY YEARS, NOW JOE HIS SON OUT OF TRAVIS CITY AND CADILLAC, LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF DNR, GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, TOO.

WE STARTED DUCK HUNTING, WHAT, 23, 24 YEARS AGO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

KNOWN MANY OF THESE PEOPLE AN AWFULLY LONG TIME AND I HAVE JUST THE GREATEST OF REGARD OR ALL OF THEM AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU CAME BACK TO DO THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOING IT REMOTELY, I SEE YOU AT THE STUDIO RIGHT NOW AND YOU FOLKS ARE ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT CERTAINLY IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF US TONIGHT.

WE'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CALLED IN OR SENT IN ON EMAIL, BUT BEFORE WE START OUT TONIGHT, MARK, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS WITH ALL THE COVID STUFF, WE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF FISH TO PLANT LAST YEAR, TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SPRING STEEL HELD RUNS AND FISH TAKES, AND ARE WE GOING TO HAVE FISH TO PLANT THIS YEAR?

>> THE DEAL WAS LAST YEAR WE DID NOT DO A WALLEYE EGG TAKE OR STEELHEAD EGG TAKE.

WE AREN'T ABLE TO PLANT ANY WALLY OR STEELHEAD THIS SPRING, WE'VE DONE A WALLY EGG TAKE THIS YEAR SO WE WILL BE STOCKING THIS COMING SUMMER AND WE'RE PLANNING TO DO A STEELHEAD EGG TAKE, WE HOPE TO START THAT NEXT WEEK.

WE TRIED THIS WEEK AND THE FISH WEREN'T RIPE YET, SO HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE BACK TO STOCKING STEEL HELD AS NORMAL NEXT SUMMER.

THEN AS FAR AS THE FISHING GOES, THE STEELHEAD RUN HAS KIND OF STALLED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE WATER IS SO LOW AND SO CLEAR IN ALL THE RIVERS, WE DEFINITELY NEED SOME RAIN.

>> WE HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH HIGH WATER THEN, RIGHT?

>> IT'S AMAZING, YOU GO FROM HIGH WATER ALL THE TIME TO NO WATER, AND MAN, OUR RIVERS ARE ALL REALLY LOW, REALLY CLEAR, MAKING FOR SOME REALLY TOUGH CONDITIONS TO CATCH STEELHEAD.

>> ARE SUCKERS ON THE WAY?

>> THE SUCKERS WILL BE COMING REAL QUICK.

>> THE WALLEYES EGG TAKE THAT WAS DONE ON THE MUSKEGON RIVER, CORRECT?

>> YES, BELOW CROTEN DAM, IN APRIL OR LAST WEEK OF MARCH, AND ONE DAY LAST WEEK.

A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

>> THINGS ARE LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR WHEN WE GOT HILT.

>> YES.

>> UPSIDE THE HEAD WITH THIS PANDEMIC SITUATION.

>> YEP.

>> OK. JOE, LET'S GO TO A QUESTION ABOUT THAT COMES FROM CAL KASSICALS CA.

HUNTERS WONDER WHY HUNTERS CAN'T KEEP THEIR BLINDS UP ON STATE LAND.

>> THAT WAY THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING A CHUNK OF LAND AS THEIRS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

ONE THING TO CONSIDER WITH TREE STANDS IS WHEN YOU DO PUT THEM UP AND HAVE THEM UP WITH STRAPS OR CHAINS OR WHATEVER DEVICE YOU MIGHT USE, THAT MIGHT START GROWING INTO THE TREE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THEM OFF THE TREE, THAT WAY THEY CAN NOT BE INHIBITED BY THE THREE STAND ITSELF, BUT THE MAIN REASON IS TO GIVE EVERYONE A GOOD FAIR SHOT AT SCOUTING AN AREA, LOCATING AN AREA AND PUTTING THEIR BLINDS UP IN THE FALL SEASON.

PART OF THE ASPECT IS SOME OF THE BLINDS GET UNSIGHTLY AND START TO DECAY AND ROT AND BY REMOVING ANNUALLY HELPS ASSURE THE TRASH THAT THESE BLINDS MIGHT CREATE GETS TAKEN OFF OF THE LAND.

>> THE OTHER THING, TOO, PEOPLE THAT LEAVE THEIR STANDS UP ARE TRYING TO KIND OF CLAIM A PIECE OF STATE LAND FOR THEIR OWN TRUTHFULLY, AREN'T THEY?

>> CORRECT.

>> THEY JUST THINK THAT'S THEIRS, AND IT'S NOT, IT BELONG TO SAY EVERYBODY.

THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS WHEN THEY BUILT THEIR OWN STANDS UP THERE, BIG WOODEN PLATFORMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ANY WAY, WHAT I WAS SAYING, WHEN I WORKED FOR THE LEGISLATURE THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ALSO THOUGHT THAT THEY OUGHT TO TAKE THEM DOWN OR AT LEAST AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

FROM BRUT AT US, FOLKS WANT TO KNOW WILL THERE BE ONE OF THE SAME DEER LICENSE IN THE NORTHERN FOR DOUGHS AND BUCKS LIKE LAST YEAR?

>> SHELBY?

>> YES, THAT WASN'T BE ANY CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR, BASICALLY, YOUR COMBO TACK OR SINGLE BUCK LICENSE WILL WORK IN THE LOWER PENINSULA.

>> OK. OK. NEXT THING, CURRENTLY DNR REQUIRES A PERSON OR HUNTER BE 450 FEET FROM AN OCCUPIED DWELLING FOR DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM.

CAN THIS RESTRICTION BE ENFORCED IN THE CASE OF ADJOINING HUNTING PROPERTIES THAT PLACE DEAR BLINDS RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY LINE?

IF NOT, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY EITHER LEGISLATION OR THE NRC RULE.

FIRST OF ALL, DNR DOESN'T, IT'S NOT A DNR RULE ANY WAY, RIGHT, JOE, THAT'S A LAW.

>> THE FORE HUNDRED 50-FOOT HUNTING WITH A FIREARM IS A STATE STATUTE AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE DO GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT HUNTERS PUTTING UP BLINDS RIGHT ALONG PROPERTY LINES BUT AS LONG AS THEIR ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY, THEY ARE LEGALLY HUNTING, SO IN THEORY, YOU COULD HAVE A BLIND ON YOUR PROPERTY AND A FOOT OVER THE LINE, THE NEIGHBOR COULD HAVE THEIR BLIND.

THE 450-FOOT, IT'S OCCUPIED DWELL, SO YOU'RE DEALING WITH HOUSES, BARNS, ANYTHING TO DO WITH FARMING OPERATIONS, BUT NO, THERE'S NO RESTRICTION AS LONG AS THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY.

>> BLINDS AREN'T CONSIDERED AN OCCUPIED DOMICILE ANY WAY.

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT AT ALL CONSIDERED AN OCCUPIED DWELLING.

>> THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM THAT ANYWAY.

AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE, JOE, HAD ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WAS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR ABOUT SINCE THERE'S NO BAITING IN THE LOWER PENINSULA, AND IF THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR, THAT THEY CAN GO OVER AND GET A DEER, YOU KNOW, THAT MAYBE THEY'VE SHOT AND THEN ABOVER THERE, BUT THEIR CONCERNED IF THEY TURN THEM IN FOR BAITING, ILLEGAL BAITING, THAT IT'S GOING TO.

>> UP ALL THOSE TACIT APPROVALS THAT THEY'VE GOT WITH OTHER LAND OPENERS IN THE AREA THAT THAT'S GOING TO MESS ALL THAT UP.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS BAITING'S ILLEGAL, RIGHT?

>> BAITING'S ILLEGAL AND THAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN NEIGHBORS CAN BE A DIFFICULT ONE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A HUNTER AND IN AN AREA WHERE BAITING IS CLOSED AND YOU'RE GOING TO HUNT LEGALLY ETHICALLY AND RAISE YOUR FAMILY TO DO SO, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AREN'T DOING IT, IT CAN CAUSE CONFLICT.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAYBE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE AN AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO IT LEGALLY.

YOU MIGHT WORK TOGETHER AS FAR AS TRYING TO PUT IN SOME FOOD PLOTS IN YOUR PROPERTY, ONE PERSON BUYS ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO HELP PUT THE FOOD PLOTS IN AND THE OTHER ONE BUYS THE OTHER ONE AND WORK AS A TEAM TO MAKE IT LIKELY AT THAT TIME DEER ARE GOING TO COME THROUGH AND BROWSE.

>> THE MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTINGS ARE COUGAR SITINGS, WE BASICALLY HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IF ANY OF THEM COME IN, WE HAVE A GROUP THAT LOOKS AT THEM ALTOGETHER, PART OF THE COUGAR TEAM.

SO FAR, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM TWO SIGHTINGS FOR 2021 SO THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR THERE WERE 15 SIGHTINGS AND THEY'VE ALL BEEN IN THE U.P., ALL OF OUR CONFIRMATION.

>> OK. IS -- THIS IS A STRANGE ONE, IS ANYBODY PLANNING TO ADD WATER BACK TO THE LAKES.

THIS COMES FROM WICKS LAKING IN GLADWIN.

THAT'S A PRETTY DIFFICULT ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THE DAMS BACK TO HOLD THE WATER AND I THINK EVENTUALLY, THAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE, ISN'T IT, THE WHOLE ISSUE OF DAMS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YEAH, IT IS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE ISSUE BECOMES WHO PAYS FOR THE DAM, SHOULD IT BE TAXPAYERS THAT PAY FOR A DAM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE LAKEFRONT PROPERTY OR SHOULD IT BE THOSE PEOPLE THAT OWN PROPERTY ON THE LAKE, SHOULD THEY PAY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DAM TO BE REBUILT.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEING WORKED OUT RIGHT NOW, AND I, YOU KNOW, I SUSPECT THAT IN THE END, THEY'LL PROBABLY FIND SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO REBUILD THE DAM OR THE DAMS WHETHER IT'S LONG TERM LOANS, BUT IT'S NOT IN MY AREA, SO I'M NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT JUST DAM MANAGEMENT IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE AND IF YOU ARE EVER THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING PROPERTY ON AN IMPOUNDMENT, YOU SHOULD DO YOUR RESEARCH, DO YOUR HOMEWORK, KNOW WHO OWNS THE DAM AND KNOW THAT THAT DAM IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND BEING TAKEN CARE OF REGULARLY.

>> AND ON TOP OF IT, KNOW THAT IT CAN BE BLOWN OUT AT ANY TIME UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE LAKE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND WHO PAYS.

AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN -- THAT'S WHY A LOT OF DAM REMOVELES HAPPEN IN MICHIGAN BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO ECONOMICS BECAUSE MAINTAINING A DAM IS NOT INEXPENSIVE.

MAINTAINING A DAM, JUST KEEPING IT SAFE AND KEEPING IT, YOU KNOW, UP TO STANDARDS IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND SO THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS, OK, I CAN'T OFFERED THIS, I NEED TO REMOVE THIS DAM AND LET THIS RETURN BACK TO A RIVER.

>> 10-YEAR-OLD BY THE NAME OF WEIL FROM SOUTH GATE, HOW COOL IS THIS, WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON VIOLATION, JOE, PROBABLY ASK THIS ONE OF YOU SINCE YOU CAME OUT OF THE DETROIT AREA, KIND OF DOWN THERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON VIOLATION YOU SEE AMONG HUNTERS AND FISHERMAN IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN?

A LITTLE TURN ON THAT ONE.

IS THERE SOME COMMON THREAD THAT YOU SEE?

>> THAT'S A HARD ONE TO SAY WITH OUR CONSTANTLY CHANGE IN SEASONS AND RECREATIONAL FOCUSES.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU START GETTING FISH RUNS, YOU KNOW, THE MOST COMMON ONE WE'RE SEEING IS PROBABLY RETAINING A FISH OR KEEPING A SNAGGED FISH WHEREAS DURING DEER SEASON, WE SEE A LOT OF BAITING, PEOPLE HUNTING WITHOUT LICENSES, IT'S REGION SPECIFIC AND TIME OF THE YEAR SPECIFIC.

THAT'S A PRETTY HARD ONE TO COME UP WITH ONE SPECIFIC ANSWER.

>> YEAH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

IF SOME FOLKS WANT TO KNOW IF YOU'RE BAITING DEER, IS THAT CONSIDERED POACHING?

>> SO IT'S TAKING A DEER BY ILLEGAL METHOD.

YOU COULD BE CHARGED RESTITUTION FOR THE DEER, YOU COULD LOSE HUNTING PRIVILEGES, YOU COULD LOSE THE FIREARM OR ARCHERY EQUIPMENT THAT YOU USED TO HARVEST IT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE CHARGED WITH TAKING A DEER BY ILLEGAL METHOD, SO IT IS A FORM OF POACH I CAN BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT GIVES YOURSELF AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER SOMEONE ELSE DOING THAT LEGALLY, SO YOU WOULD LIKELY LOSE THE DEER AND AGAIN, YOU'RE SUBJECT TO FINES, COSTS AND FOR THE DEER.

>> LIKE SHOOTING A DEER AT NIGHT WITH A LIGHT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SHELBY, PRETTY SIMPLE QUESTION ABOUT WOLVES IN THE U.P.

IS THERE CURRENTLY A WOLF SEASON IN THE U.P., FACEBOOK QUESTION.

>> NOT CURRENTLY, NO.

>> NOT CURRENTLY, A LOT OF THINGS WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO PLACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

>> SHELBY, ARE THERE PLANS TO CUT BACK BEAR TAGS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA?

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD BE WITH THAT, YOU'RE MAINLY IN THE LOWER.

>> I DEFINITELY LOW THE LOWER PENINSULA IN DISCUSSION.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE ON THE U.P.

BEAR TAGS AND DIRECTION THEY'RE HEADED BUT THERE'S LOTS OF MEETINGS AND PEOPLE GET VERY INVOLVED IN THAT.

CODY NORTON WITH THE DNR IS OUR BEAR SPECIALIST, SO HE'S A PERSON YOU COULD GET IN CONTACT WITH IF QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE BEAR POPULATION.

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

A QUESTION FROM LEWIS AND THAT IS NOT OF ANY OF YOUR EXPERTISE, BUT HECK, YOU GUYS DEAL WITH THE FORESTERS A LITTLE BIT.

WHY ARE ALL THE TREES IN THE LEWISTON AREA LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BEING STRIPPED.

>> STRIPPED?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE DOING A CLEAR CUT OR WHETHER.

>> IT DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M PICTURING, IF THAT'S CORRECT, BUT OCCASIONALLY WILDLIFE CAN STRIP THE BARK OFF OF TREES, LEWIS TO THAT, IT'S POSSIBLE ELK COULD BE NEAR THAT AREA AND ELK WILL DO LIKE A BARK STRIPPING WHERE THEY LOSE THEIR LOWER JAW AND STRIP BARK OFF TREES.

DEER MIGHT USE THEIR ANTLER TO SAY RUB AGAINST A TREE.

>> MAYBE IT'S A DISEASE ISSUE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TOO?

>> ONE OF THE MAJOR TREES WORKED THE AREA IS THERE'S A LOT OF OAK THROUGHOUT LEWISTON, POSSIBLE WE GOT OAK WILL.

THERE'S POCKETS IN WILL WHISTON, YOU MOVE OVER TO LONG SWAMP, A LOT OF THOSE TREES ARE STRIPPED, SO NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING, BUT THERE'S A BUNCH OF AP, BARK FALLING OFF THE TREES.

MAYBE YOU HAVE AN AREA THAT HAVE LAST THEIR BARK, TOO.

>> OK. >> FROM CAN WAY, DUCK HUNTER, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM DUCK HUNTERS, THEY TEND TO UNDERSTAND THEIR SPORT VERY, VERY WELL.

THIS IS A GOOD ONE.

THIS IS A DARN GOOD QUESTION FROM CONWAY.

PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION OF THE 450-FOOT RULE FOR LAYOUT BOATS.

YOU HAVE TO BE 450-FOOT AWAY FROM AN OCCUPIED DWELLING, RIGHT?

>> YEP, WHETHER YOU BE DUCK HUNTING OR, YOU KNOW, HUNTING IN A FIELD, YOU HAVE TO BE 450 FEET FROM AN OCCUPIED OR OCCUPIABLE DWELLING UNLESS YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM A LANDOWNER.

IF A LANDOWNER SAYS YOU CAN HUNT WITHIN MY 450 FEET, IT'S ADVISEDDABLE TO GET A RANGE FINDER OUT SO ASSURE THAT YOU OR WHAT YOU'RE SHOOTING AT IS NOT GOING TO BE IN SERIES OF THAT.

>> THAT MEANS 450 FEET AWAY FROM ANY LAND OWNER YOU TO HAVE PERMISSION FROM.

>> CORRECT.

IF YOU'RE ON A LAKE, I MEAN A LOT OF LAKEFRONT PROPERTIES, THERE'S HOUSES STACKED UPON EACH OTHER DUE TO NARROW LOTS, SO THERE MIGHT BE MORE HOUSES THAT YOU'D HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM.

>> SOME OF YOUR OFFICERS, NOT YOUR OFFICERS, BUT SOME OF THE OFFICERS IN THE STATE MADE A NUMBER OF CASES ON THAT THIS YEAR, TOO, CORRECT?

>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR AT ALL WITH THOSE CASES, BUT EVERY YEAR, WE DO RESPOND TO A LOT OF SAFETY ZONE COMPLAINTS.

>> OK. OK. NEXT QUESTION HERE IS WITH HIGHER PRICES NOW COMING FOR PHEASANT HUNTING, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE MORE OF THE OLD WHAT WE USED TO CALL THE PUT TAKE PHEASANT HUNTING.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY PHEASANT IN MY REGION AT ALL BUT THEY MOVED IN THAT DIRECTION RECENTLY OF STOCKING SOME PHEASANTS AND I KNOW THAT HABITAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE A LOT RECENTLY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT TO IMPROVE HAPPEN AT THAT TIME IN THAT AREA.

>> SO THE LEGISLATURE DID PUT INTO PLACE AND AGAIN, ANYTIME THERE'S A NEW LICENSE CREATED OR MADE, THAT'S SOMETHING DONE BY THE LEGISLATURE, NOT NECESSARILY THE DNR, AND WHAT WAS DONE IS THAT THERE IS NOW A $25 PHEASANT TAG OR STAMP OR HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE HUNTING ON PUBLIC LAND.

HUNTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR A PHEASANT RESERVE, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THAT.

DURING THESE PAST YEARS, NOT DURING COVID, BUT THE DEPARTMENT WAS PUTTING OUT PHEASANT ON CERTAIN GAME AREAS ACROSS THE LOWER PENINSULA, TRYING TO REINTRODUCE THE PHEASANT POPULATION AND GET PEOPLE BACK INTERESTED INTO THE SPORT.

>> YEAH.

BOY, WHEN WE HAD PHEASANTS AND I WAS NEVER IN IT DURING THE HEYDAY, YOU KNOW, I'M 68, BUT I WAS NEVER THERE DURING THE HEYDAY OF IT WHEN WE HAD A LOT MORE PHEASANTS THAN WE CURRENTLY DO, IT WAS JUST A REAL FUN FUN FUN THING TO SPEND A DAY WITH THE DOG PHEASANT HUNTING.

IT WAS GREAT.

MARK AND BOTH MARK AND JOE COULD CHIME IN ON THIS, THIS WOULD BE PRETTY COOL.

FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT A QUESTION ABOUT THE MUSKEGON RIVER, VERY LOW WATER LEVELS, MARK, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING.

EVEN SOME DRY GROUND OUT THERE WHERE IT USED TO BE RIVER AND THESE FOLKS WERE FISHING OUT THERE WHERE A PROPERTY OWNER SAID HE WAS TRESPASSING NEAR HARDY DAM.

WOULD THAT BE TRUE?

IF THEY WERE IN THE NORMAL RUN OF THE RIVER, I WOULDN'T THINK THAT WOULD BE TRUE, WOULD IT?

>> SO WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO'S WADE FISHING, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO WADE WITHIN THE DEFINED BANKS OF THE RIVER AND TRAVERSE THE RIVER IN THE NORMAL ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARKS.

NOT KNOWING EXACTLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING THE CALLER'S QUESTION, I WOULDN'T WANT TO WEIGH IN WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE DETAILS, BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE ARE FISHING A RIVER SYSTEM, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE STAYING WITHIN THE WATER.

THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN EXIT THE WATER AND GO ON TO DRY LAND IS TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE, A LOG DOWN ACROSS THE RIVER, BUT ON EXITING THE WATER, THE QUICKEST MOST DIRECT ROUTE TO GET AROUND THE OBSTACLE AND BACK IN.

>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN GET OUT, TAKE A FEW CASTES AND THEN GET BACK IN.

>> THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, MAYBE, HUH?

OK. OK.

THANKS, MARK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OK. HEY, JOE, CAN YOU HUNT FROM AN UPSTAIRS WINDOW FROM A COTTAGE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

>> AS LONG AS YOU'RE HUNTING IN THE SEASON THAT ALLOWS YOU TO HUNT FROM AN ELEVATED PLATFORM OR HUNTING BLIND, YEAH, YOU CAN.

A HOUSE IS JUST A VERY COMFORTABLE BLIND.

I GUESS SAFETY ZONES ARE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.

>> SO LONG AS YOU'RE NOT WITHIN 450 FEET.

>> OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.

>> AND THIS QUESTION FROM HARRISON TO SHELBY.

IS THE DNR STUDYING THE EFFECTS ON WEST NILE VIRUS ON THE GROUSE POPULATION?

YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A STUDY THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES STATES, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE STUDY LOOKING AT WEST NILE VIRUS IN GROUSE AND THERE'S EARLY DATA OUT RIGHT NOW BASICALLY SHOWING, HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT IN A WHILE BUT 10% TO 20% IN SOME OF THE ANIMALS THEY WERE LOOKING AT.

IT'S STILL AT PRETTY EARLY STAGES, BUT THEY ARE DOING RESEARCH ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> FROM MIDLAND.

FOLKS WANT TO KNOW IS THE LACK OF RUNOFF OR LACK OF FISH DELAYING THE SPRING EGG TAKE OPT LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER?

I THINK YOU BEGAN THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT THAT, MARK.

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS THE FISH WEREN'T RIPE YET.

WE SUSPECT THEY'LL BE RIPE AND READY TO GO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE HOPING TO GET STARTED NEXT WEEK BUT YEAH, WE COULD DEFINITELY USE MORE FISH AND WE KNOW MORE RAIN WILL BRING MORE FISH.

>> MORE RAIN WILL BRING MORE FISH AND APRIL SHOWERS BRING MORE FLOWERS AND MORE FISH.

>> I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE FISH THAN THE FLOWERS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HERE MAY BE THE BEST QUESTION OF THE NIGHT.

THIS IS A QUESTION WORTH WAITING FOR RIGHT HERE.

AND IT'S A PRACTICAL QUESTION, AND JOE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY RIGHT OR WRONG TO THIS, BUT YOU CAN TELL ME.

DO YOU NEED A HARD COPY OF A FISHING LICENSE OR IS A COPY ON YOUR PHONE OK?

BASICALLY THAT'S FINE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, SO THESE LAST COUPLE YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A, YOU KNOW, A DIGITAL LICENSING SYSTEM.

OUR FISHING LICENSES WERE THE FIRST ONES TO DO IT, BUT THE ONE CAVEAT IS THAT ANYTIME YOU ARE OUT WITH A LICENSE, YOU STILL HAVE TO PRODUCE THE IDENTIFICATION USED TO PURCHASE THE LICENSE, AS WELL, SO YOU'D NEED YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR YOUR SPORT CARD OR WHATEVER YOU USED TO PURCHASE IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO DISPLAY IT AND AGAIN, DIGITAL FORM FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT TAG RELATED, SO YOUR DEER TAG OR MUST KEY TAG WOULDN'T WORK BUT YOUR FISHING LICENSE CAN BE PRODUCED DIGITALLY.

>> THEY'RE ALL ON LINE, ALL AVAILABLE, SO IF YOU LIE TO A C.O.

AND SAY YEAH, I LEFT IT UP AT THE CABIN THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW VERY QUICKLY WHETHER YOU'RE USING A LITTLE LINE OF B.S.

OR NOT, RIGHT?

VERY, VERY SIMPLY.

HERE'S A COOL, ANOTHER COOL QUESTION TOO.

FROM ALPINA.

IS IT LEGAL TO FEED WILD TURKEY IF THE DEER CANNOT GET TO THE FEED?

>> WE STILL ALLOW FEEDING OF TURKEYS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT IN A FEEDER THAT RESTRICT SAID DEER ACCESS TO IT.

THERE'S VARIOUS DIFFERENT SHELTERED POULTRY FEEDERS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.

OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ELEVATED IT SO THAT THE DEER CAN'T ACCESS, BUT IT DOES CREATE AN ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU GOT BIRD FEEDERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AS THE SQUIRRELS, BLUE JAYS OR AT YOUR KEYS GET IN AND SCATTER STUFF AROUND, DEER GET ACCESS TO SOME OF THAT FEED.

YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF FEED BEING EATEN BY THE AT YOUR KEYS OR THE BIRDS SO THE DEER CAN'T GET TO IT.

AT YOUR KEYS, SINCE IT IS JUST ABOUT TURKEY SEASON, YOU CAN'T HUNT TURKEY OVER BAIT, EITHER.

IF YOU'VE GOT A TURKEY FEEDER DON'T BE TEMPTED.

>> WHEN THAT SEASON GETS CLOSE, CUT IT OUT.

>> ONE GOOD REMINDER RELATIVE TO THAT, BEAR ARE COMING OUT OF THEIR DENSE, SO, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE UP IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN, IT'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR TO STOP FEEDING BIRDS, I GET A LOT OF CALLS ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR RELATIVE TO BEARS AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING BRINGING THEM IN, SO YOU DON'T WANT A FEEDING SITUATION.

>> I FIGURED IT OUT ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT SAY I GOT BEARS AROUND.

WELL, YOU GOT A BIRD FEEDER GOING?

YEAH.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE BIRTH FEEDER IN, HEY, GET A CLUE, YOU KNOW.

>> THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.

DO YOU HAVE A BIRD FEEDER OUT.

>> I NEVER FIGURE OUT HOW THEY THINK THEY CAN DO BOTH, KEEP BEAR AWAY AND FEED BIRDS.

ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION THAT CAME IN, TOO, HAS COVID-19 EVER BEEN FOUND IN WILDLIFE.

I WOULD DOUBT IT, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

>> I THOUGHT I READ THAT IT HAD BEEN FOUND IN MINK.

>> MINK, YEAH, MINK WAS THE ONE THAT I'M REMEMBERING, I KNOW MINK FARMS PARTICULARLY WERE HIT HARD WITH IT.

I'M TRYING TO WRACK MY MAIN IF IN WILD MINK, AS WELL.

THE FARM DID GET HIT EARLY ON DURING COVID.

>> THEY DO GET SOME STRANGER DISEASES ON MINK FARMS THAN OTHER POP LACES.

I WONDER WHY THAT IS, BUT THEY ALWAYS HAVE.

ANOTHER FACEBOOK QUESTION, TOO, WOULD PUTTING ON A WATERING TANK BE CONSIDERED BAITING?

>> NO.

>> OK. WHERE CAN YOU CATCH BLUE HERRING ALSO CALLED CISCO'S MARK, ACTUALLY IN A LOT OF PLACES, CAN'T YOU?

>> YEAH, IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CISCO'S, GRAND TRAVERSE BASE HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

I'VE HEARD OF PEOPLE CATCHING THEM ALREADY THIS SPRING, JIGGING THEM, BUT YEAH, THE GRAND TRAVERSE BASE, OMAN KEY, THERE'S A LOT OF CISCO AROUND.

IT'S A POPULAR FISHERY THESE DAYS.

CHARLEVOIX IS ANOTHER SPOT, THE CHANNEL THERE, THEY GET A LOT OF REALLY NICE ONES THERE, AS WELL.

THAT'S A FISHERY THAT'S BLOWN UP JUST IN THE LAST I DON'T KNOW, 8-10 YEARS, IT'S REALLY BECOME POPULAR AND IT'S KIND OF NEAT.

THE CISCOS HAVE KIND OF REHABILITATED THEMSELVES.

IT WASN'T THROUGH ANYTHING WE DID.

THEY BASICALLY KIND OF CAME BACK ON THEIR OWN.

IT WAS A FISHERY THAT WAS AT A REAL LOW LEVEL FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY WEREN'T EXTINCT BUT THEY WEREN'T REAL COMMON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CAME ROARING BACK AND IT'S A REAL GOOD FISHERY RIGHT NOW.

>> THOSE ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD TO EAT IF YOU EAT THEM FRESH, TOO, RIGHT?

>> YES, I SMOKE THEM, I GRILL THEM.

I'LL FRY THEM.

BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE A SPECIES YOU WANT TO EAT FRESH.

FROZEN, I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE DO IT, BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE TRY TO EAT THEM FRESH.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THAT WAS FROM ASPIRIA, PEOPLE CALLING FROM MANISTEE.

MARK, STAY TUNED, YOU'RE YOU WILL STILL.

THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE LAKE MICHIGAN CHUBB.

WILL IT MAKE ANOTHER APPEARANCE, WILL THEY COME BACK?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY'RE REFERRING TO BLOATER CHUBBS AND THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE.

THEY'RE STILL A PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE FORAGE COMMUNITY IN THE LAKE.

HE HAD HE WILL WISE DEFINITELY REDUCED THEIR NUMBERS.

YOU DON'T HAVE COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN TARGETING THEM ANYMORE.

YOU CAN'T GET THEM LIKE YOU USED TO BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THE MARKET, NO COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN ARE TARGETING THEM BUT THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE IN VIABLE NUMBERS.

>> MARK, WHILE WE'VE GOT YOU ON THE FISHING LINE HERE, ARE YOU PLAN ON STOCKING ANY WALES IN MANISTEE LAKE?

>> WELL, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MANISTEE LAKES, ONE IN KALKASKA COUNTY AND ONE IN MANISTEE COUNTY.

KALKASKA COUNTY WE STOCK.

THE ONE IN MANISTEE COUNTY WE DO NOT STOCK.

THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD FISHERY WITHOUT US STOCKING IT.

>> HAD GREAT QUESTIONS COMING IN HERE.

LET'S HAVE A TOSS UP, GET INTO QUIZ BOWL HERE, A TOSS UP WITH THE THREE OF YOU.

I WOULDN'T BE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ONE, CON THE DNR SIMPLIFY HUNTING AND FISHING REGULATIONS?

THEY'RE VERY CONFUSING.

ANYTIME YOU LIBERALIZE REGULATIONS, IT GETS CONFUSING.

IT WAS ONE DEER PER CALENDAR YEAR, THAT WAS IT AND IT HAD TO BE A BUCK UNLESS YOU HAD A LICENSE.

IT WAS ONE.

THAT'S IT.

NOW THAT YOU CAN DO A FEW MORE THINGS, THAT'S WHEN IT GETS CONFUSING, I WOULD THINK.

DO YOU GREISS AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YEAH, I DO THINK, I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, THOUGH ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INTO HUNTING AND FISHING, LIKE IT CAN BE DIFFICULT IF YOU LOOK AT A REGULATION AND FIND THEM TO BE CONFUSING.

ONE THING WE DO WHEN WE EVALUATE REGULATIONS, DECIDING WHAT CHANGES TO MAKE IS WE DECIDE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOW COMPLEX IT'S GOING TO BE FOR NEW HUNTER AND RETURNING HUNTERS AND IT IS A CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR CHANGES IN REGULATIONS WHICH SOME LIKE, SOME DON'T, ONE OF THE FACTORS WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS WAYS TO MAKE IT MORE SIMPLE.

WE DO TRY, BUT I DO OFTEN KNOW THAT IT CAN BE COMPLEX, AS WELL.

>> IF YOU'RE EVER CONFUSED, PLEASE CALL US.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT IF SOMEONE CALLS ME AND SAYS YOUR BOOK IS TOO CONFUSING, I DON'T GET IT, I WILL TAKE AS LONG AS YOU NEED, WE'LL GET THROUGH THE BOOK AND WE'LL HANG UP WITH YOU UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

THE BATTLE WE FIGHT SOMETIMES IS BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE FISHING BE WORLD, YOU'VE GOT AVID ANGLERS WHO WANT US TO MICRO MANAGE, THEY WANT THIS STREAM STRETCH MANAGED THIS WAY AND THIS STREAM STRETCH MANAGED THIS WAY AND THIS LAKE MANAGED WITH A SLOT LIMIT AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT SIMPLE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL.

THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO READ THIS THING BEFORE THEY GO FISHING, YOU KNOW, SO WE TRY TO STRIKE THE BALANCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, USING BIOLOGY AND SCIENCE TO MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DON'T WANT TO GO SO COMPLEX THAT IT PUSHES PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE SPORT.

MY PLEA IS THAT IF YOU ARE EVER CONFUSED, CALL US.

WE HAVE NO PROBLEM EXPLAINING.

>> IN LINE WITH CALLING US, ALL OF THE NUMBERS TO THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS LISTED IN EVERY SINGLE HUNTING AND FISHING GUIDE.

YOU MIGHT GET A QUESTION HERE TONIGHT THAT'S TOO SPECIFIC ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC STREAM OR ONE SPECIFIC AREA.

MARK'S GOT IT UP, ALL OF OUR GUIDES HAVE A MAP OF THE STATE WITH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, LISTED PHONE NUMBERS.

WE STILL HAVE STAFF ANSWERING THOSE PHONES.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LISTEN TO A MESSAGE AND IT WILL DIRECT YOU TO A CELL PHONE BUT WE STILL HAVE OUR FRONT LINE STAFF ANSWERING THE PHONES, GETTING YOUR QUESTIONS OUT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.

>> YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.

I ENJOY THIS SO MUCH.

MARK, CHARLEVOIX, WILL THE SNELL POPULATION EVER COME BACK.

IT WILL BE UP AND DOWN, WOULDN'T IT?

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD BETTER SMELT RUN IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND THERE HAVE BEEN AVAILABILITY SMELT RUNS ON THE WEST COAST IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

IT'S BEEN QUIET, AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUND THEM ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY ADVERTISING IT, BUT THERE ARE STILL SMELT AROUND, NOT LIKE THERE WERE IN THE 1990'S, BUT THERE ARE STILL SMELT AROUND AND THEY STILL CAN BE DIPPED.

>> ANOTHER FACEBOOK QUESTION FROM A 10-YEAR-OLD, A 10-YEAR-OLD THAT SENT A FACEBOOK QUESTION, WELL, THEY ALWAYS IF I SEE THEM IN TIME GET THEM ASKED.

THIS ONE, HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DRUMROLL PLEASE, ARE YOU ALL READY TO HELP THIS YOUNG PERSON OUT, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DOES THE 450-FOOT RULE APPLY TO A CROSSBOW.

>> NO, IT DOES NOT.

THE 450-FOOT SAFETY ZONE ONLY APPLIES TO HUNTING WITH A FIRE ARTICLE.

HUNTING WITH ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, WHETHER IT BE BOW AND ARROW OR CROSSBOW, THAT SAFETY ZONE DOES NOT APPLY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SHOOTING AT AND WHAT LACE BEYOND IT, CARELESS DISCHARGE OF ARCHERY EQUIPMENT STILL COMES INTO PLAY BUT THERE IS NO SAFETY ZONE, JUST NEED TO BE A SAFE RESPONSIBLE SHOOTER.

>> AND YOU, SIR OR YOUNG LADY HEARD THAT FROM THE MAN IN CHARGE RIGHT THERE.

ISN'T THAT COOL?

>> IS THE DNR STILL STOCKING KING SALMON IN LAKE MICHIGAN?

>> YES, WE ARE STILL STOCKING CHINOOK'S IN LAKE MEASURE AND SEEN ENOUGH RISE IN THE EDELWEISS POPULATION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MODESTLY INCREASE CHINOOK STOCKING.

WORE STOCKING EVEN A FEW MORE CHINOOKS THAN WE MIGHT OTHERWISE IF WE WERE STOCK IN STEELHEAD.

YES, WE ARE STILL STOCKING SALMON.

>> IT'S WIN-WIN ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> ANOTHER FACEBOOK ONE.

MARK, WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING THIS YEAR?

>> THEY'RE DOWN, DEFINITELY DOWN.

I THINK I HEARD THEY CONSIDER LAKE MICHIGAN AND LAKE HURON THE SAME LAKE IN TERMS OF WATER LEVELS.

I HEARD THEY'RE DOWN ABOUT A FOOT FROM WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

>> BUT THEY WERE RECORD HIGH LEVELS LAST YEAR.

>> CORRECT.

STILL GOING TO BE HIGH BUT NOT AS HIGH AS LAST YEAR, AND I THINK BASED ON THE LACK OF PRECIPITATION, THE LACK OF SNOW WE HAD ALL WINTER, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM COME UP A LOT THIS SUMMER.

WHO KNOWS, MOTHER NATURE IS IN CHARGE, NOT US, BUT IF YOU'RE A LAKEFRONT PROPERTY OWNER, I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF AT THIS POINT FROM THE WATER LEVELS RECEDING A LITTLE BIT.

>> OH, YEAH, ESPECIALLY SAGINAW BAY.

OH!

I MEAN TRAVERSE BAY, RATHER.

WHAT DOES THIS CALLER FROM ATLANTA NEED TO OPERATE A FOUR WHEEL QUAD WHILE ICE FISHING?

>> A LICENSE, YOU WOULDN'T NEED A TRAIL PERMIT, SO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR ORV LICENSE, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO OPERATE OFF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

>> YOU NEED TO WEAR A HELMET.

>> YEAH, YOU HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET?

>> NOT IF YOU ARE USING IT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ICE FISHING, TAKING GEAR OUT ON TO THE ICE RESPONSIBLE SPEED BUT THE MINUTE THE KIDS MIGHT BE GETTING BORED AND ARE JOY RIDING ON THE ICE, AT THAT POINT YOU NEED A HELMET.

>> IT'S SMART TO WEAR A HELMET.

>> YEAH, REAL SMART TO WEAR A HELMET.

FOLKS CLAIM THERE IS AN UNLIMITED -- WHEN WILL THAT END?

I DON'T THINK I COULD GOING SHOOT A DOUGH NOW IN MACOSTA COUNTY.

>> THE ANTLER LIST TAG THIS YEAR, THIS COMING SEASON ARE GOING TO BE STATEWIDE FOR THE LOWER PENINSULA.

>> OK. >> OK. >> HOW AND WHERE CAN WE GET MANUALS FOR NEWBIES INTO THE O.R.V.

STUFF?

>> I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OR LOOKING FOR MAYBE O.R.V.

SAFETY CLASS.

>> PROBABLY GO ON LINE, RIGHT?

GO TO THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, WWW.MICHIGAN..GOV/DNR, IT WILL HAVE PICTURES.

IT WILL GIVE YOU A LISTING OF RULES AND REGULATIONS AND YOU CAN CLICK ON AND TRY TO IDENTIFY ANY COURSES, AS WELL.

WE HAVE ON ON LINE COURSE THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO GET THAT O.R.V.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD ALL THIS TALK ABOUT SHARP SHOOTERS SHOOTING DEER?

IS THAT STILL CONTINUING?

>> LOTS OF RUMORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS KIND OF STUFF, SO WILDLIFE SERVICES, WE DO HAVE PERMITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR WILDLIFE SERVICES, WHICH IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION FOR FARMS SO BASICALLY IF THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES IN THE T.V.

AREA WHERE DEER CAN POTENTIALLY CARRYING TUBERCULOSIS TO THEIR CATTLE, THEY CAN CONTACT DNR SERVICES, THEY HAVE REGULATIONS THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN THE RUMORS, AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE PUBLIC, AS WELL, SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN, IF YOU LOOK IN THE DNR WEBSITE FOR TUBERCULOSIS PERMIT NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS ALL PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE, AS WELL.

>> TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN TAKEN AND ALL THAT?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS GET BLOWN WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.

>> OK, WHY DON'T THEY LOWER THE FISHING LICENSE PRICES, BECAUSE THEY LOWERED THE FISH LIMITS.

FIRST THOSE PRICES AREN'T SET BY THE DNR, THOSE ARE ALL SET BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> 26 BUCKS FOR A RESIDENT FISHING LICENSE.

>> AND FOR AN OLD GEEZER LIKE ME, 11.

>> I'M NOT QUITE THERE YET.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OR PAST TIME OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU CAN GET FOR $26.

>> YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TROUT STAMPS OR ANYTHING ANYMORE.

>> SHORT OF OUR RECREATIONAL PASSPORT WHICH I BELIEVE IS $12 NOW, WORTH OF ENJOYMENT, IF I TAKE MY KIDS TO PLAY PUTT PUTT GOLF, I'M GOING TO EASILY SPENT $26 FOR AN AFTERNOON'S OF FUN WHERE I CAN GET THEM OUT DOZENS OF TILES.

$26, I THINK IS ONE OF OUR BEST DEALS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.

>> AND THE KIDS DON'T NEED ONE UNTIL THEY'RE 17.

>> DON'T NEED ONE, NOPE.

>> MARK, YOU HELD UP A BOOKLET EARLIER, SOMEBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GET THAT.

IS THAT A FISHING GUIDE?

>> YEAH, IT'S A FISHING GUIDE.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR LICENSE, NOW OUR OFFICES ARE NOT OPEN.

IF YOU WANT US TO MAIL YOU ONE, THOUGH, WE CAN MAIL YOU ONE FREE OF CHARGE, TOO, SO EITHER GO TO, YOU KNOW, MEIJER OR WALMART, WHEREVER OR A BAIT SHOP, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR LICENSE OR GET AHOLD OF ONE OF THE OFFICES AND WE'LL MAIL YOU ONE.

>> YOU KNOW.

>> THE DEPARTMENT HAS REDUCED THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRINTING, AS SOCIETY GOES MORE AND MORE DIGITAL.

WE WEREN'T GOING THROUGH AS MANY LICENSES AND IT COSTS MONEY TO PRINT THEM AND BY REDUCING THE NUMBER THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE, WE CAN PUT MORE MONEYS BACK INTO THE RESOURCE SO ALL OUR HUNTING AND FISHING GUIDES ARE ON LINE, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEY WILL, PROHIBIT THEM OFF YOURSELF AT HOME.

I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT ON MY PHONE SO I CAN ACCESS IT WHEREVER AND I'VE ALWAYS GOT MY PHONE GENERALLY FOR MY SHOOTING HOURS OR FOR MY FAMILY TO GET AHOLD OF ME WHICH MEANS I ALWAYS HAVE MY HUNTING GUIDES.

>> YOU KNOW DAVE HOSS, A GOD SEND BRINGING FOLKS HERE FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO ANSWER THOSE PHONES AND DO THOSE THINGS.

I WILL BE SO HAPPY BY THE WAY WHEN WE ALL CAN BE TOGETHER IN THE STUDIO AGAIN TO SHAKE EVERYBODY'S HAND AND TO JUST THAT CAMARADERIE.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL, BUT I MISS SEEING YOU IN PERSON.

AND DAVE BEING HERE, TOO, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TODAY, TOO, THE DEPARTMENT DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS, THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OR OLD DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.

ANYTHING SPECIAL LINED UP THAT YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AT THIS POINT?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

THE DEPARTMENT'S GOTTEN PRETTY I GUESS THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.

IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THEY HAVE A PAGE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OFF OUR MAIN FRONT PAGE AND 100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE LISTED, WHICH TALKS ABOUT BUILDING AN ANIMAL HOUSE OR WORKING ON YOUR DIFFERENT ANIMAL I.D.

'S, PICKING BERRIES, LOOKING FOR BUGS, CAMPFIRES, ALL THINGS YOU CAN USE TO ENGAGE YOURSELF OR GET SOMEONE NEW EXCITED ABOUT THE OUTDOORS.

IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WE'VE GOT 100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE OUR 100 AFFAIRS.

MARCH MARKED OUR 100th YEAR.

ALL THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING TO PROMOTE THAT AND CELEBRATE THE RESOURCE.

OUR WEBSITE HAS 100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS.

>> THE BEST WAY IS TO GET THE GRANDKIDS, THE KIDS OUT THERE, LET THEM DIG SOME WORLD SERIES, CATCH A FISH, YOU KNOW, JUST ENJOY THIS GREAT OLD STATE OF MICHIGAN, BECAUSE THERE IS NONE BETTER.

WILD TURKEYS.

SOMEBODY HASN'T SEEN THEM WHERE THEY USUALLY SEE THEM AND AFRAID THERE'S BEEN A MASSIVE WINTER KILL.

I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY OF THAT, HAVE YOU?

>> THIS WAS SUCH A MILD WINTER THAT THAT WOULD SURPRISE ME.

WE REALLY ESPECIALLY UP IN THE NORTHERN AND LOWER DIDN'T GET THE HARSH WINTER CONDITIONS.

IT DEPENDED ON THE LOCATION, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD ACORN YEAR, AS WELL WHICH HELPS THE TURKEYS OUT.

AS HABITAT CHANGES, THE ANIMALS MOVE ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.

JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE WILDLIFE IN ONE PLACE ONE YEAR DOESN'T MEAN 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY MAY BE SOMEWHERE ELSE WITH BETTER ROOSTING AND FOOD AVAILABLE.

WILDLIFE MOVE WHERE THEY CAN.

>> THIS QUESTION, I'LL HAVE TO EXPECT MY OLD BUDDY MARK AND JOE AS TO STRAIGHTEN THESE FOLKS OUT OR STRAIGHTEN MAYBE ME OUT ON THIS QUESTION.

IS IT TRUE YOU CAN GET THREE EXTRA FISHING RODS ON A BOAT WITH ONE PERMIT.

YOU CAN JUST GET THREE, RIGHT?

>> EACH ANGLER IS ENTITLED TO THREE LINES OR THREE CATCHING DEVICES.

YEAH, I GUESS I'M NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION FROM GREAT LAKES TROLLERS ABOUT AN EXTRA LIGHT BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR AN EXTRA LICENSE OR SOMETHING WHERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE BOATS CAN DEPLOY 15 LINES AND IF THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE ON THE BOAT, THEN THEY CAN'T LEGALLY DEPLOY 15 LINES AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT BUT IT HAS GONE NO FURTHER THAN THE DISCUSSION PHASE SO THAT MAY BE WHAT THE CALLER'S REFERRING TO.

AT THIS POINT, YOU ARE LIMITED TO THREE LINES PER PERSON NO MATTER HOW MANY YOU CAN RUN ON YOUR BOAT, IT'S THREE PER PERSON.

>> WE JUST GOT THIS FIRST BASE QUESTION ABOUT THE VERY SAME THING, JUST PLOPPED INTO MY HANDS, SO CONSIDER THIS ONE ASKED AND ANSWERED.

OK. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE TICK OUTBREAK IN THE THUMB AREA.

NOT TOO MUCH BY ANYBODY, YOU JUST GOT TO PROTECT YOURSELF, RIGHT?

>> IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE AWARE.

WE ALL GREW UP IN MICHIGAN AND DIDN'T HAVE THE TICKS THERE ARE NOW.

>> TICKS NEVER USED TO BE MUCH OF AN ISSUE IN MANY PARTS OF THE STATE AND THEY ARE NOW.

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN TICKS.

SOME CARRY DISEASE WHILE OTHERS DON'T.

THEY'RE PRETTY HE'S TO IDENTIFY BY SIGHT IF YOU'RE FOLLOW WITH THEM.

FOR PEACE OF MIND, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING YOU CAN LOOK INTO, DOING TICK CHECKS REGULARLY WHEN YOU'VE BEEN OUTSIDE, WITH YOUR PETS, MAKING SURE THEY ARE ON GOOD MEDICATION FOR IT, ITEMS THAT KEEP TICKS AWAY FROM YOURSELF.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE AWARE THAT TICK POPULATIONS DO SEEM TO BE INCREASING THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN, SO BEING AWARE OF THIS IS IMPORTANT.

>> THE BIG WOOD TICKS ARE SOMETHING, BUT THE LITTLE DEAR TICKS ARE BIG TROUBLE.

>> THEY ARE THE ONES THAT CAN CARRY LYME DISEASE.

>> BIG TROUBLE.

>> FOLKS, I GOT TO TELL YOU, UNTIL THE THREE OF YOU, TOO, THAT WE HAVE -- THIS HAS BEEN AN OUR LONG SHOW AND WE TOOK NO BREAKS IN IT.

WE HAVE GOT LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES TO GO.

OK?

WE WILL QUICKLY GET ABOUT SOME OF THOSE OTHER QUESTIONS AND NOW THE QUESTIONS ARE POURING IN, BY WAIT.

HAVING TROUBLE GETTING FIREWOOD PERMIT, WHAT CAN THEY DO TO GET A FIREWOOD PERMIT.

FOLKS FROM ROSS COMMON WANT TO KNOW, WHO SHOULD THEY BE CALLING?

>> ROSS COUNTY, CONTACT THE OFFICE IN ROSS COMMON ITSELF.

THIS YEAR, THEY MIGHT BE FREE PERMITS.

>> THEY ARE FREE THIS YEAR, YEP.

>> YOU STILL NEED TO GET A PERMIT.

>> DOES A 7-YEAR-OLD PERSON NEED A LICENSE TO FISH OR JUST THE ADULT WITH THEM?

>> JUST THE ADULT WITH THEM.

>> IF THE ADULT WASN'T FISHING OR WASN'T AIDING THE 7-YEAR-OLD, WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULDN'T BE HELPING OUT A 7-YEAR-OLD, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY NEED ONE, EITHER, RIGHT?

>> AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT THE ONES REELING THE FISH IN, THEY DON'T NEED A LICENSE.

THEY CAN HELP LAND THE FISH, BUT AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT MANIPULATING THE POLE, THEY DON'T NEED A LICENSE.

>> THREE MINUTES TO GO.

WILL THEY PUT A LICENSE ON A SAND HILL CRANE?

THAT WOULD TAKE AN ACT BY THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THAT AND DOESN'T SOUND VERY LIKELY.

WHY ARE THE DNR BLOCKING ROADS IN -- A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THE FEDS DOING THAT MORE SO THAN THE -- NOT THAT THE STATE DOESN'T, BUT.

>> THE STATE WILL PUT IN GATES OR BERMS TO HELP PREVENT ILLEGAL TRUCK DAMAGE TO THE AREA.

SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE CREATED TO HELP WITH TIMBER CUT OR BETTER HABITAT FOR DEER.

THE INTENT IS NOT TO HAVE THAT TRAIL OPEN SO THEY BLOCK IT OFF.

>> AS A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER, THEY NEED A LICENSE TO FISH ON A PRIVATE LAKE THAT HAS NO PUBLIC ACCESS?

>> AS LONG AS THERE'S NO LEGAL, VERY SELDOM DO WE GOT COMPLETELY PRIVATE LAKES, USUALLY THERE'S SOME TYPE OF INGRESS OR EGRESS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ASSURE YOU KNOW IF IT'S PRIVATE OR NOT, REALLY PRIVATE.

>> TWO MINUTES TO GO.

SHELBY, SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF A COUGAR IN 2010.

THERE'S A WHOLE PROTOCOL ON THE WEBSITE, ISN'T THERE TO SUBMIT?

>> RIGHT, SO IF YOU SEARCH EYES IN THE FIELD, YOU ARE ABLE TO SEND IN ANY OF THE INFORMATION, ATTACH A PHOTO, ATTACH A VIDEO FOR ANY SPECIES THAT IS UNUSUAL, SO AREAS YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE, COUGARS, LYNX ARE THE PRIMARY ONES LISTED THERE.

ANYONE CAN SEND IN REPORTS FOR ANIMALS AND THEY'LL BE LOOKED AT BY THE TEAM.

>> CHARLEVOIX, IS IT LEGAL TO TARGET PRACTICE IN THE STATE PARK?

>> IN DIFFERENT PARKS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT RULES AND REGULATIONS, THEY'RE GOING TO OF AREAS THAT MAY BE OPEN TO TARGET SHOOTING, MANY TILES, THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE NO, BUT CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PARK TO SEE IF THEY DO HAVE AREAS.

>> THE LAST QUESTION OF THE EVENING, IS IT -- WHY IS IT ILLEGAL TO USE DRONES BUT LEGAL TO USE FISH FINDERS?

YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE GIST OF THAT QUESTION, JOE.

YOU CAN'T USE DRONES TO SHOOT.

>> THERE'S LOTS OF DISCUSSION AS DRONE TECHNOLOGY BECOMES MORE AND MORE APPARENT.

AGAIN, IT'S VERY EASILY USED AS SOMETHING THAT COULD DISTURB SOMEONE ELSE'S HUNT SO YOU HAVE ISSUES OF HUNTER HARASSMENT, PURSUING AND CHASING ANIMALS, SO I WOULDN'T CONSIDER IT AN EXACT PARALLEL.

I CONSIDER FISH FINDERS IN LINE.

>> FISH HAVE STILL GOT TO BITE.

AND SHELBY, THANK YOU, MARK, JOE, THANKS, ALL GOOD BUDDIES, YOU SHOW UP HERE, YOU DO A GREAT JOB FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION.

PUBLIC TV UNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE HUNTER AND FISHERMAN IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND EASTERN PART OF THE UP AND LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ENJOY THE OUT OF DOORS AND THEY'RE RIGHT HERE WITH US ALL THE TIME TO SUPPORT THAT AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF ASK THE DNR AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN OCTOBER, AND WE'LL LET MARK PICK THAT DATE FOR NEXT OCTOBER IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOURTH EDITION OF ASK THE DNR.