DNR announces availability of $100K in UP Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership grants

UPPER PENINSULA, Mich. (WLUC) - (Updated) The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says $100,000 is available for distribution to those who wish to partake in deer habitat improvement in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The application period for the Upper Peninsula’s Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative competitive grant program opened Jan. 28.

The program finds cooperative partners to work with private landowners on improving deer habitats.

“There are three primary goals applicants should strive to meet,” said Bill Scullon, DNR field operations manager and administrator for the grant initiative. “The projects should produce tangible deer habitat improvements, build long-term partnerships between the DNR and outside organizations and showcase the benefits of the project to the public.”

Now in its 13th year, the initiative is supported by the state’s Deer Range Improvement Program, which is funded by a portion of deer hunting license revenue. $1.50 from each deer license sale is put into a fund that is used for habitat improvement on state-owned land. The program has invested over $750,000 in hunter license dollars on U.P. deer habitat enhancements.

More than 90 projects, distributed over nearly all UP counties, have improved thousands of acres of deer habitat. Partners have contributed nearly half a million dollars in matching funds to expand the scope of these project enhancements for wildlife.

“We encourage folks who are interested in this to reach out a DNR biologist, myself or any one of our other staff in the U.P. to kind of help vet their ideas,” says Scullon. “See what is appropriate, what would work, what is tangible, what’s realistic, and what is the best options for them.”

An approved project will receive anywhere between $2,000 and $15,000 in grants. A 25% match is required.

“These projects are prime examples of how partner groups can come together to enhance deer habitat all across the U.P.,” Scullon said.

Project applications must be postmarked by Friday, March 12 and successful applicants will be notified by Thursday, April 1. The complete grant application package is available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants.

For more information or questions regarding eligibility, please contact Bill Scullon at 906-250-6781 or scullonh@michigan.gov.

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