Ask the DNR

H, I'M BOB GARNER AND WELCOME TO "ASK THE DNR" .

WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR GUESTS, OUR EXPERT PANEL.

>> HERE WE ARE.

2023 ON A DATE SELECTED BY FISHERY'S BIOLOGIST MARK TINELLO.

HE'S THE GUY IN CHARGE OF SELECTING THE DATES.

WE'VE GOT SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AT DNR CONSUMER SERVICE CENTERS BUT I WANT TO INTRODUCE ALSO CHAD STUART WHO'S THE BIG GAME BIOLOGIST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

LE THANKS FOR COMING BACK.

YOU WERE A REAL HIT AT THE LAST ONE IN OCTOBER.

>> SHOE ALSO ITEM BUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.

CALL THE NUMBER 844-975-34 THREE AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DAVE HAWK AT END OF THE TABLE AND TO -- ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS SUE SABISKI FROM THE CADILLAC OFFICE.

SHE'S DONE THIS MANY, MANY TIMES, AND THEN ELLIE RINGLING IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND OF COURSE WESTON HAYES, BOTH FROM PINE RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE WATERFORD COUNTY MARK SAKE COUNTY CAREER TECH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND JOINING US AND GIVING THESE QUESTIONS FROM OUR VIEWERS.

SO LET'S GO -- BUST THROUGH A FEW OF THEM.

CAN I FISH ON A TROUT STREAM FOR OTHER FISH IF THE TROUT SEASON IS CLOSED.

>> MARK.

YOU GOTTA CHECK THE TYPE.

A LOT OF OUR SMALLER TROUT STREAMS THAT ARE TYPE I, AND THOSE ARE CLOSE TO FISHING FOR THE OFF-SEASON.

SO FROM THE LAST SATURDAY, APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 30, THEY'RE OPEN TO FISHING AND THEN AFTER DECEMBER 30th, THEY'RE COMPLETELY CLOSED.

YOU CANNOT FISH FOR OTHER SPECIES LIKE SUCKERS OR ANYTHING.

THOSE ARE CLOSED TO FISHING.

SO IF IT'S A TROUT STREAM IT NEEDS TO BE A TYPE 3 OR TYPE 4 TO BE OPEN YEAR ROUND.

>> YOU CAN CHECK THE GUIDE OR DNR FISH APP.

>> YEAH.

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE MAPS AND, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, GIVE ME A CALL AT THE OFFICE AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

I JUST HAD THAT QUESTION CALLED IN TO ME JUST THE OTHER DAY... >> AND YOU GUYS ARE DOING THE WALLA INTAKES RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, WE JUST FINISHED UP TODAY.

THEY DID TWO DAYS LAST WEEK AND TWO DAYS THIS WEEK, SPAWN LIKE 275 FEMALES WHICH GAVE US, I DON'T KNOW, 32 MILLION EGGS I THINK WAS THE TARGET.

IT WENT REALLY WELL.

A LOT OF WATER IN THE RIVER, IT'S REALLY HIGH RIGHT NOW AND LAST TON OF STEELHEAD UP BETWEEN PINE STREET AND THE CROGHAN DAM RIGHT NOW, TOO.

>> AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE -- >> YEAH, WE HOPE TO START TAKING STEELHEAD EGGS, WE CHECKED LAST WEEK AND THEY WERE NOT RIPE YET.

WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE RIPE ENOUGH, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF FISH THERE.

WITH THE WARM WEATHER WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OVER THE WEEKEND THEY SHOULD BE RIGHT BY TUESDAY.

>> SUCKER'S DOING OKAY?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THOSE AS IT GETS LATER.

ESPECIALLY UP NORTH, PROBABLY DOWNSTATE IS SEEING MORE SUCKERS NOW BUT THEY SHOULD BE COME TOO LONG.

>> JOE, CAN I RIDE AN E-BIKE ON THE TRAIL AND IF I CAN'T -- IF I CAN, IF SO, DO I NEED AN ROV LICENSE.

>> E-BIKES ARE ELECTRICAL BIKES.

THEY ARE STILL A WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLE SO THEY CAN'T BE OPERATED ON OUR RAILS THAT DON'T ALLOW FOR THAT.

SO MANY OF YOUR BIKE PATHS AND TRAILS SIMILAR TO THOSE ARE CLOSED.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY CAN OPERATE ANYWHERE A CONVENTIONALLY PLATED VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO RIDE.

ONE OTHER THING PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO DO ED WITH E-BIKES IS TAKE THEM ACROSS COUNTRY, WHICH YOU CANNOT DO.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOPING THIS MIGHT OPEN UP MORE HUNTING LOCATIONS FURTHER IN THE WOODS BUT YOU CANNOT OPERATE THEM OFF-TRAIL.

IF YOU DO SO, YOU'D BE ISSUED A CITATION.

>> AND HUNT 234 CHAD I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE TRICKY BIOLOGIST BUT IN APRIL HUNT PLUS 234 IF I DON'T GET A TURKEY IN APRIL.

>> YOU CAN ONLY BUY ONE TURKEY LICENSE, REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL OR UNSUCCESSFUL.

SAY YOU HAVE THAT FIRST SEASON, YOU CANNOT GO AND BUY ONE OF THE LATER HUNTS ONCE YOU BUY A LICENSE, THAT'S THE SEASON THAT YOU'RE HUNTING.

>> OKAY.

AND CHAD, WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR THE ELK AND BEAR LICENSES?

>> YEAH.

THE ELK AND THE BEAR DRAWING APPLICATIONS START MAY 1st.

>> OKAY.

>> AND WHAT'S GREAT IS IF YOU HAVE THAT DNR HUNT FISH APP, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SET A RENEWAL ON THAT APP ON YOUR PROFILE SO YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BOTHER IT.

>> REALLY.

>> IT WILL KEEP APPLYING.

SO IF YOU'RE A YEARLY -- YOU KNOW, A PARTICIPATE IN THAT LOTTERY AND PUTTING IN EVERY YEAR FOR IT, YOU CAN SET A RENEWAL ON IT AND IT WILL CONTINUALLY ADD ONE TO YOUR LOTTERY.

>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.

MY GRANDSON, MY 7-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON DEVIN TOLD ME HOW WONDERFUL THIS APP IS.

OF COURSE, I'M KIND OF CHALLENGED WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

BUT I'M GOING TO TRY AND LOOK THAT UP.

JOE, HOW ABOUT PICKING UP WOOD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

CAN YOU DO THAT?

>> ULTIMATE THREE TIME OF YEAR THE STATE HAS STARTED TO SELL FIREWOOD COLLECTION PERMITS THAT ARE $20 EACH.

YOU CAN UTILIZE OUR APP, YOU CAN GO ONLINE OR STOP INTO A CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.

AGAIN, THESE WOOD PERMITS ARE $20 EACH, AND ALLOWS TO YOU TAKE FIREWOOD FROM A TOWNSHIP.

AGAIN, YOU'LL HAVE TO SPECIFY WHAT TOWNSHIP YOU ARE COLLECTING INTO.

>> SO IF YOU JUST STOP BY AND SEE DEAD TREES ALONGSIDE THE ROAD, YOU'RE GONNA BE IN TROUBLE.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN'T CUT THOSE WITHOUT A PERMIT.

AND YOU GOTTA MAKE SURE THERE'S AN AREA OPEN TO CUTTING BECAUSE IF THERE'S AN ACTIVE TINDER HARVEST IT STILL BELONGS TO THE LOGGER WHO HAS BID AND BOUGHT THAT FROM THE STATE.

>> THIS, BY THE WAY, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT 20 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS -- 5 YEARS AGO, I WOULD NEVER HAVE EVEN ANTICIPATED.

IS IT THREE TRACK A DEER WITH A DRONE?

>> THE TEEN THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE NO.

SO CURRENTLY THERE ARE STATE STATUTES AGAINST STATE LAWS -- >> NOT DNR LAWS.

>> NOT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ORDERS.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY STATE STATUTES THAT PROHIBIT THE USE OF DEVICE THAT USE AERONAUTICAL THRUST, DRONES, AND THE TAPE OF WILDLIFE.

AND AGAIN THE DEFINITION OF TAPE TALKS ABOUT TO PURSUE, TO CHASE, TO COLLECT.

SO EVERYTHING THAT THAT DRONE IS BEING UTILIZED FOR IS WITHIN THAT DEFINITION, SO IT IS CURRENTLY ILLEGAL FOR THE USE OF DRONES TO TRACK DEER AFTER HOURS OR EVEN TO LOCATE DEER OR OTHER GAME PRIOR TO GOING TO OUT AND HUNTING.

>> THIS IS A QUESTION THAT CAME IN FROM GAYLORD HAS.

HOW CAN THE DNR BUY $20 MILLION TO BUY PIGEON RIVER LAND AND NOT SPEND $2 MILLION TO RE-DO THE CORNWELL FLOODING.

NUMBER ONE, THOSE ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FUNDS.

DNR DOES NOT CONTROL WHERE THE $20 MILLION CAME FROM.

THAT CAME FROM THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES LAND TRUST FUND.

AND THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO THE TOWNSHIPS.

IT COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE.

BUT DNR MADE AN APPLICATION FOR THE PIGEON RIVER.

SO YOU COULD SPEND A DIME OF THAT ON THE CORNWELL FLOODING ANYWAY.

>> COULD I TALK ABOUT THE CORNWELL FLOODING IF YOU WANT.

THAT'S -- IT'S A DAM ON A STREET.

AND IT UNFORTUNATELY IS A HIGH HAZARD DAM, SO IT'S ONE THAT IF IT WERE TO FAIL, IT COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DOWNSTREAM, POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE, AND SO WE BASICALLY -- AND WE BEING THE DNR, WE OWN THAT DAM, AND SO WE BASICALLY THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE ARE EITHER TO REBUILD, YOU KNOW, FIX THE DAM OR REMOVE IT.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND FUNDING.

I KNOW FROM A FISHERY STANDPOINT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP.

BUT DAMS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AND SO THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO WE PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THAT DAM AND THEN THINKING IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING 40 YEARS FROM NOW.

SO IS IT WORTH THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT TO MAINTAIN THAT DAM.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, YOU KNOW, DOM A PRETTY GOOD SOLUTION.

BUT IT'S -- AND THAT'S NOT JUST WITH CORNWELL, THERE'S A LOT OF DAMS AROUND THE STATE.

>> HUNDREDS OF DAMS.

>> THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE AND IN PART BECAUSE REPAIRS HAVE GOTTEN SO EXPENSIVE THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN DAMS.

>> AND ANYONE WHO LIVES IN WATTS, YOU CAN TELL US WHAT HAPPENED WHEN DAMS FAIL.

AND OF COURSE UP IN GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, KENT COUNTY, JOE, CAN YOU CARRY ON YOUR OWN CONCEALED CARRY ON YOUR OWN PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT A CPL?

>> THERE IS NO LAW THAT PROHIBITS YOU FROM CARRYING A PISTOL CONCEALED, AGAIN, ON YOUR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY.

AGAIN, THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY BEARING NECESSARILY WITH LONG ARMS INSIDE VEHICLES, NO DOESN'T MATTER THE LAW IS THAT YOUR FIREARM, YOUR LONG ARM, RIFLE, SHOTGUN, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE MUST BE UNLOADED AND ENCASED AS YOU'RE TRANSPORTING TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OR MEETING ONE OF THE OTHER METHODS OF TRANSPORT.

>> NICE QUESTION HERE FROM WHITAMOR, KEITH CHARTER'S HOMETOWN.

REMEMBER KEITH?

THE PERSON THAT HAD A STATE PARK NAMED AFTER HIM.

OKAY, RULE OF FISHING IN GREAT LAKES SAYS STRAIGHT LINES PER PERSON.

THERE WAS TALK PREVIOUSLY ABOUT DROPPING THREE LINES AND ALLOW FISHERMEN TO USE MORE LINES IF THEY STAY IN THE LIMIT OF SPECIES AND FISH POSSESSION.

WILL THIS HAPPEN?

I'VE NEVER HEARD ANY TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

WE'VE DEFINITELY HEARD THAT.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANY EFFORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AT THE MOMENT.

I'VE HEARD IT BROUGHT UP USUALLY BY GREAT LAKES ANGLERS.

OFTEN EARLY IN THE SEASON WHEN THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, CHARTER CAPTAINS, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO RUNNING 13 RODS AND ONLY GOT TWO PEOPLE ON THE BOAT, SO IT MAKES SENSE FROM A BIOLOGICAL STANDPOINT.

BUT I HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN ANY EFFORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> BUT FROM A BIOLOGICAL STANDPOINT, AGAIN, AS LONG AS THE FISH LIMITS WERE FOLLOWED IT WOULDN'T HAVE A BIOLOGICAL IMPACT.

>> ALTHOUGH YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT PEOPLE USING FIVE TIP-UPS OR.

>> NO, I THINK WOULD BE GREAT LAKES TROLLING.

>> WILL THERE BE MANDATORY REPORTING FOR TURKEY KILLS IN THE FUTURE?

>> A LOT OF STATES THAT CURRENTLY HAVE MANDATORY REPORTING ALREADY ESTABLISHED HABIT FOR DEER AND TURKEY AND OCCASIONALLY OTHER SPECIES.

I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR TURKEY PROGRAM AND OUR TURKEY BIOLOGISTS ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO.

>> TO CONSIDER, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM DIRECTLY.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNAL DISCUSSION BESIDE THAT.

>> DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS WORK OUT I'M SURE THAT WOULD SAVE A LOT OF TIME, MONEY, AND GET YOU BETTER RESULTS.

>>> WHAT'S THE LIMIT FOR FISH WHEN SOMEBODY IS CAMPING FOR A WEEK?

>> SO YOU CAN KEEP TWO ADDITIONAL DAYS LIMIT IN ADDITION TO THE LIMIT HAVE YOU FOR THAT DAY.

SO TECHNICALLY, IT WOULD BE THREE DAYS LIMIT.

BUT THE PREVIOUS TWO DAYS LIMIT HAVE TO BE PROCESSED IN SOME WAY, SO THAT WOULD MEAN HE CANNED OR FROZEN, SMOKED, SO WHAT YOU COULDN'T DO IS JUST FILLET THE FISH AND PUT THE BAGS IN A COOLER.

THAT WOULD NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF PROCESS.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROCESS THE ADDITIONAL TWO DAYS LIMITS IN SOME FASHION.

>> OKAY.

WHY DOES THE DNR -- THIS IS A COOL QUESTION FOR YOU, JET, THESE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT ALLOWING BAITINGS.

WHY IS DNR NOT EDUCATING HUNTERS BETTER.

HUNTERS THINK THE DNR IS DOING THE BABY THING TO PUNISH -- THE BAITING THING TO PUNISH THEM.

WELL, SOME DO.

NEED TO ADVOCATE BETTER ABOUT CHRONIC WASTE DISEASE.

AND THIS ONE COMES FROM LAKE ANN HE KIND OF A NEAT NECK OF THE WOODS UP THERE.

>> YEAH, THE CRUX OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IS WORKING TOWARDS THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF A WILDLIFE SPECIES IN, THIS CASE DEER.

FOR LONG TERM.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PENALIZE ANYBODY BY TAKING AWAY THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO BAIT BUT WE ARE LEGITIMATELY CONCERNED ABOUT CHRONIC WASTE DISEASE, IT AFFECTS MEMBERS OF THE DEER FAMILY.

SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED IT IN SEVERAL HUNDRED DEER ALREADY IN MICHIGAN.

ELK AND MOOSE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO IT.

WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED IT IN MICHIGAN BUT WE HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OVER THIS.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU PUT BAIT DOWN AND YOU CONTINUALLY REPLENISH THAT SOURCE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU'RE DRAWING DEER TO A CONGREGATION SITE FREQUENTLY AND REPETITIVELY BEYOND WHAT THEIR NORMAL BEHAVIOR WOULD ALLOW, AND WHAT THAT DOES IS INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTACT AND TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE.

SO WE'RE CERTAINLY WANT TO LIMIT ANY SORT OF IMPACTS OR SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE TAKEN SUCH A STRONG STANCE WITH BAITING IN OUR LOWER PENINSULA.

>> CAN'T THE DNR PLANT FINGERS IN PLATTE LAKES SO IT'S POSSIBLE THEN TO STOCK WITH WALAI?

>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE ON PLATTE LAKES.

THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE'S CONCERN THAT THE WALLET I WOULD BE EATING THE SALMON THAT COME DOWNSTREAM, SO I GUESS THE ANSWER IS POSSIBLY BUT IT WOULD INVOLVE EXTRA TRUCKING -- YOU WOULD HAVE TO TRUCK IT DOWN BELOW PLAT LAKE.

AND THEY DO BETTER THE FURTHER UPSTREAM YOU PLANT THEM.

IT MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT TO RELEASE THOSE FISH ABOVE PLAT LAKE FOR IMPRINTING PURPOSE.

I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, THEY'RE WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW AND WILL TRY TO STUDY THE ISSUE TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THIS SITUATION AND SEE IF WE CAN RESUME WALAI STOCKING IN PLATTE LAKE.

>> AS LONG AS WE'RE UP AROUND THE HONOR AREA, THAT'S A COOL QUESTION, WHEN DO STEELHEADS OFF AND ON?

>> SKAMANIA STEEL LEAD A GENETIC STRAIN OF STEELHEAD THAT ARE PREDEPOSED TO RUN IN THE SUMMER.

TYPICALLY JUNE, JULY, AUGUST IS WHEN YOU SEE SKAMANIA STEELHEAD RUN.

NOW, THEY RUN AT THAT TIME, SO THAT MEANS THEY EQUITY THE STREAM, BUT THEY TYPICALLY DON'T SPAWN UNTIL EARLY SPRING.

AND SO WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL -- TYPICALLY THEY'RE SOME OF THE FIRST FISH TO SPAWN.

SO IF YOU SEE FISH HIT THE GRAVEL LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THOSE SKAMANIAS.

SO THEY ENTER THE STREAM IN THE SUMMER AND THEN THEY HANG OUT AND PROVIDE A STREAM FISHERY FOR ANOTHER SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THEY SPAWN.

>> AND THEY FIGHT LIKE CRAZY.

>> ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN THE WATER'S WARM AND YOU COOK THEM, OH, YES.

THEY'RE OUT OF CONTROL.

>> I CAUGHT SKAMANIA DOWN IN VARIANT SPRINGS AND HOLY MOLY.

>> YEP.

THEY'RE FUN.

>> SO WILL THERE BE FREE FISHING THIS JUNE?

>> I WOULD ASSUME.

>> EVERY YEAR THE DEPARTMENT PUTS ON FREE FISHING WEEKENDS.

WE DO ONE IN THE SPRING AND ONE IN THE WINTER.

THAT WAY WE CAN TARGET BOTH ON THE WATER AND THEN ON THE ICE.

DEPARTMENT'S ALSO EXPANDED TO FREE REVIEW WEEKENDS, FREE NO RECREATIONAL PARK PASS WEEKENDS.

THINGS TO TRY TO GET HUNTERS, ANGLERS OR EVEN JUST PEOPLE GETTING OUT TO EXPERIENCE OUR RESOURCES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

BUT WE ARE OPENING UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE MORE FOLKS ENJOYING OUR RESOURCES.

>> I'VE GOTTA ASK YOU THIS ONE, JOE.

THIS IS FROM MT.

PLEASANT.

I THINK PEOPLE CALL THIS WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS BUT WHY DOES THE DNR CONSIDER PEOPLE TO BE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY WHEN AN OFFICER STOPS THEM?

>> IT'S BECAUSE THE LAW REQUIRES US.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE A SITUATION ULTIMATELY.

WE ARE BOUND BY THE LAW, THE SAME LAW EVERY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN THE STATE HAS TO FOLLOW.

SO AS WE CONTACT SOMEONE, IF WE THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG, WE'RE GOING TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION AND ULTIMATELY IF WE CAN KIND PROOF AND EVIDENCE THAT THEY DID SOMETHING ILLEGAL, WE WILL CHARGE AND DEAL WITH THEM, WHETHER IT BE A WARNING OR A CITATION.

BUT AGAIN, MOST OF OUR CONTACTS, 97% OF OUR CONTACTS ARE -- WE JUST ARE ENCOUNTERING PEOPLE ENJOYING THE HUNTING, FISHING OR JUST OUT RECREATE IN WHATEVER MANNER THEY MIGHT BE.

BUT MOST PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER ARE GOOD LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS FISHERIES DIVISION THINK THAT THE FISH NUMBERS IN THE LITTLE MANASTY WILL INCREASE THIS YEAR?

>> IF THEY'RE TALKING STEELHEAD, YES, WE DO.

WE'VE SEEN REALLY GOOD STEELHEAD RUNS LAST FALL AND THROUGHOUT THE WINTER TOO A LOT OF FISH CAME IN.

THE LOWER NUMBERS WE HAD SCENE IN THE RIVER 10 YEARS OR SO AGO WERE MORE RELATED TO A LACK OF BAIT OUT THERE, AND WE SAW SMALLER STEELHEAD RUNS IN THE PIERRE MARQUETTE, MANATEE, IN BEAR CREEK.

SO IT WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WE SAW FEWER NUMBER OF FISH, THE MASTY.

THOSE CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.

THERE'S MORE BAIT THROUGHOUT THAN THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST 10, 12 YEARS, SO THAT'S WHY WE DO EXPECT TO SEE MORE STEELHEAD IN THE LITTLE MANASY RIVER THIS YEAR.

>> I DON'T REALLY GET THIS ONE BUT WHY CAN'T BEAR HUNTERS HUNT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

OF COURSE THEY CAN HUNT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

>> YEAH, AGAIN, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PUT THEIR DOGS DOWN EITHER ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PUBLIC LANDS, AGAIN, IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IT MUST BE PROPERTY THAT THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO HUNT.

MAYBE THE QUESTION IS WHY CAN'T THEY JUST STAY ON A SINGLE SIDE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT IF ANYONE'S EVER HUNTED WITH EVEN BEAGLES AND HUNTED RABBITS, SOME OF THOSE RUNS CAN COVER MILES, ESPECIALLY WITH BEAR AND COYOTES.

THOSE CAN EASILY COVER A TOWNSHIP OF LAND DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, THE ANIMAL'S WILLINGNESS TO RUN.

SO, THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN SOME PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS AND HOUNDSMEN.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME HOUNDSMEN GROUPS MAY NOT BE AS CONSIDERATE AS FAR AS WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THINGS DOWN.

BUT AGAIN, AS LONG AS THEY'RE PUTTING IT DOWN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT THEY HAVE PERMISSION OR STATE LANDS, AGAIN, I'VE KNOWN SOME REALLY, REALLY GREAT HOUNDSMEN AND THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY DO TO KEEP AND RUNNING THE LARGE TRACKS OF PUBLIC LANDS BUT SOMETIMES, AGAIN, THE DOGS RUN UNDER THE PRIVATE AND THEY DO HAVE A RIGHT TO GO ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY TO COLLECT THEIR HOUNDS.

>> WITHOUT A GUN.

>> YEP.

WITHOUT ANY KIND OF HUNTING APPARATUS SOLELY TO RETRIEVE.

THEY CAN'T SHOOT THE BEAR.

IF IT TREED ON THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE PERMISSION.

>> AND THAT'S BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 1978.

>> YES.

>> SO A LONG TIME AGO.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GET TO -- THERE'S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM HERE GIVEN THAT EAGLE SAYS HE'S SEEN ENOUGH OF CLEAN-UP IN THE CAMP GREATY AREA.

WHAT WOULD BE IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE IN THE WILDLIFE AREA FROM THE DNR'S PERSPECTIVE WITH THE PETE MOSS.

>> WELL, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE CONCERNS, RIGHT.

>> RIGHT, AND SO THEY ARE LOOKING AT CAMP GRAYLING EXPANSION.

THEY ARE STILL CONSIDERING AND IN TALKS AND LOOKING AT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT WOULD BE, AGAIN, THOSE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE, THAT I HAVE OF THE EXPANSION, THE INTENT IS NOT ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND USE.

IT'S FOR SIGNAL TESTING OF DIFFERENT RADIO SIGNAL SO THAT WAY OUR ARMED FORCES WHEN THEY'RE OVERSEAS THAT THEY COULD BE USING SIGNAL SEGMENTS THAT AREN'T DETECTABLE.

SOMETHING THAT DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT WE GOING TO APPROVE THE EXPANSION.

HOPEFULLY SOMETIME THIS SUMMER WE'LL HAVE A DECISION.

BUT AT THIS POINT I'M NOT AWARE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS SETTLED ON A YES OR NO ANSWER.

>> I CAN TALK ABOUT THE PFAS REAL QUICK.

SO FROM MY KNOWLEDGE, THE PFAS CONTAMINATE -- CONTAMINATION ON LAKE MARGUERITE WAS FROM FIRE FIGHTING FOAM.

I THINK THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE USING THAT ANYMORE.

SO I WOULD NOT EXPECT, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL PFAS LEVELS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE EXPANSION, NOT THAT THAT SHOULD HAVE ANY BEARING ON WHETHER IT'S APPROVED OR NOT.

>> OKAY.

>> AND IF A PERSON -- THIS IS KIND OF -- I LIKE THESE KIND OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX.

BUT THE FOLKS FROM BAD AX, I WAS JUST THERE ON SATURDAY, BY THE WAY, FOR PURCHASES TO HARVEST DEER IN MICHIGAN, A DEAR THAT'S A DNR PROPOSED LEONES, IT'S OWNED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, NOT THE DNR, OKAY.

WHY CAN'T PEOPLE ENLIST THE DNR'S HELP TO RETRIEVE A DEER ON PRIVATE PROPERTY?

>> BOY, THERE'S -- SO YOU'RE GOING TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT I HAVE TO COME ON YOUR PROPERTY TO RETRIEVE THIS DEER?

>> AGAIN, IT'S JUST LIKE ANYTHING, PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.

PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO ON TO THAT PRIVATE FORT RETRIEVE GAME HARVESTED.

BUT AGAIN, AS BOB SAID, THAT THE GAME OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IS HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST.

THE DEPARTMENT IS THE ONE WHO MANAGES IT, MAINTAINS IT, BUT ULTIMATELY WE STILL HAVE TO RESPECT PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO AND MEDIATE BETWEEN MAYBE A LAND OWNER AND A HUNTER TO GO AND RETRIEVE IT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> MOST PEOPLE IF A DEER GETS HARVESTED, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD PREFER THAT IT'S HARVEST -- SINCE IT WAS HARVESTED THAT IT IS UTILIZING AND DOESN'T GO ON ROT.

BUT SOMETIMES, I CAN PROBABLY SAY MAYBE THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTE AND MAYBE SOME COMPETITION BETWEEN SOME HUNTERS AND THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE PERSON NOT WILLING TO GO UP.

>> IF YOU PURPOSELY SAID -- IF YOU PURPOSELY ARE ON A PROPERTY LINE AND 2/3 OF YOUR DEER RUN OVER INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN YOU SHOOT 'EM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS.

YOU KNOW, SOONER OR LATER, THAT'S GONNA LEAD TO -- IT'S HUMAN NATURE.

BUT ALWAYS -- I NEVER HEARD YET WHEN A DEPARTMENT -- WHEN A HE CO WAS CALLED AND A GOOD LEGITIMATE WAY TO HELP BOTH SIDES OUT.

>> WE CAN TRY BUT ULTIMATELY BEGUN WE DO HAVE LIMITED CONSERVATION OFFICERS AND MEDIATING NEIGHBOR DISPUTES AS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALWAYS ABLE TO DO.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION FOR GRAYLING, HEARD ABOUT A NEW STRAIN -- I HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS -- OF RAINBOW TROUT BEING PLANTED BY THE DNR.

>> NOT A NEW STRAIN.

>> WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE STRAIN?

IS IT NEW OR HAS IS IT BEEN HERE INSTALLS.

>> NO, IT HASN'T BEEN HERE ALWAYS BECAUSE RAINBOW TROUT ARE NON-NATIVE.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO I THINK WHAT THEY'RE RIVERRING TO IS OUR EAGLE LAKE -- REFERRING TO IS OUR EAGLE LAKE RAINBOW TROUT WHICH IS WHAT WE STOCK IN LAKE ANDS IN SOME RIVERS TO KIND OF CREATE A RESIDENT RAINBOW TROUT FISHERY, THEY'RE NOT AS MIGRATORY AS STEELHEAD.

ONE THING OUR HATCHERY FOLKS HAVE BEEN DOING IS TRYING TO GROW SOME BIGGER ONES.

THEY'VE BEEN MANIPULATED THE PHOTO PERIOD TO GET THEM TO SPAWN EARLIER, AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE -- A LOT OF TIMES, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE STOCK OUR EAGLE LAKE RAINBOW TROUT, THEY GO IN ABOUT 7, 7.5 INCHES.

IF WE COULD PUT THEM IN AT 8.5, 9 INCHES BE OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A MORE CATCHABLE FISH RIGHT AWAY, AND SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT OUR HATCHERY FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.

SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT -- >> WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> YEP.

>> OKAY.

MT.

PLEASANT, WHY DOES THE DNR REQUIRE KAYAKS TO HAVE LICENSING WHEN THEY USE THE BOAT LAUNCH AS SOON AS.

>> , SO I MEAN, IF A KAYAK IS UTILIZING -- IF A PERSON IS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE TO ONE OF OUR BOAT LAUNCHES THAT REQUIRE A RECREATIONAL PASSPORT, THAT VEHICLE IS GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A RECREATIONAL PASSPORT, BUT AGAIN IT'S STATE STATUTE THAT DUCK TATES WHAT VEHICLES NEED A REGISTRATION THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

AND GENERALLY SPEAKING IT'S MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT, SAILBOATS OVER CERTAIN LENGTHS ALSO REQUIRE IT.

BUT AGAINST STATE STATUTE THAT SETS WHAT HAS TO BE REGISTERED.

>> SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HAVE TO ENACT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND EVERY TIME THE LEGISLATURE GOES THROUGH, TO TAKE A NON-MOTORIZED BOAT AND MAKE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LICENSE, THE WORLD GOES WACKY.

SO HOW CAN YOU DO THAT.

HE LET'S THEN FOR THE 300th TIME, OKAY.

AND I'M NOT BEING A SMART ALEC.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU, FOLKS, LISTEN TO THIS, BECAUSE WE GET IN QUESTION EVERY YEAR, AND WE GET IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

WHY CAN'T THE DNR RESTRICT THE SALE OF BAIT, FOR DEER?

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT.

IT HAS NO LEGAL SHORT TO DO IT.

JUST GO AHEAD.

>> IT'S COMMERCE.

YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO BE SOLD IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, AND THERE ARE PARTS OF MICHIGAN WHERE BAITING IS STILL ALLOWED.

YOU CAN STILL ALLOW BAIT ACROSS MUCH OF THE UPPER PENINSULA FOR DEER.

THERE ARE A COUPLE SEASONS THAT ARE A COUPLE DAYS LONG, EVEN IN THE LOWER PENINSULA, FOR HUNTERS WITH QUALIFYING DISABILITIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND ABLE TO USE BAIT.

SO IT CAN BE SOLD.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, BOB, THE DNR DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO -- >> HOW DO YOU STOP THE SALE OF CORN?

I NEED FOR MY CHICKENS.

HOW DO YOU -- OR APPLES, OR CARROTS.

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THERE ARE LEGAL USES FOR THESE, AND AGAIN, SO IF WE WERE GOING TO STOP THE SALE OF BAIT, GROCERY STORES REALISTICALLY COULDN'T SELL APPLES, THEY COULDN'T SELL CARROTS.

SO AGAIN IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE.

IT'S NOT REALISTIC.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE QUESTION CAME FROM, IT DIDN'T SAY WHO CALLED IT IN OR FROM WHAT AREA, BUT UNDERSTAND DNR CAN'T DO IT.

NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

AND HERE'S A QUESTION I'VE BEEN ASKING THE FIRST PART OF IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, IT'S BEEN GROUND CENTER FOR CLOSE TO 60 YEARS NOW.

TOO FEW PARTRIDGE AND TOO MANY TURKEY.

HOW CAN THIS BE IMPROVED?

WELL, I LIKE HAVING THE TURKEY AROUND AN AWFUL LOT, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN A SEASON YET WHERE I DIDN'T WISH THERE WERE MORE GROWS.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW -- THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF MY REALM HERE THE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THEY ARE A VERY SPECIALIZED SPECIES THAT REQUIRES YOUNGER FORESTS.

SO WE'VE REALLY PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS INTO WHAT WE CALL OUR GEMS AREAS, WHICH IS OUR GROSE ENHANCED MANAGEMENT AREAS THAT WE HAVE.

PUT A LOT OF FOCUS ON THAT.

MICHIGAN DOES QUITE WELL WITH G ROUSE COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHER STATES.

WE'RE TYPICALLY AT THE TOP OF IN TERMS OF WHAT HUNTER ALSO HARVEST, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE CYCLICAL TOO.

SO KEEP IN MIND THERE WILL BE GOOD YEARS FOR G ROUSE AND DOWN YEARS.

THAT'S SORT OF A NATURAL CYCLE.

>> IT IS, LIKE THE 10-YEAR CYCLES, WE USED TO SAY, WHERE ARE WE AT IN THE CYCLE?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND WE STILL WEREN'T GROUSE HUNTING THOUGH.

AND THE MORE YOU LOOK AT HABITAT AND THAT YOUNG FOREST HABITAT, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOU'RE GONNA BE.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES.

WHEN WILL THE DNR STOP GILL-NETTING FISH IN LAKE CHARLEVOIX.

THAT PERSON DID NOT CATCH A WALAI THIS YEAR.

>> THE ONLY GILL-NETTING THAT I WOULD BE AWARE OF IN LAKE CHAR LAVOY WOULD MAYBE A FISHERY SURVEY.

SO I DON'T -- AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN LAKE CHAR LAVOY.

SO I GUESS I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO.

I DO KNOW THAT WE STOP LAKE CHARLEVOIX WITH WALAI ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S UP FOR -- TYPICALLY EVERY OTHER YEAR I THINK THAT IT GETS STOCKED.

SO THEY'RE -- I KNEE THERE ARE A LOT OF WALAI IN LAKE CHARLEVOIX PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH ARM.

SO, YEAH, I'M NOT -- GUESS I'M NOT SURE WHO IS PUTTING GILL-NETS IN LAKE CHARLEVOIX OR IF THERE ARE A LOT OF GILL-NETS IN LAKE CHARLEVOIX.

>> WELL, PEOPLE DO HEARING THINGS -- PEOPLE DO HEAR THINGS AND THAT'S -- ARE THEY PLANNING GRAYLING IN MICHIGAN?

HOW IS THAT PROJECT GOING ALONG?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> YES, THAT IS GOING.

WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH OUR OWN BROOD STOCK SO WE WEREN'T BEHOLDEN TO OTHER STATES TO GET EGGS EVERY YEAR.

SO WE'RE WORKING AND HAVE BEEN TO ALASKA TWICE AND BROUGHT EGGS BACK.

AND THE PROGENY FROM THOSE FISH, THOSE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR HATCHERIES, THEY'RE GROWING, THEY'RE GETTING OLDER BUT IT TAKES A FEW YEARS FOR GRAYLING TO BECOME MATURE.

SO THE FISH WE HAVE ARE NOT REAL GOOD AT SPAWNING YET SO WE'RE NOT READY TO START STOCKING THEM IN GENERAL STREAMS AROUND THE STATE YET.

I'M HEARING PERHAPS 2025 WE'LL HAVE SOME FISH READY, SOME EGGS THAT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, STOCKING IN THE STREAMS.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE A COUPLE OF YEARS YET.

BUT, YES, WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TRIBES AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OTHER AGENCIES AND A LOT OF PARTNERS ON THAT PROJECT.

A LOT OF EYES ON IT, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A COUPLE YEARS YET.

>> AND AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ROUGH G ROUSE.

PEOPLE CALL THEM PARTRIDGE BUT FOLKS WANT TO KNOW FROM ROSE CITY HOW DO WE GET MORE?

PRETTY SIMPLE, CUT, RIGHT?

>> HABITAT MANAGEMENT, YOU GOTTA GET YOUNGER FORESTS, THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST STEP.

>> PLANT 5,000 LAKE TROUT IN LAKE CHARLEVOIX ONLY ALLOWED TWO FISH PER DAY.

WHERE ARE THEY?

>> RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM USUALLY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THEY TEND TO LIKE THE DEEPER WATER, UNLIKE THE WALAI, WHICH WON'T BE FOUND IN THE DEEP WATER, YEAH, LAKE CHARLEVOIX WOULD BE -- IF I WAS HUNTING TROUT IN LAKE CHARLEVOIX, MAYBE ONCE THE ICE GOES OUT FOR A OOH WEEKS, YOU CAN GET THEM SHALLOW BUT ONCE IT STARTS ROLLING -- WARMING UP, YOU'LL WANT TO METRO 80, 90 FEET DOWN AND TRY TO HIT THE CODE WATER DOWN THERE.

>> WILL THERE BE A MOVE TO STOCK MORE WALAIS IN NORTHWEST MICHIGAN OR YOU'RE BACK TOE IT.

>> YEAH, WE ALREADY STOCK A LOT OF WALAI IN NORTHWEST MICHIGAN.

WHAT THEY MAY BE THINKING OF IN 2020 BECAUSE OF COVID, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO AN EGG TAKE.

SO IN 2020 WE DID NOT STOCK ANY WALAI ANYWHERE IN MICHIGAN.

THEN IN 2021 -- WALAI REAR SOMETHING A LOT LIKE AGRICULTURAL.

YOU HAVE GOOD YEARS AND YOU HAVE BAD YEARS.

2021 WAS NOT A GOOD YEAR.

OUR PONDS DID NOT PRODUCE WELL.

SO LUCKILY 2022 WAS VERY GOOD, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO STOCK A LOT OF LAKES LAST YEAR, AT WELLSTON, TIPPY POND AND HOLTEN PILE POND, THOSE ARE TWO BODIES RIGHT IN THAT AREA THAT WE STOCK REGULARLY.

THEY WERE STOCKED IN '21 AND WILL BE STOCKED IN '23 AS WELL.

>> FROM SOCIAL MEDIA DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHTS JOE ON -- OR ANY OF YOU, ACTUALLY, ON WHEN A DECISION WILL BE MADE ON PROPOSED CAMP GRAYLING EXPANSION?

>> WE HAVE NO CLUE.

THOSE DECISIONS, THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING WELL ABOVE ANY OF OUR PAY GRADES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES INVOLVED IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

>> BACK TO FISH, HAVE THEY PLANTED -- THEY HERD THAT THEY PLANTED HERRING IN OSKONA AND EAST TOWAS.

>> I KNOW THEY WERE PLANTING SOME IN SAGINAW BAY AND I KNOW THAT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT.

BUT SO FAR NOT SUPER SUCCESSFUL.

BUT IT'S -- I THINK WE'VE ONLY STOCKED THEM LIKE ONE OR TWO YEARS.

SO STAY TUNED ON THAT ONE.

>> OKAY.

AND THE UFF HUNT.

THIS HAS GONE ON -- IS IT 23 YEARS NOW, 22 YEARS?

>> SOMEWHERE IN THAT REALM.

>> YOU CAN TAKE ONE LEGAL DEER.

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S AGAINST THEIR SEASON BAG LIMIT.

AND SO IT'S A TWO-DAY SEASON IN SEPTEMBER.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM AN OPPORTUNITY GO OUT WHEN THE DEER HAVEN'T BEEN PRESSURED YET.

THEY'RE STILL A LITTLE BIT MORE PATTERNABLE AND BE SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PARENTS TO GO SIT WITH THEIR KIDS BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HEARD, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO BE 14 BACK IN THE CONSTOWING GA ERA WHEN I STARTED HUNTING, THIS WOULD BE THE 57th DEER SEASON COMING UP OPENING DAY, GOOD LORD WILLING.

AND BACK THEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED NOT HUNT UNTIL YOU WERE 17.

THERE WASN'T A SINGLE ONE OF US THAT HAD AN ADULT SETTING WITH US AT 14, BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL TRYING TO HARVEST THEIR BUCK TOO.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU CAN'T.

AND I KNOW MY SON HAS REALLY ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY WITH HIS CHILDREN AND TAKING OTHER CHILDREN OUT TO DO THIS.

BUT MY SON GETS A KICK OUT OF SHARING THE HUNTING EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL NONE NEWS MUSSILY REPORT BAITING ADVICE AS SOON AS.

>> YEAH.

-- YES, WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL, 1-800-292-7800.

YOU CAN CALL IN AND BE ANONYMOUS.

IT DEFINITELY WOULD HELP US OUT.

AGAIN, THAT'S THE NUMBER TO USE TO REPORT ANY KIND OFIC ACTIVITY.

SMEARING FISH, SNAGGING FISH, TAKING OVER-ABUNDANCES YEAR ROUND, PLEASE UTILIZE THAT LINE.

ANY EXTRA SET OF EYES AND EARS THAT COMMITTEE WE HAVE OUT ON THE FIELD TO PROTECT RESOURCES IS A WONDERFUL THING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT PLANTS ALL OVER THE LAKES.

DOES THE DNR PLANT MANY FISH OR ANY FISH IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

>>> .

>> WE DO.

WE STOCK A LOT OF FISH ALL OVER MORNING MICHIGAN.

THAT SAID, THERE ARE SOME LAKES THAT HAVE GOOD NATURAL POPULATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, SPEECHES LIKE THE SMALL-MOUTHED BASS, BLUE GILL, LARGE-MOUTHED BASS, NORTHERN PIPE, CROPPY, YELLOW PERCH.

WE DON'T HAVE ACTIVE STOCKING PROGRAMS FOR THOSE SPECIES AND THERE'S A LOT OF LAKES THAT HAVE GOOD FISHERIES ALREADY FOR THOSE SPECIES.

I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT EVERY LAKE THAT NEEDS TO BEING TOED.

>> SURE.

>> AND SO THERE ARE SOME LAKES THAT WE'VE CHOSEN TO STOCK, WALAI, STOCK LAKE TROUT, AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S BASED ON THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT LAKE AND WHAT IT CAN SUPPORT.

>> BUT HAVING SPENT MY FIRST PART OF MY CAREER AT EAST AND WEST TWIN LAKE.

WE'VE PUT WALAI IN, GOT TWO LAKES IN THE COUNTY THAT WE PUT SPLAKE IN.

ANOTHER COUPLE LAKES THAT HAVE OTHER SPECIES OF TROUT PUT IN THAT.

SO YOU HAVE NUMEROUS LAKES THAT DO GET PLANTED BY THE FISHERIES DIVISION.

AND THEY'RE WONDERFUL FISHERIES.

I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME UP THERE.

>> WELL, WHO WOULDN'T, THAT'S A COOL NECK OF THE WOODS TO BE IN.

CAN I PLANT TROUT IN THE MUSKEGON RIVER UPSTREAM FROM THE BIG RAPIDS IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE DO.

WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

I CAN'T REMEMBER NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, MIGHT BE 20,000 BROWNS AND MAYBE A FEW LESS RAINBOWS.

BUT WE'RE STOCKING BOTH BROWNS AND RAINBOWS BETWEEN REID CITY AND BIG RAPIDS.

>> HEY, JOE, WOULD YOU KNOW THIS ONE.

ALPENA COUNTY, IS IT LEGAL TO FISH OFF THE NINTH STREET BRIDGE IN ALPENA?

>> SO -- >> I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE'S THE NINTH STREET -- >> OH, YEAH.

BUT SO AS FAR AS IT'S NOT ILLEGAL UNLESS FOR WHATEVER REASON THE CITY HAD PASSED AN ORDNANCE SOMETHING PROHIBITING FISHING FROM THE BRIDGE.

AGAIN, IT'S A PRETTY TIGHT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WALK.

SO IF THERE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, THEY MAY HAVE PUT AN ORDNANCE TO PROHIBIT THE STOPPING, STANDING ASPECT.

>> THIS NEXT QUESTION MAY HANDLE PART OF THAT.

WHY ARE PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OFTEN NINTH STREET BRIDGE?

IT'S A PUBLIC WALKWAY.

>> YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT THEY -- THAT THE CITY POTENTIALLY PASSED AN ORDNANCE AGAIN, AND I COULD ONLY ASSUME THIS IT WOULD BE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AGAIN, SOME OF THESE MORE SPECIFIC LOCATION QUESTIONS, WE APOLOGIZE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE INSIGHT INTO THEM.

BUT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS REACH OUT TO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS AND ALL OF OUR HUNTING AND FISH DIGESTS ON THE APPS, YOU NAME IT.

THEY HAVE THE LOCALIZED PHONE NUMBERS.

YOU CAN GET PUT IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL EXPERTS, AND FOR THE ALPENA AREA, WOULD BE OUR GAYLORD OFFICE.

>> AND ASK FOR TIM.

TIM WILL BE THE ONE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> OH, HE'S A GREAT GUY.

HEY, HERE'S MY FAVORITE QUESTION OF THE NIGHT, RIGHT HERE.

BOY, THIS ONE -- AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR THIS GUY WHO THINKS HE'S OLDER BUT HE'S NOT REALLY, FROM MICHIGAN, HE SAYS I'M 80 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S NOT THAT OLD.

CAN THERE BE A SPECIAL HUNTING SEASON DEDICATED INTO PEOPLE OVER 75 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S THE QUESTION I'M GETTING VERY INTERESTED IN BY THE WAY.

>> YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR MY ARTERIES HARDENING OVER HERE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE CAN CREATE THOSE.

>> YEAH, WE ALREADY HAVE TWO HUNTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TOED ASSIST INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE THE LIBERTY HUNT AND THE INDEPENDENCE HUNT.

AGAIN, THEY ARE QUALIFYING AND AGAIN IT'S NOT BASED SOLELY ON AGE.

THERE ARE QUALIFYING LIMITATIONS OR IMPAIRMENTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HUNTS SUCH AS HUNT FROM STANDING MOTOR VEHICLE.

AGAIN, IF SOMEONE HAS AN IMPAIRMENT THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO WALK, WHETHER IT BE AN AMPUTATION OR OTHER ILLNESS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE EARLY HUNTS, THE SAME HUNT THAT'S THE YOUTH HUNT.

IT'S NOT SOLELY A YOUTH HUNT.

THERE ARE OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT DO PARTAKE AS WELL.

>> AND I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MICHIGAN IS -- FROM A DEER STANDPOINT -- ONE OF THE MORE LIBERAL SEASONS IN THE MIDWEST IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITY.

SO CERTAINLY WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST ALREADY, BUT ALSO WHEN COURAGE THEM TO REACH OUT TO MAYBE SOME LOCAL PUBLIC LAND AREAS, AND A LOT OF THOSE MANAGERS SOMETIMES HOLD SPECIAL HUNTS IN SPECIAL AREAS.

THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY OR HAVE A SPECIAL BLIND SET UP SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN DURING THE SEASONS THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

>> LOOKS LIKE THE PATH FOUNDATION AND STUFF THAT -- FOR PEOPLE THAT JUST CAN'T GET OUT, THAT THEY CAN GO ON THOSE SPECIAL HUNTS, TOO.

CHECK WITH THE PATH FOUNDATION, PASSING ALONG HERITAGE.

>> EXCUSE THIS COUGH.

I'M A LITTLE -- IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE YOU GET A LITTLE HACK LIKE THAT.

WHY DOES THE HATCHERY STOCK ONLY 2 INCH WILDLIFE FINGERLINGS WITH ONLY 1% SURVIVAL WHEN 3 INCHES WOULD HAVE A 10% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL?

>> YOU KNOW, ARE THOSE FIGURES ANYWHERE CLOSE?

>> YEAH.

SO WHAT HAS TO DO WITH THE WALAI POND DYNAMICS, WHICH CAN BE A LITTLE COMPLICATED, BUT BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN WE STOCK THE WALAI IN -- THE WAY IT WORKS, WE TAKE THE EGGS ON THE RIVER LIKE AND WE TODAY.

THEY GO TO THE HATCHERY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND HATCH OUT AND BECOME FRY.

AND THEN WE STOCK THEM INTO FERTILIZED PONDS, MANAGED PONDS, AND BASICALLY WHAT WE DO IN THOSE PONDS IS WE TRY TO RAISE PLANKTON.

WE TRY TO GET A GOOD -- BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WALAI FRY FEED ON.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GET A GOOD PLANKTON BLUME IN THE SPRING AND ONCE IT TENDS TO GET HOTTER IN THE SUMMER, YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH PLANKTON.

SO THE WALAI WILL HEAT UP ALL OF THE PLANKTON IN THE POND AND THEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANKTON LEFT, THEN THEY START EATING EACH OTHER, AND YOU CAN GO FROM A POND FULL OF 200,000 WALAI TO A POND OF 1500 WALAI REAL QUICK.

AND SO IF WE WANT THE NUMBERS THAT WE NEED TO STOCK IN ORDER TO CREATE THE FISHERIES WE WANT TO CREATE, WE HAVE TO STOCK THEM AT THE SMALLER SIZE.

AND SOME OF THEM -- WE STOCKED SOME IN LAKE MICHIGAN CADILLAC LAST YEAR THAT WERE ONLY 1 INCH LONG, BUT WE HAVE CREATED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD FISHERIES WITH WALAI THAT SMALL.

ONCE YOU GET THEM BEYOND THAT FRY STAGE AND YOU GET THEM, YOU KNOW, A MONTH AND A HALF IN THE POND, 1 1/2, SOMETIMES 2 INCHES, THOSE FISH DO SURVIVE PRETTY WELL.

>> SO THEY'RE QUOTING STATISTICAL STUFF, MAY NOT BE EXACT -- >> WELL, YEAH, AND AGAIN, TRYING TO GET THEM -- IT MAKES SENSE.

I CERTAINLY DON'T BLAME THE CALLER FOR WONDERING THAT.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

BUT THE SEAN BECAUSE THEY EAT EACH OTHER IN THE PONDS AND -- THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THEY EAT EACH OTHER IN THE PONDS AND YOU GO FROM A LOT TO A FEW.

THE FEW YOU HAVE ARE BIGGER BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE IMPACT THAT YOU WOULD WITH 200,000 AS OPPOSED TO 1500.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A MOTHER -- ISN'T MOTHER NATURE INCREDIBLE IT TAKES ITS OWN COURSE IN SPITE OF ALL OF THE ADVICE WE WANT TO GIVE, IT RIGHT.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

>> PRETTY COOL.

FIREARM RESTRICTIONS FOR DEER, PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THERE THAT IT'S GROWN EXPEDIENTIALLY AND WOULD THE DNR CONSIDER HAVING SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS TO WHAT DOWNSTATE HAS DUE TO THAT?

NEXT TO INTERLOCKEN AND GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY WANT TO KNOW.

I CAN'T IMAGINE BECAUSE THE RESTRICTIONS IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN ARE NOT ALL THAT TOUGH ANYMORE EITHER.

IS 83.

ULTIMATELY, AGAIN, NORTH OF THE FIRE ZONE, YOU CAN USE A TYPICAL STANDARD RIFLED CARTRIDGE.

BELOW THE LIMITED FIREARM ZONE IT'S LIMITED TO SHOTGUNS, MUZZLE ORDERS OR STRAIGHT WALL CARTRIDGE, CARBON TYPE RIFLES THAT MEET CERTAIN CHARACTERS WITH THE LENGTH.

BUT THE 450 BUSHMASTER IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ONES AND I KNOW PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY'RE EXTREMELY ACCURATE TO 200, 300 YARDS.

AGAIN, NO DOESN'T MATTER, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO HAVING SAFE HUNTERS, SAFE PEOPLE HANDLING FIREARMS.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL HUNTING CONTROLS THAT CAN BE REQUESTED FOR INVESTIGATION BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES BASED ON POPULATION, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GENERALLY GOING TO HAPPEN WITHIN LARGE TRACKS OF LAND.

AGAIN, IT'S MORE IMPERATIVE TO TEACH PEOPLE GOOD SOUND JUDGMENT OF BEING IN THE WOODS WITH FIREARMS.

THE 450 HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO IT.

>> VERY POPULAR, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE SHIFTED AWAY FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL SHOTGUNS TO THE 450, 350s.

VERY POPLAR AND IT'S GROWN A LOT AND A LOT OF OTHER STATES HAVE DO.

ED STRAIGHT WALL REGULATIONS AS WELL.

>> IOWA FOR EXAMPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> HAS OHIO DONE IT YET?

>> WELL, I THINK NEXT YEAR THEIRS GOES INTO EFFECT.

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I'D HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT ONE.

>> ANYWAY, YEAH.

OKAY.

AND HERE'S A I DONE SOMETHING AND WONDER WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LEGAL QUESTION.

THESE ARE GREAT.

AND FOLKS, BY THE WAY, WE'VE ONLY GOT ANOTHER 7, 8 MINUTES TO GO.

AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO RATTLE THROUGH AS MANY QUESTIONS AS I CAN.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.

I MEAN, JUST THANKS FOR CALLING IN THESE QUESTIONS WE WON'T GET TO TALL OF THEM BUT WE NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL.

JUST SHOWS YOU CARE A LOT.

INADVERTENTLY LEFT A GUN CASE IN A FRIEND'S CAR LAST WINTER SO PUT HIS GUN INSIDE HIS COAT SLEEVE AND TODAY TO IT WITH A BOOT LACE UNLOADED IT AND PUT IT IN THE TRUNK.

YOU CAN PUT ONE INSIDE OF A COAT AND TIE IT UP, RIGHT?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE KEY PARTS TO COVER ON THAT ONE IS HE SAID HE PUT IT IN THE TRUNK OF A VEHICLE.

SO AGAIN IF IT'S LOCKED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE IN ARE IN THE VEHICLE, THAT MADE THAT PERFECTLY LEGAL.

>> AND IT'S UNLOADED.

>> YEP, UNLOADED.

AGAIN, WHERE YOU CAN GET INTO IRRELEVANTS WITH TRANSPORTING PISTOLS IS THAT YOU MUST TRANSPORT A PISTOL IN A CASE DESIGNED TO TRANSPORT A FIREARM.

YOU CAN MAKESHIFT, THROW IN A SOCK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ENCLOSE IT.

BUT AGAIN, LONG ARMS NEED TO BE ENCLOSED IN A RATHER OR A -- A WRAPPER OR A CASE.

SO THEY HAVE GUN SOCKS, RYE, THAT ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A LONG TUBE SOCK THAT USUALLY HAS A LITTLE TIE AT THE END, SO, NOW, AGAIN TO SAY IF YOU HAD YOUR GUN STUCK IN THE SLEEVE OF A JACKET AND IT'S RIDING AROUND WITH YOU IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE TRUCK, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES OCCURRING.

AND FOOD POTS ARE THERE 24-7 FOR A LONG TIME.

>> WE HAVE A FORM OF AGRICULTURAL.

>> AND THEY'RE NOT COVERED UNDER THE LAW.

OKAY.

THE -- WOULD THERE BE SUPPORT, THIS FROM NORTHWEST -- WOULD THERE BE SUPPORT FOR MORE FUNDING FROM LICENSE SALES TO GENERAL FUND TO ERADICATE AN OVERPOPULATION OF DEER?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THERE'S AN OVERPOPULATION OF DEER UNLESS THEY HUNT HEM, RIGHT IS THIS.

>> WHERE ARE YOU AT IN THE STATE, WHERE ARE YOU AT IN THE COUNTY, WHERE ARE YOU AT IN A CITY OR TOWN BECAUSE DEER POPULATIONS CAN VARY.

AND THEY VARY BY SEASON AS WELL TOO.

WHICH CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A LOT OF PLACES, ESPECIALLY IN OUR LOWER PENINSULA WHERE WE'RE EXPERIENCING INCREASING TRENDS IN OUR DEER POPULATION AND THAT'S EXACERBATED WHERE HUNTING OFTEN LIMITED AS YOU GET INTO THE SUBURBS AND URBAN AREAS, AS WELL.

IT CAN BE A REAL CHALLENGE.

SO NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE THIS CALLER IS FROM OR WHAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, HAPPY AND WILLING TO WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES OR LOCAL AREAS ABOUT THE DEER POPULATION AND WE EVEN HAVE SPECIALIZED PROSPECTS AS WELL, TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE LARGE NUMBER AREAS.

BUT WE DEFINITELY TRY TO CUSTOMIZE OUR APPROACH WHEN DEER POPULATIONS ARE A LITTLE HIGHER AND CERTAINLY ABOVE WHAT WE CALL THE SOCIAL CARING CAPACITY IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

>> BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL.

>> WHY DO THE DNR REPORTS THAT YOU PUT ON FISHING DON'T INCLUDE DRUMMOND ISLAND?

>> JEEZ, I -- >> OUR FISH REPORTS ARE BASED ON CENSUS AND ALSO FEEDBACK.

SO IT JUST MIGHT BE AN AREA THAT WE DON'T GET AS MUCH TRAFFIC.

>> I DO KNOW WE'VE DONE FISHERIES OUT ON DRUMMOND ISLAND.

IF YOU WANT TO SNOW SPECIFICS ABOUT THE WATERS IN THE DRUMMOND ISLAND AREA, CALL THE OFFICE.

WE'VE DONE FISHERY THERE IS.

>> AND EVEN NEWSPAPER REPORTS ARE FROM VARIOUS PLACES EVERY -- SO IT'S NOT THE DNR PUTTING THOSE REPORTS OUT ALL THE TIME.

IT'S OTHER SOURCE TOO.

WHAT ARE THE TREES STAND SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF THE TREES, THESE CITY FOLKS WANT TO KNOW.

GENERALLY IT'S THE DAY AFTER THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON.

SO ALL TREE STANDS SHOULD, OUT OF THE WOODS RIGHT NOW.

THEY CANNOT BE OUT ON PUBLIC LANDS DURING THE SPRING TURKEY HUNT, SO IF YOU DO SEE TREE STANDS OUT THERE AND YOU DO WANT TO REPORT THEM, UTILIZE OUR REPORT HOTLINE.

AGAIN MOST TIMES OFFICERS WILL DOCUMENT THAT THEY ARE ILLEGAL AND TRY TO CATCH PEOPLE IN THE STANDS DURING THE SEASONS.

>> I JUST JUMPED A BUNCH ON THE FLOOR BUT I CAN READ ONE THAT SAYS WHY IS IT SO HARD TO MAKE A RESERVATION AT A STATE PARK WITH BAD INTERNET CONNECTIONS?

A RESERVATION, WHEN I HAVE A STICKER.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE AN ENTRY STICKER BUT YOU DON'T -- >> PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT RECREATIONAL PASSPORT, AND MAYBE UTILIZING THE REGISTRATION APP AGAIN, THAT'S THE THIRD PARTY COMPANY, I BELIEVE, THAT WE CONTRACT WITH FOR THOSE RESERVATIONS.

I'VE USED THE RESERVATION SYSTEM MYSELF AND FOR ME, IT WORKED QUITE WELL.

>> I'VE USED IT TOO.

>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD INTERNET AT YOUR HOME, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE LIBRARY.

I KNOW AT LEAST IN TOWN, IN CADILLAC WHERE I LIVE, THE LIBRARY HAS GOOD INTERNET THERE AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP IF YOU WANT TO RESERVE YOUR CAMPSITE.

THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

>> CHAD, FIREARM DEER HUNTING, THIS IS THE ONE WE HAD NOT GOTTEN ALL EVENING.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO REPORT WITHIN 72 HOURS TO SHOW THAT YOU'VE KILLED?

IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED OUT THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> WE HAD OVER 300,000 DEER REPORTED THROUGH OUR SYSTEM LAST YEAR AND THE 72 HOUR WINDOW IS BASED ON WHAT WE LOOKED AT FROM OTHER STATES.

WE FOUND OUT IF THE -- THE LONGER YOU GIVE HUNTERS TO REPORT AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL STATES HAVE, I BELIEVE, IT'S ONE MONTH OR TWO MONTHS OR SEVERAL WEEKS, THAT THE RETURN RATE OR THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM REPORTING GOES DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY.

AND TO MAKE THE MOST OF OUR APP AND GET THE BEST DATA AVAILABLE WE WANTED TO HAVE A SHORTER TIME FRAME BUT NOT SO SHORT THAT IT WAS REALLY CONSTRICTED.

SO THE 72 HOUR WINDOW WAS TO GET THROUGH THE WEEKEND, AND THEN THE LOCATION ON THE MAP WHERE YOU'RE DROPPING YOUR PINK, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THIS PAST YEAR AND WE'RE REVISITING THAT GOING INTO THIS YEAR, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL OPTIONS THAT MIGHT CHANGE OVER THE COMING YEAR.

>> WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

BUT REAL QUICK, FOLKS FROM KINGSLY WANT TO KNOW, WHY DON'T WE DRAIN THE MOUTH OF THE PLATTE RIVER ANYMORE.

>> WE DID DREDGE IT AT ONE TIME.

WE WOULD LIKE TO.

>> AND THERE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A MEETING COMING UP WHERE WE WILL BE HAVING DISCUSSIONS.

THERE'S GONNA BE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS.

WE'VE GOT FOLKS FROM FISHERIES, WE'VE GOT FOLKS FROM LAW DIVISION AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL.

SO -- >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE CONCERN WAS ABOUT, IF THE FEDS WERE THE ONES WHO MAKE THE DETERMINATION OR THE ONES WHO DO THAT.

FOLKS, WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

MARK TINELL WILL GET BUSY AND SELECT THE ONE THAT WE'LL DO IN APRIL -- OCTOBER.

>> OCTOBER.

>> GOTTA GET MY CYCLES RIGHT HERE.

AND CHAD, WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU CAME ALONG THIS TIME, TOO.

THANK YOU.

YOU'LL HAVE FAR MORE QUESTIONS IN OCTOBER.

THANKS, JOE FOR STRAIGHTENING US OUT, AND MARK TINELLO, AND WE WANT TO THANK ELLIE AND SUE AND DAVE AND WESTON, TOO, FOR TAKING ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT OCTOBER FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF ASK THE DNR, AND SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS SHOW IF PUBLIC TELEVISION DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT CONSERVATION IN THIS GREAT OLD STATE OF