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Wildlife Services employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture oils double-crested cormorant eggs in a nest to prevent young from hatching as part of a population control measure on the Les Cheneaux Islands in Lake Huron. The booming cormorant population has been pointed to as a reason behind the decline of certain sport fisheries. The DNR works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in recommending sites for population control.

A Wildlife Services employee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture oils double-crested cormorant eggs in a nest to prevent young from hatching as part of a population control measure on the Les Cheneaux Islands in Lake Huron. The booming cormorant population has been pointed to as a reason behind the decline of certain sport fisheries. The DNR works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in recommending sites for population control.

By October 1. 1989, Michigan's deer population was estimated to be 2,000,000 deer. which was about four times the number of deer in Michigan in 1971. This herd was causing unacceptable societal costs through damage to agricultural crops and car/deer accidents. For 1990, the State Deer Damage Task Force recommended, and the Michigan Natural Resource Commission adopted, the experimental Deer Crop Damage Block Permit (DCDBP) Program to reduce the number of out-of-season deer damage control permits; increase antlerless deer harvest on sites of chronic deer crop depredation; and utilize licensed hunters to resolve crop damage problems during regular deer seasons. In 1991, the Wildlife Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) contracted with the Department of Park and Recreation Resources of Michigan State University to impartially examine the attitudes and reported behaviors of the following groups affected by the program: farmers eligible for the program, neighbors of farmers in the program., and deer hunters who did and did not hunt with DCDBP. Mail questionnaires were used to solicit the information. The majority of farmers, landowners adjacent to participating farmers, and hunters who hunted with DCDBP had favorable attitudes about the program.. Hunters who did not hunt with DCDBP were evenly divided between those with favorable attitudes and those who had negative attitudes about the program. The majority of farmers rated the DCDBP program as highly or moderately effective in controlling deer crop damage. The reported harvest of antlerless deer on DCDBP participating farms increased 138% between 1988 and 1990, while the reported harvest of antlerless deer on non-participating farms increased 75%. When asked if they would participate in the DCDBP if offered in 1991, the large majority of the participating farmers (84%) and a sizeable minority of the non-participating farmers (34%) responded they would.

Report of a study undertaken to determine whether or not the social costs beyond direct program implementation costs existed as a result of the Deer Habitat Improvement program. The program was instituted in 1971 by the DNR to increase the amount of favorable deer habitat in the state in an effort to double the state's deer herd size.

The primary purpose of special Canada goose seasons is to provide additional harvest opportunity on specific flocks of Canada geese in areas where these birds are responsible for human-goose conflicts. Stabilizing or reducing goose-related conflicts in an environment with expanding human and goose populations demands maximum use of creative management tools like special seasons. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires that special seasons conform to specific criteria. Primary among these criteria is the requirement that special seasons have minimal impact on non-target goose populations; migrant Canada geese can not exceed 10% of the early or 20% of the late season harvests. After apparent failure to meet the 80% giant harvest criteria with season extensions during the early 1980's, the special late season was continued experimentally in Michigan. An interim late season evaluation was developed following adjustments to open-area boundaries and season dates. This is the final report, which provides a review of all late seasons and emphasis on evaluation of those conducted in recent years. Specifically, the report documents hunter participation, harvest, and success at targeting giant Canada geese in the harvest.

Annual estimates of the number of good, average. and poor firearm deer hunts/square mile were compared with deer density measures for 8 forest research areas in northern Lower Michigan from 1972 to 1979. The number of poor hunts/mi was positively related to the presence of antlerless hunting and size of the former year's deer kill and negatively related to numbers of deer seen by hunters. The number of good hunts/square mile was positively related to the size of the current year's deer kill. Managers can use information on deer population size to forecast hunting pressure and to anticipate hunter attitude. Conflicting recommendations from researchers about how to manage for hunting satisfaction were seen to be caused by the lack of shared objectives for deer management. A philosophical framework was developed to show how distortion in the policymaking process can make it difficult to decide on program objectives. Generalizations from this study should be limited to mechanistic issues as a theory of hunting requires extensive data from other areas, states, and regions.

Report on project to transfer deer from over-populated areas in the northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan to areas with plenty of food but few deer in Presque Isle, Alpena and Alcona counties.

A habitat suitability model for estimating deer numbers in the UP was constructed using pre-settlement forest vegetation maps, forest survey data, and the number of deer associated with different habitat conditions. Several indices were used to corroborate recent trends in deer numbers identified with the model. Highs in deer numbers are associated with favorable habitat conditions and periods of mild winter weather. Current deer numbers in the UP are approximately double pre-settlement estimates. In the last 20 years, deer numbers have increased disproportionately in the southern one-third of the peninsula.

In 1989, Michigan participated in the fourth year of early experimental Canada goose hunting to control local populations of giant Canada geese. The purpose of this report is to describe the turnover in Canada goose populations in Michigan during early fall (August 21 to September 20) and to estimate what proportion of the early goose harvest consisted of local giant Canada geese. In 1989, a high proportion of the neck-collared geese observed in Michigan before (84 percent) and during (71 percent) the early September 1-10 hunt in 1989 were resident birds. An estimated 91 percent of the harvest were found to be giant Canadas.

This report contains summaries of studies conducted by members of the Research/Technology Section of the Wildlife Bureau, Partnership on Ecosystem Research and Management (PERM) faculty at Michigan State University, and other university cooperators. Each summary reports on its associated study in general, but focuses on research conducted from October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2000. Several summaries are for studies that are just beginning in the year 2000, but are included to increase awareness of these new studies. The Principal Investigator(s) for each study is identified by a "PI" following his or her name. Requests for additional information should be directed to an appropriate PI. All summaries are intended to be factual and as complete as a 2-page format will allow. However, many of the summaries report on ongoing studies and discuss findings that may be interpreted differently once data collection is completed. Therefore, the findings presented in these summaries should be considered "preliminary" at this time.

Report on the purpose and methods of predator control in Michigan.

Report on possible experiments in restocking pheasants at game-farms and Rose Lake Experiment Station.

Report on investigations into the relationship between an apparent abundance of mink and skunk in Sanilac County and their supposed menace to other small game, brought on by a petition purporting such in an effort to get an open season on skunk and mink.

This booklet was prepared as an aid to landowners interested in managing their land for white-tailed deer, but it should be of interest to anyone seriously concerned about the long-term welfare of the species. Discussed in this booklet is the behavior of deer, their basic needs, management practices designed to improve habitat conditions, and harvest strategies to regulate deer herd size and composition. In general, basic information is provided which must be considered to effectively manage deer populations.

Use of clearcut islands on 12 impoundments by nesting giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) were investigated during January-May 1980, at the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, Michigan as a basis for management recommendations to maintain and increase goose production. Sixteen islands (ranging in size from 1.8 x 2.3 - 3.7 x 34.7 m) that correspond with the nest site spacings of the local goose flock and that were similar in dimensions to known successful nesting islands were selected for treatment. All woody vegetation greater than 17 cm high was cut and removed from the islands. A total of 11 nests of giant Canada geese was found on 11 islands. Treated islands accounted for 36 percent (4) of the nesting islands. Nesting geese were observed using treated islands on two impoundments that previously were devoid of suitable nesting sites, one pair increased the nesting population on an impoundment. The other seven islands used by nesting geese were completely devoid of woody vegetation. This study implies that the Gratiot-Saginaw giant Canada geese will nest on clearcut islands and exhibit an apparent preference for treated sites over untreated islands with woody overstory vegetation. Management recommendations include removal of woody overstory vegetation greater than 17 cm high that correspond with preferred nest site spacings of the local goose flock.

Report on using antlerless deer and special licenses to control the number of deer removed from certain areas.

In 2000, work was carried out under federal permit from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to control damages from resident giant Canada geese utilizing translocation, nest and egg destruction, and permits to kill free-flying birds. Translocation was utilized in most Wildlife Division administrative units; however, the majority of goose conflicts occurred in the Southeastern Management Unit (SEMU). This report summarizes the translocation and egg destruction activities carried out in 2000. Michigan was permitted to destroy Canada geese to reinforce harassment efforts in 2000. but no geese were destroyed. For the third year in a row. there has been a decrease in the number of geese translocated from SEMU sites. A total of 3,432 geese was captured during the summer of 2000, as compared to 4,703 and 4,864 geese captured in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Iowa was sent 2,405 geese in 2000 (1,974 in 1999, 576 in 1998); the remaining 1,016 geese were relocated to other areas within Michigan (2,667 in 1999). A total of 109 permits was issued for egg removal in 2000, which was 46 more permits than in the previous year, and 58 more than 1998. Of the 109 permits issued in 2000, all of these returned usable data summarizing their activities. Under the 2000 permit, 3,875 (>99%) of 3,882 eggs were removed from 741 nests. A total of 1,408 artificial eggs were deployed in 2000 compared to 1,044 in 1999 and 681 in 1998. In 2000, four permits were issued for lethal control of giant Canada geese. Saginaw Bay and the Southeast Management Units each issued one permit, and the South Central Management Unit issued two. None of the permits for lethal control were used.

Evaluation of expanded and liberalized distribution of disease control permits over the period of 2008-2010.

Plan providing strategic guidance to Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment staff and involved stakeholders for the management of white-tailed deer in Michigan, in support of the mission: to maintain a healthy white-tailed deer population, using sound scientific management, maximizing recreational opportunities while minimizing negative impacts on ecosystems and other wildlife species and without creating undue hardship to private interests.

In 1988, Michigan participated in the third year of early experimental Canada goose hunting (September 1-10) to control local populations of giant Canada geese. Most of the lower Peninsula and a portion of the eastern Upper Peninsula was open to the early hunt. The purpose of this report is to describe the turn-over in Canada Goose populations in Michigan during early fall (August 22 to September 20) and to estimate what proportion of the early-goose harvest consisted of local giant Canada geese. A high proportion of the neck-collared geese observed in Michigan before (78 percent) and during (73 percent) the early September 1-10 hunt in 1988 were resident birds. An estimated 86 percent of the harvest was giant Canadas based on culmen measurements statewide, although the Upper Peninsula sample was 66 percent giants. The statewide estimate for the 1988 early season compares with 78 percent giants in the 1987 harvest and 94 percent in 1986.

It has been proposed that Michigan should have a few areas that are specifically managed for trophy deer. This report presents an evaluation of opportunities to produce trophy white-tailed deer, the methods that might be applied, and the relative costs and benefits of that management strategy. Trophy buck management requires that hunting seasons be designed to remove at least 25% of the does and fawns in a fall deer herd and save at least 75% of the antlered bucks so they can be harvested in later years when their antlers are larger. Trophy buck management does not appear to be suited for Michigan because it would severely reduce hunting opportunity. A few management areas with private land and an island or two in lake Michigan might be experimentally designated for quality deer management, which is less restrictive than trophy management. Deer with large antlers are produced by quality deer management, although they may not meet trophy standards. Hunters and landowners would need to understand the nature of this program and law enforcement efforts would need to be intensified.