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The procedure by which the Upper Peninsula became part of the State of Michigan was valid and constitutional. The decision of Congress to include the U.P. within the boundaries of the State is not subject to challege.

1975 PA 254, § 26, which imposes the duty on the Liquor Control Commission to make a survey of the Upper Peninsula relative to the need of additional public licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises and provides the Commission may issue additional licenses is unconstitutional as violative of Const 1963, art 4, § 24.

Report of a survey completed to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days they trapped.

A sample of people eligible to hunt waterfowl was contacted after the 2005 hunting seasons to estimate hunting activity and determine opinions and satisfaction with hunting regulations. In 2005, about 50,400 people hunted waterfowl. The number of people hunting ducks and geese declined 15% and 14%, respectively, between 2004 and 2005, although license sales declined by only 5%. Compared to 2004, an increased proportion of duck hunters in 2005 were satisfied with the number of ducks seen (38 versus 33% satisfied). Goose hunters reported increased satisfaction with the number of geese seen (54 versus 48% satisfied) and with their overall goose hunting experience (49 versus 43%). Most duck hunters that preferred to hunt in the North Zone (66%) favored a duck hunting season beginning in the latter half of September. Among hunters that preferred to hunt in the Middle Zone in 2005, 56% preferred a season beginning during late September or early October. For the duck hunters that preferred to hunt in the South Zone in 2005, the most frequently selected preferred start dates (56%) for the season were early to mid-October. The proportion of duck hunters that normally used spinning-wing decoys increased from 13 to 24% between 2001 and 2005. As these decoys have become more popular, the proportion of duck hunters disapproving of their use has declined. Goose hunters were asked their opinion on the use of various hunting practices which are currently illegal to help control goose numbers. Most goose hunters approved of hunting with unplugged guns, extending the hunting season to include late August, and hunting geese until 30 minutes after sunset. Goose hunters also were asked their opinion on the use of various techniques to control goose numbers in areas where human-goose conflict was a problem and hunting was not possible. In these situations, most goose hunters (>57%) have consistently supported killing adult geese and donating the meat to families in need. Most goose hunters (>64%) have consistently disapproved of controlling goose populations using dietary supplements that would reduce their reproduction.

Results of survey to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Harvest information and physical data have been collected as part of the registration process for fisher, bobcat, river otter, badger, and incidental marten captures. Furbearer Winter Track Count Surveys have been attempted in the UP since 1996, and formal summaries of the results of the survey conducted in 1998 and 1999 were reported. A winter track count approach was selected, because many of the species of greatest concern are active on the surface of the snow during winter, and suitable snow tracking conditions in the UP normally extend from late January until early April. Routes were surveyed 1-3 days after a marker snow, and data from 11 furbearers and 5 other species of interest were collected. Marten tracks were found along 48% of the segments surveyed in 2000. The coyote (Canis latrans) was the most widely distributed furbearer, leaving tracks along 78% of the segments surveyed. The Lagomorphs (snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus and cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus) were the most widely distributed species group, being detected along 79% of the segments surveyed.

Moose (Alces alces) and woodland caribou (Rangier tarandus) once were common throughout most of Michigan, although probably not present in great abundance. Moose numbers declined steadily with advancing civilization, in which heavy hunting pressure, drastic habitat changes (logging, fire), and predation by wolves (Canis lupus) took its toll. Between the winters of 1934-35 and 1936-37, a total of 71 moose (33 males. 38 females) were captured and transported from Isle Royale. Of these, 18 were released in the Keweenaw Peninsula, 17 in the Escanaba River Tract (Marquette County), and 34 in the Cusino Game Refuge (Schoolcraft County). Two moose were given to the Detroit Zoological Park. Six moose were kept at the recently-established Cusino Wildlife Experiment Station, in the then State Game Refuge, for special study. The past and present mortality rate of U.P. moose is unknown, but probably runs excessively high based on documented accounts of such instances. Perhaps the main loss is due to poaching, although few violators have been apprehended and/or convicted. Some moose have been shot by "mistake" by deer hunters, perhaps more were wanton killings, cases of self-defense against crazed bulls in rut or angry cows with calf, while others consisted of car kills, natural accidents, etc. etc. Success or failure of a major moose restocking program in the long term no doubt will hinge on a relatively handful of people who will see this magnificent beast as a tempting target. An informed, aroused public and intensive law enforcement effort might turn the tide in this regard. Despite the "wilderness" aura of the U.P., it may prove difficult for moose to find the solitude and living space needed to reproduce and rear their young without human harassment.

In 1989, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were legal game during several hunting seasons. The Bonus Deer permit replaced the Hunter's Choice license in 1989. Successful permittees were issued one license for a bonus antlerless-only deer. For the first time, permits not used during the firearm or muzzleloading seasons were valid for use by bowhunters during the December 1 - January 1 archery deer season. A second major change in deer hunting regulations in 1989 was the experimental sale of blocks of antlerless-only permits in crop depredation areas. Properly licensed hunters could legally take 12 deer in Michigan during the 1989 seasons; two with a firearm, one with a bonus antlerless-only deer permit, two with a bow and arrow, three deer on North Manitou Island, and four deer from South Fox Island. This total does not include the unlimited number of deer a hunter could take with Crop Damage Block permits. More deer were taken by hunters in 1989 than in any year during the history of Michigan deer hunting. For all seasons combined, hunters harvested an estimated 452,490 deer. Record harvests were set in all three seasons. Statewide, the number of regular season hunters increased three percent from the previous year to 725,520, but remained below the record set in 1981. However, firearm hunters took a record number of deer (331,580), including a record number of antlered bucks (194,820). A record number of archery deer hunters (287,090) took to the field in 1989. Their harvest (96,700), up 34 percent from 1988, was also a new record. In 1989, the number of muzzleloader hunters (118,860) increased 15 percent from the previous season, while the harvest increased 16 percent (20,250); both were new records. In 1989, a total 318,413 Bonus Deer permits were issued to 384,400 applicants for the taking of limited numbers of antlerless deer. The result was a new all-time high antlerless deer harvest (149,039).

Extensive logging in the 1800's and subsequent fires plus heavy trapping through the 1920's led to the extirpation of the fisher (Martes pennanti) from its former range in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Fisher were reintroduced in the 1960's on the U.P.'s Ottawa National Forest. Fisher have become sufficiently abundant in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette. and Ontonagon counties to allow the Department of Natural Resources to permit a limited harvest. This was the third consecutive year with a legal trapping season for this species and resulted in a harvest of 67 fisher. In addition, six fisher were killed by vehicles, and eleven were accidentally trapped. Younger age classes were more susceptible to trapping with 41 of the 50 (82%) animals aged being 1.5 years old or younger. The collected animals exhibited a sex ratio of 194:100 (33:17) males to females.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Reliable and efficient methods to census these furbearers currently do not exist. In addition to this, unusually mild winter weather, attributable to the EI Nino climatological phenomenon, minimized survey opportunities during February and March. Thirteen of the 20 routes assigned were surveyed, and 10 of the 13 routes attempted were completed. The Western UP Management Unit completed all or most of 11 of 12 routes assigned. The Research Section completed two routes in the central UP, and the Eastern UP Management Unit completed 0 of 6 routes assigned. Therefore, the results of this survey in 1998 were derived only from the western two-thirds of the UP. Data acquired indicates that coyote (Canis latrans) and wolf abundance may have increased between years in the areas surveyed. Fisher, fox, hare/rabbit (Lepus americanus and Sylvilagus floridanus), and grouse abundance may have decreased, while marten and bobcat numbers showed little change.

Report on the observations of the conditions of various species on a trip by the author to the Upper Peninsula

This report is a quick summary analysis of the 1982 firearm deer season based on early data collected at highway check stations. from field reports, from counts of deer on vehicles moving homeward, and from highway traffic counters. The preliminary estimate of the 1982 firearm deer kill suggests that the harvest was better than we had expected. Prior to the deer season, we had projected that there could be as much as a 20 to 25 percent decrease in the firearm deer take compared to the harvest in 1981. The severe winter weather during January and February, 1982. resulted in the loss of more than 67,000 deer in northern Michigan. In addition, the survival of fawns born in the spring of 1982 was certainly lower because of the stress placed on the does during the winter. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the firearm harvest had only fallen 12 percent from the all time record 1981 firearm deer harvest which was estimated to be 173,210. The 1982 harvest of 153,000 would place it in third place on the all time Michigan list behind last year's record and behind the 1952 harvest of 162,160.

This report contains a preliminary analysis of the 1984 firearm deer season based on early data collected at highway check stations, from field reports, from counts of deer on vehicles moving homeward, and from highway traffic counters. Hunting conditions were generally described as fair to poor, although there were a few locations which reported good hunting conditions. Wet, cold, rainy conditions prevailed throughout much of the state. It appears that in terms of total deer taken, Michigan's deer hunters have just completed their eighth best firearm deer season in history. The estimated harvest of 129,000 deer represents a 8 percent increase from the 1983 harvest. In 1981 and 1982, hunters had their first and second best total harvests in history. Overall, the firearm deer harvest was almost twice as large as the average ten years ago.

Report on the status of the deer herd in the Upper Peninsula after the 1940-1941 winter, a particularly mild one.

Report on the results of the 2003 American Marten Survey. The American marten (Martes americana) historically was found throughout Michigan. Extensive logging and uncontrolled trapping pressure eliminated them from much of their native range. Restoration of martens to suitable habitat began in the mid-1950's with wild animals obtained from Ontario. The restoration efforts were successful, and in March 1999, the marten was removed from the state's threatened species list. In 2000, it was determined that the marten population had become sufficiently abundant to allow a limited trapping season.

Report on the results of the 1989 Upper Peninsula brainworm incidence survey in deer, which are conducted annually to assess the potential impact of this parasite on the moose herd.

Survey to estimate moose abundance in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan from January 2 to February 2, 2013.

Results of the research and survey carried out on fishers that were killed by motor vehicles or accidentally trapped during winter and spring 1984, 1985, and 1986.

Report on study of diseases and parasites (and their lack of prevalence) in the two Michigan moose herds.

Report on the results of the 2000 American Marten Survey. The American marten (Martes americana) historically was found throughout Michigan. Extensive logging and uncontrolled trapping pressure eliminated them from much of their native range. Restoration of martens to suitable habitat began in the mid-1950's with wild animals obtained from Ontario. The restoration efforts were successful, and in March 1999, the marten was removed from the state's threatened species list.

Results of the research and survey carried out on skinned fisher carcasses and/or heads submitted by trappers and DNR personnel in 1995.