The Department of Natural Resources reminds fishing guides who utilize state-owned lands to access Michigan’s inland lakes or streams as part of their commercial operation that they are required to have written permission from the DNR prior to using state- owned lands.

Since 2006, inland fishing guides in Michigan have been required to obtain written permission, in the form of a lease to use state-owned public water access sites.  Guides pay an annual Use of Land fee, must also provide proof of general liability insurance, and must have a state-issued inland pilot’s license or a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license.  Use of Land fees provide funding for maintenance of state forest lands, including public-water access sites.

Michigan residents and visitors have an abundant supply of freshwater inland lakes, streams and Great Lakes that provide a variety of recreational fishing opportunities.  Annually, it is estimated that two million residents and visitors fish Michigan waters.  Michigan’s recreational fishery has an annual economic value of more than $2 billion and provides more than 15,000 jobs statewide.

For more information, contact, Brenda Mikula, DNR Parks and Recreation Division, at 231-597-0472 or visit www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing and click on Angler Information, Inland Fishing Guides, to find a link for the fishing guide lease application form.

For information on how to obtain an inland pilot license, contact, Sylvia Roossien, DNR Law Enforcement Division, at 517-241-3793.

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking qualified applicants to become volunteer ORV Safety Education instructors.

As part of long-standing ORV Safety Education recommendations, the DNR has implemented an ORV Instructor Academy.  The academy is free of charge and attendance is mandatory for all new successful instructor applicants.

There are three ORV Instructor Academies scheduled for the summer of 2011 and each class size is limited to 24 students. Each academy agenda begins on a Friday at 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The academies will be held at the DNR Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center located in northern Roscommon County.

The first academy will take place in June and it is completely full. The second academy is scheduled for July 22-24, and the third academy is scheduled for Aug. 12-14.

Individuals desiring certification as a DNR volunteer ORV Safety Education instructor must meet the following requirements:

- Be at least 18 years of age.

- Be a high school graduate or possess a graduate equivalency diploma (GED).

- Have no felony convictions.

- Have no misdemeanor convictions within the past three (3) years.

- Have no convictions that resulted in the revocation of ORV operation privileges within the last five years. (Other convictions of natural resource law violations are subject to review and may result in the rejection of any application.)

- Maintain a high moral, ethical and mental character.

- Be a graduate of Michigan’s, or another state’s ORV safety education program or other industry accredited safety programs (such as ASI, MSF and United 4WD).

Individuals who have a desire in teaching students to be safe and responsible ORV users may begin the application process by contacting the DNR Office of Marketing, Education and Technology at 517-335-3418.  The office will send the interested individual an application.  After submission of a completed application, a background check will be conducted. Successful applicants will then be contacted to schedule attendance at an ORV Instructor Academy.

Questions pertaining to the ORV Safety Education program can be directed to Cpl. John Morey at 989-619-3784.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment reminds everyone that Winter Free Fishing Weekend is scheduled for Saturday, Feb 19, and Sunday, Feb. 20. On that weekend, everyone—residents and non-residents alike—can fish without a license, though all other fishing regulations apply.
Michigan has been celebrating Winter Free Fishing Weekend annually since 2000 as a way to promote awareness of the state’s aquatic resources. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 36,000 miles of rivers and 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan and fishing are a natural match.
“Fishing is a perfect way for families to spend time together while enjoying the beautiful scenery Michigan has to offer in the wintertime,” said DNRE Director Rodney Stokes. “It is a low-cost and interactive outdoor activity—perfect for engaging children in the great outdoors.”
A number of activities at state parks have been scheduled to coincide with the weekend, while clubs, local communities and conservation organizations are also staging events. Many provide bait and free use of equipment. The events often include experienced anglers willing to introduce novices into the joy of fishing.
For a list of Free Fishing Events scheduled across the state, visit www.michigan.gov/freefishing.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is offering turkey hunting workshops in January in cooperation with Gander Mountain. These workshops are part of the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program.
BOW is a noncompetitive program in which each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace. The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities, and sharing in the success of one another.
In each two-hour workshop, instructors will provide participants will all of the information needed to begin turkey hunting. The workshops include season rules and regulations, habitat, scouting, patterning, hunting technique and will cover different types of equipment needed for a successful hunt.
Participants must pre-register for this workshop as space is limited. Young hunters ages 10 and older are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The cost per person is $10 and includes all workshop materials, including a turkey call.
Workshop dates are:
*Saturday, Jan. 15, from 1-3 p.m. at Gander Mountain, 2890 Acquest Avenue, SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49512. Registration deadline Jan. 12.
*Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, 430 N. Marketplace, Lansing, MI  48917. Registration deadline Jan. 17.
For registration forms and information on this and other BOW programs, visit www.michigan.gov/bow, call 517-241-2225 or email dnr-outdoors-woman@michigan.gov.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has begun gearing up to return hatchery production of walleyes to historic levels.
The DNRE plans to take some 50 million eggs this spring to produce fry for pond-rearing and direct stocking, an eight-fold increase over the last two years.
Since 2006, the DNRE has cut back on most of its walleye rearing activities because of the presence of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in the brood-stock waters. Now, after several years of testing, a technique has been found to disinfect walleye eggs and prevent spreading VHS. As a result, the DNRE will now resume large-scale rearing and stocking of walleyes.
“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have cut our walleye fry production,” DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries said. “But the specter of bringing VHS into our hatchery system or transferring VHS to new waters was just too risky. The ecosystem is constantly changing and our management practices must change with it. We are pleased that an effective treatment for walleye eggs against VHS has been found and we’re ramping up our production accordingly.”
The DNRE expects it to take two years to return to full production of walleye fry. A number of the rearing ponds, which have been idled for the last several years, are in need of maintenance before they can be brought back on line for production.
Nonetheless, the DNRE expects to produce at least 80 percent of the total capacity for walleye fry in 2011 and be back to full production in 2012. For more information, visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnrfishingwww.michigan.gov/dnrfishing.

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters who are going out of state to hunt that it is illegal to bring back the carcass of a deer or elk from a state or province that has identified chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the herd.

Hunters may bring back only the boned meat, fleshed-out hide, antlers, and cleaned antler cap from deer and elk taken in states or provinces identified as having CWD in free-ranging deer, elk, or moose populations.

An always fatal neurological disorder, CWD is caused by a mutated protein called a prion. There is no known treatment for CWD. Preventing Michigan deer, elk, and moose from being infected with CWD is the only prudent course of action.

Chronic wasting disease outbreaks in other states have been linked to the importation of infected carcasses. The DNR suspects an infected carcass might have caused the exposure to the captive herd that was found to have CWD in Kent County in 2008. This reminder is intended to help hunters prevent the disease from being further spread to Michigan herds.

States and provinces that have CWD include: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

For more information on CWD, check the 2009 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Guide or visit the DNR Web site, at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

at Red Flannel Rod & Gun Club

The DNR is having a check station at the Red Flannel Rod and Gun Club this year. Their hours of operation for checking deer will be as follows: Early season and Bow & Arrow – Saturdays and Sundays Only 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fire Arm Season – November 15-29, hours will be every day 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Red Flannel Rod and Gun Club is located on 7463 18 Mile 3 ½ miles east of Cedar Springs. Questions, call 696-3711.