Hello, everyone.

Welcome to Michigan Out of Doors.

I'm Jenny Selig and we've got a great show headed your way.

Now, last week in Lansing, the Natural Resources Commission had a meeting where they discussed the proposed changes to the upcomin deer hunting season regulations.

Lots of interesting discussions happen at that meeting.

You won't want to miss that.

And speaking of hunting, we do have some hunting actio in store for you this week, too.

Well, that's right.

We do have another story on this week's show, and we are literally days away from the turkey season here in the great state of Michigan this Saturday, the 18th.

And I tell you what, we are going to show you a couple of different hunts to get too excited for this upcoming turkey season.

What a great time of the year to be a sportsman here in our state.

Make sure you stay tuned.

I'm Jimmy Grotzinger.

It's time for Michigan Out of Doors.

From the first spring rains to the soft summer breeze.

Dancing on the pine forest floor.

The autumn colors.

Catch your eyes.

Here come the crystal Winter skies.

It's Michigan.

Michigan out of door.

What a beautiful day in the world.

Someday our children all wil see This is their finest legacy.

Wonder and the love of Michigan.

As the wind comes whispering through the trees.

The sweet smell of nature's in the air From the Great Lakes to the quiet stream shining like a sportsman's dream.

It's a love of Michigan.

We all share.

Michigan Out of Doors is presented by by Country Smokehouse, a sportsman's destination since 1988, featuring varieties of homemade sausage jerky, brats and gourmet entrees.

Holiday gift boxes can b assembled, in-store or online.

Details at Country Smokehouse Scone by Angler Quest Pontoons offering fishing pontoon designed by anglers for anglers.

Angler Quest pontoons are buil with a multi-functional layout to support a variety of fishing adventures.

Learn more at Angler Quest, Pontoon Scam.

mid-Michigan Pines has bee building and maintaining ponds throughout Michigan for nearly 25 years by providing tailored solutions for pond management.

mid-Michigan Ponds can help keep your pond healthy year round.

Find more information at mid-Michigan Ponds.

Statcan.

Jay's Sporting Goods Trust The Tradition.

Well, we are here today in Lansing, Michigan, at the Lansing Community College, kind of the West campus for the Natural Resources Commission meeting that's happening today.

And if you don't know, they're going to be talking about a lot of new deer hunting regulations that are going to be voted on next month.

And so there's a bunch of stuff that the DNR is proposing today, some changes.

We're going to hopefully talk with some of the folks from the DNR to kind of get their point of view on what's going on here today, as well as the Natural Resources Commission.

They are actually going to be proposing some stuff this today as well.

So there are hundreds an hundreds of people in the room kind of ready to give their own five minute presentation.

And that's going to actually go for a couple of hours here today.

Then the NRC is going to talk that he and I are going to be talking.

It's just a lot of people talking a lot about deer hunting regulations.

One buck rule at this point, restrictions.

I don't know if the baiting i going to come up today or what, but a lot of times these meeting kind of throughout the year.

But today there's hundreds and hundreds of folks here.

Anytime you're talking deer hunting here in Michigan, it's a big deal.

And a lot of people have strong opinions on all sides of it.

Strong opinions and deer hunting do seem to go hand in hand.

I was expecting a good turnout today, but was really surprised to see as many folks here as there were to listen and talk deer management.

All right.

Well, we are here today with Chad Stewart, one of the head honchos in the deer worl here in the state of Michigan.

Just let's start of with what's going on here today.

It's a commission day here.

So this is a meeting for the natural Resources Commission, and we are proposing our deer regulations for the upcoming 2026 to 2028 deer cycle.

Okay So this would start this year.

This would start this year.

We've got some delayed implementation items, which I'm sure we'll get to that wouldn't kick in until 27.

But yeah, the much of the discus would be in effect starting in the fall.

Okay, Now this is just the proposal time, right?

So we are proposing it's what we call for information.

None of the decisions will be made today.

They will make a decisio at the May Commission meeting.

Okay.

So someone wanted to send in an email.

They could do that over the next.

Month and that's why they do that.

Right?

There's a delay.

So it's not like everything is sprung on and they make the decision.

This is when we provide the information.

It's been public for a couple of weeks, I think now, but we've still got the rest of the month for people to put in thei their opinions, their thoughts, even potentially try to take off time from working or schedule time to go to the May meeting where they can, you know, meeting in person with the commissioner and give their opinions there.

Okay.

And so what are the proposal that you guys are setting forth for this year?

Yeah, the big ones.

We'll start with the muzzle loading season.

The muzzle loading season is is being recommended to be changed from ten days down to three days.

That's a big change.

And then the Upper Peninsula would still be the muzzle loader season, just as it always is.

It would just be that Friday, Saturday, Sunday, that opening weekend after firearms season, that first time in December in the lower Peninsula.

We would also change the nam to the December firearms season.

We know that we we've opened the door for allowin any illegal firearms to be used.

And we know tha not everybody agrees with that.

But some of the surveys that we've done, at least in the southern Lower Peninsula, over 60% of our hunters hadn't liked that change.

Gotcha.

So we think that's important to keep.

But we also recognize that there's a lot of concern on that, that length of time and being pressure, especially on box so where we're proposing shortening that season.

Okay.

And you're also proposing a one buck tag for the statewide then.

Yes, that's the big one.

And that's why I thin we've got over 100 people here that are very interested in that.

And the discussion is we're recommending a one buck tag.

So your combo license would now be good for one.

I'll say eithe sex deer in the Lower peninsula, but that would also include your antler deer, your buck.

The other ta would be your antler last year.

The kicker there is that the deer license would be an all of us only license.

It would not be a traditional deer license.

Of course, we would still continue to sell our licenses as well.

Okay.

Now, in the Upper Peninsula, that single deer license would still be eligible to use for a an antler deer.

We recognize giving everybod an analyst deer tag in the Upper Peninsula is probably not in the best interests of that herd, especially in places where we had we know we have very low deer numbers.

Okay.

The combo would still be available.

The the analyst license part of the combo tag would be eligible for archery only.

So it'd be it essentiall be an archery antler less tag.

And what does it feel like fo you to see so many people here?

Is this good thing bad?

This is fantastic.

Yeah.

Most most commission meetings.

There's only 10 to 15 people here.

Yeah.

And I will say that most of the have hair that look like mine.

A lot grayer.

Right?

There's a lot of youth in here.

People that are easil in their twenties and thirties that are passionate about deer hunting and deer management.

And quite frankly, it's it's refreshing to see that.

And so it tells me that there's a lot of interest in these proposed changes.

Yeah, hopefully there's a lot of positivity with some of these proposed changes, which I think is why people are here.

I'm sure it's not going to be that case for everybody.

Certainly some people are not going to like these proposed changes.

But the fact that we've got so many people involved and willing to communicate and speak up, I think is really important.

There would be hours and hours of testimony planned today if you signed up early.

You can talk for up to 5 minutes.

If you signed up the day of, you got 3 minutes to share your thoughts.

All right.

Well, we are here today with Kristen Cole just and used to be a state rep here in the state of Michigan, right?

I was four or five years.

Yes.

I was honored to serve 105th District.

Okay.

And where is that?

And so that is kind of interim Charlevoix, Otsego area.

Those were the countie that I represented Matt Martinez go to.

Okay.

And tell us what what brings you here today.

Yeah.

Always been involved i the sportsman's side of things and it was important to me.

I run my mouth a lot and I'm very active with electeds and wit candidates that, you know what?

I better drive the 3 hours one way and show u and be seen and heard down here with our inner city commissioners.

It's very.

Important.

Yeah, I was just going to say good turnout today.

Oh, it's phenomenal.

This is like nothing we've ever seen.

The energy with sportsmen right now is phenomenal.

To see that packed room and walk in here and see a bunch of like minded folks that love deer hunting because most of this is about deer hunting.

Yeah, No matter what side you're on whether you're on the one back side to buck side appears to see this kind of energy is exciting.

Now, the part of the state that you're coming from, that northwest corner, a lot of big deer up there.

We do.

And how long have you guys been doing that and the point restrictions in that park?

Well, the Northwest 13 has had appears on our tags for quite a number of years.

And we have seen an absolute transformation with our deer heard.

The age structure in Central Antrim County is phenomenal.

We've got one yea olds, two year olds, three year olds, four year olds and a consistent basis in in my particular area, we're seeing a great buck to DOE ratio because you see a lot of hunters have finally figured out that, hey, it's important to shoot those.

Do you think this if this one buck deal goes through, would that be another?

Do you think that'd be beneficial in your part of the state?

I believe it would, because we wouldn't have folks that are out there and shoot that two and a half year old eight pointer knowing they've got that that as a mulligan buck, if you will, knowing they've got another buck tag in their pocket that they can keep hunting.

Bullwinkle, you know the big one.

Yeah.

I believ hunters would be more selective.

I know I would be more selective in I honestly I really believe this is going to hel increase hunting participation.

Let's say I shoot my target back in the first week of archery season.

Yeah.

You know we've got two months of hunting.

Still, I'm more likely to pick my neighbor out.

My son in law, one of my daughters, my dad, and take him out to some of the spots that I'v prepared and continue hunting.

The world is run by those that show up today.

Hunters are showing up and that is absolutely critical if you're unable to be her today, folks that are listening and watching this, send an email and RC dot Michigan.

Our NRC at Michigan dot gov is the email and in that goes to all th commissioners tell your story.

Peopl just need to tell their story.

Don't tell your neighbor story Don't tell your grandpa story.

Tell your story to the commissioner in a nice, short, concise email.

And I think that would be most meaningful and beneficial.

There were folks here from across the state, which I think was important since deer hunting in southern Michigan is much different than the Northern Law or the U.P.

and Up resident and deer Advisory team member Jordan Hoover was on hand here today as well.

I mean, I know you probably have different parts of say, but no, you spend a lot of time in the Upper Peninsula, that one buck tag, they're going to be well received up there.

What's your take on that?

Well, you know, in talking to a lot of folks back home in the U.P., I think there's kind of a a demographic divide.

I think some of our older hunter would prefer to keep two bucks.

That's the tradition, if you will.

But I think a lot of guys, you know, I'll say 50 and younger are more favorable towards the change with one buck.

And do you think that will be something that will impact the herd up there?

Do you think people will pass up more, you know, waiting for that bigger buck and even though what do you think about the guys from downstate that are maybe going to be going up with if they'd rather shoot a buck down, down at home, are they still going to go north for deer camp?

I mean, what are your what are some of your thoughts on that stuff?

Well, there's certainly a lot of considerations when you're dealing wit a regulation change like that.

But, you know, I guess taking them in order, we have a terrible sex rati problem in the Upper Peninsula.

We have substantial amounts of those and not nearly as many bucks.

We're very imbalanced and obviously we're trying to be cautious with the level of antlers this harvest that we have in the Upper Peninsula due to our weather.

But, you know, we do have to take some antler less.

However that's only half the equation.

And, you know, I believe tha if we're able to save some bucks as well and wor conservatively from both ends, we could end up in a better place sooner.

And, you know, it would certainly be nice to have an older age class of deer.

I think that's relevant in the biological discussion.

And I think hunters would like to see larger older deer as well.

So I think that's a win win situation for the Upper Peninsula.

But as far as your your secondary point, will people travel?

That's a question.

Mark.

We we don't know.

I will say, unfortunately, the condition that the Upper Peninsula is in with our deer heard, there's not nearly so many people coming north as there once was.

And I think that the people that come will continue to come because they have ties here.

It's fish, there's family and and U.P.

Deer camp is important.

That's not something people lose.

But, you know, it certainly is a question mark.

Jimmy.

Well, will they take a buck in the lower Peninsula and then come north?

Yeah, there's certainly still opportunity to take an outlier last year with your bow in the Upper Peninsula and enjoy the camaraderie of camp and family and friends.

Well, as you can imagine anytime we're talking about deer hunting regulation here in the state of Michigan, it is always a big deal.

These were proposals made at last week's Natural Resources Commission meeting.

And so they will be voting o these things next month in May.

And some of the things, again, that they're going to be talking about is the one buck rule.

If we do have a one buck rule, when would that take effect?

Would it be 20, 26, 2027?

There was also some recommendations made by the NRC about potentially moving the firearm deer seaso opener from November 15th back a little bit, but keeping the November 15th date for the opener for the Upper Peninsula only.

So a lot of stuff will be decided at this meeting coming up in May.

If you'd like to have your voice heard, just go Google Michigan now.

See, you can find a way there to kind of let your voice be heard.

They read all of those emails and you can weigh in on what you think they should be doing.

And I tell you what, we'll keep you posted.

No matter what happens.

It's always a big deal when we're talking deer hunting regulations here in Michigan.

And right now, we're going to switch gears to Turkey and get you excited for the upcoming turkey seaso that starts in just a few days.

Well, good morning, everybody.

Opening day of the turkey season.

I've got at least two or three different groups of gobblers, Jakes, whatever it might be.

To my west and to my south, I got a hen that's talking to me a little bit.

Sounds like a couple hundred yards in front of me.

It's a perfect morning.

Very little wind, cold, crisp.

So good to be in the turkey woods.

Well, this bird was definitely answering and coming my way from the position I was in, a bird coming from my right would be hard to get on camera till he was pretty close.

Well, that's exactly what happened.

Well, that's what stinks about trying to capture Hunt on tape.

Those birds worked perfectly.

There was three, three jakes and one long beard.

Well I might have been able to shoot that bird on his way out, but had the 20 gauge with me that day.

And it would have been a long shot for that gun.

I did have several other hunts as well with some bird that didn't want to cooperate, but I did have some hens at ten paces on one hunt and it made for some really good footage.

So I have seen this once before, but this hand actually went into strut for a bit.

Pretty cool hunt, even thoug I really never needed the gun.

Well that was a pretty cool morning.

I called those hands and probably over an hour ago and they hung out here for ever.

It came right i as you could see that the decoy couldn't figure that out.

Then they laughed.

Then I started calling again and they came right back.

And then they just been milling aroun for at least an hour over there.

I'm not sure how long, but those deer came down the back.

Just a beautiful morning.

But I have heard one gobble all morning.

It's about 930.

I got a buddy that's hunts around here and I think he might let me hit a couple of his properties.

So I may do that here for a few hours.

Kind of late morning, early afternoon.

Anyways I hope you're all staying safe and getting out and doing a little hunting and fishing.

It is a great place to be in the woods.

A spring morning on this hunt.

There were some birds talking in the trees at first light pretty far away.

An hour or so into the hunt.

I had one bird that answer an seemed like you may be coming.

Luck would have it that Brandon Nut, a buddy of mine, had already tagged out and had let me know about this property the day before.

I was able to get on it this morning and let's just say the morning hunt.

Well, it was looking pretty good at this point.

Wow.

It doesn't get much better than that this time.

Garbled a couple times coming in, but not not a lot.

And in fact he's still flapping over there.

He followed a hand.

She came into this sort of food plot, just a perfect spot, came in and tape in myself here this morning.

So you never know how the setup is going to work.

But this couldn't work better.

They came in from my left, came right into the decoys, just absolutely perfect.

And I'm not usually one to wait around a whole lot once they get in the decoys.

A perfect spring morning.

Yes.

Right.

Let's take a look at this nice bird.

Boy, did he put on a show coming in or what?

I tell you that was just picture perfect.

It's just a oh, special thanks again to the landowner and to Brandon for set me on these birds saying that it's a it's nice to have buddies that take out early because they're always wanting to do some more hunting than you get to access the some spots they don't normally but well it was a mornin and really a season to remember It's a good time in the woods and a nice bird as well.

There are still a few week left, so good luck to everyone.

Still holding a tag.

Thank you so much for joining us this week.

Four Michigan out of doors.

Make sure you come back in upcoming weeks because we've got a lot of great things headed your way.

It is April in Michigan and that means we'll be out walleye fishing and turkey hunting.

If you'd like to see where we are and what we're up to on a daily basis, you can always check us out online.

Well, that's right, Jenny.

Online is a good way to kind of see what we're up to on a day to day basis.

Instagram and Faceboo are the best two ways for that.

Make sure you check out our website.

We have some new gear there.

Lots of fun stuf there about the television show.

And you can see old recipes and old segments as well.

Make sure you stay tuned over the next couple of weeks.

Lots going on here in the state of Michigan.

If we don't see you in the woods or on the water.

Hopefully, I'll see you right back here next week on your PBS station.

Michigan Out of Doors is presented by.

Get away from it.

All to your own place with green stones.

Recreational land loans will help you finance acreage of any size so you can own your own place in the great outdoors.

Greenstone by Great Lakes Firearms and Ammunition, a family owned and operated firearm manufacturer in Sparta, Michigan, offering a wide variety of calibers and colors backed by a lifetime warranty.

More information available at Alpha LLC.

AECOM by Saab providing defense and civil security products and services for over 85 years and no part of the Grayling community with our new Advanced Munitions Facility.

Career opportunities are available.

More information A Saab income by green Mark Equipment.

Green Mark Equipment is a John Deere dealership network in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

GREEN Mark provide sales and services to farmers, commercial businesses, larg property owners and homeowners.

Information about pricing and products available can be found onlin at Green Mark Equipment account.

When I want to fire away, a. Dream stays with me night and day.

It's the road that leads to my home state.

I am a michigan man.

Changing seasons paint scene.

Like rainbow trout in a hidden stream.

Whitetail deer in the tall pine trees.

I am a. Michigan man by my name Michigan.

And that's where I'm from.

And I show you my hands.

Lord above love this land.

I am a michigan man.