The Deer Private Land Assistance Network grant application period is now open. The applications are due by Sept. 1.

The Deer PLAN, a cooperative grant program is designed to support private-land deer habitat improvement projects in the northern Lower Peninsula, is funded by Deer Range Improvement Program dollars. In 2019, a total of $50,000 will be available through a competitive grant process.
Given the limited amount of Deer PLAN funding available and the goal of producing tangible, on-the-ground efforts that markedly improve deer habitat, this program will have a focus area within the northern Lower Peninsula. The focus area for 2019 will include Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties. Funds will be allocated across these six counties based on grant application scoring.  
Proposals for deer habitat improvement projects on privately owned lands in the six counties identified seeking $2,000 to $10,000 in cooperative funding will be considered. A 25-percent match of funds in the form of financial match, cost share, volunteer labor, material contributions and/or other in-kind support also is required for each proposal.

Applications are due by Sept. 1, and successful applicants will be notified by Oct. 1. A selection committee will evaluate proposed projects and competitively score them on a range of criteria. The complete Deer PLAN grant application package is available online at michigan.gov/dnr-grants.

"We have a black bear in our woods"
Because of the field and sportsman's cameras available today , we often have land owners mention to us that they have a bear on their property! This can be somewhat exciting, as well as, a situation in which you may want to make a few changes concerning your immediate yard surroundings.

It's February 19th and The Great Backyard Bird Count is currently taking place. This year it is phenomenally warm weekend here in Michigan. This warm weekend has made an awesome and very enjoyable time to take part in the 2oth annual Great Backyard Bird Count! If you are interested in participating, here is a link with information and how to get started. Just click here, you'll go to birdcount.org and learn all about it.

Pictured above is the Robin, Michigan's state bird. Known to fly south in the winter, however, if food is abundant they will remain in your back yard for the entire year. We have a very diversified backyard of native berry producing shrubs and trees, as well as planted crabapple, grape, apple, pear and others. We are graced with the Robin all year!

In addition to the Robins, we are blessed with an abundance of birds. Of course some come and go as the seasons do, such as the Hummingbirds, Red Winged Blackbirds and others. But, during the bird count we see the gentle morning doves, the beautiful Northern Cardinals, the chubby Partridge and noisy Woodpecker (noisy, because it likes pecking on our steel buildings),  of course the sweet little Chickadees and so many others.

If you enjoy birds, like we do, you are sure to have fun participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count!

From our back yard: These birds are migrating, they stop by every year for a visit. They fill the trees with their "tweet, tweets" and the "swoosh" sound as they lift in flight is amazing!

Here is another link you are sure to enjoy...Cornel.edu

Forest and woodlot owners look for ways to enhance their forests and woodlots for wildlife
It is mid October and here in Michigan many residents have deer hunting on their minds. Bow season is currently in full swing and rifle season opens up in less then a month!  Many residents that are forest and woodlot owners and hunt their own land, look for ways to benefit and enhance wildlife on their properties. "Hinge Cutting", a type of wildlife habitat management technique, has become popular here in Michigan.

The method of "Hinge Cutting"
"Hinge Cutting" is a method to cut down a tree using only a back cut that does not fully sever the trees trunk from the stump, leaving the fallen tree connected to the stump by a "hinge" of bark. The intent is to keep the fallen tree alive for a while to provide deer with browse for food, bedding habitat, and to direct their traffic flow in the woods. However, many wildlife biologist and foresters have questioned this practice. Hinge cutting has not been researched in controlled scientific studies and there is no scientific data to support it. Although this method may provide some shelter and some temporary browse for food, property-owners have several forest and woodlot management options available to them that would provide a substantially greater and longer lasting results for the wildlife habitat as well as, the health, safety and aesthetics of the forest or woodlot.