Get all your fishing information here, including rules and regulations, license info, the weekly fishing report and much more. Use the link above to visit the fishing home page, or go directly to your area of interest below:
Get all your hunting information here, including hunting season dates, rules and regulations, and much more. Use the button above to visit the hunting home page, or go directly to your area of interest below:
Information on DNR shooting and archery ranges, rules and regulations, resources to get started and more. Use the button above to visit the target shooing and archery home page, or go directly to one of the pages below:
Find snowmobile trail permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE SNOWMOBILE HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below:
Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? Click the box above for tips and tricks to fill your basket.
Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more.
Find facility info, overnight info, an event calendar and much more.
Find a great trail experience near you - whether you want to hike, bike, snowmobile or ride an ORV. From long, paved linear trails to rugged forest terrain, Michigan offers trail opportunities for all abilities and interests.
Visitor Centers across the state provide education programs, field trips, archery, fishing, trails and much more. Click the box above to see all our locations, or click the individual location below.
We administer grants that enable our local partners to promote the lifestyles we all enjoy by providing recreational opportunities, enhancing wildlife habitat and ensuring public safety. Visit the grants home page by clicking on the button above, or view a specific area of interest below:
Recreational Safety and Hunter Education
Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. Click the box above to see all species, or click the species group below.
DNR educators across the state provide fun, educational activities, programs and workshops year-round for adults, families and kids. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
DNR educators provide classroom lessons, field trip opportunities, professional development and experiential programs to teachers around the state. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
DNR forest resources professionals maintain healthy forests, manage wildfire, maintain responsible harvesting certifications and improve wildlife habitat. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests.
All DNR-related boards, committees, and advisory groups
Find seasonal, part-time and full-time job openings with the DNR
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Derived from boat registration fees and the Michigan marine fuel tax, the Waterways Program helps fund the construction, operation and maintenance of public recreational boating facilities.
The Michigan State Waterways Commission is a seven-member advisory board that works with the Department of Natural Resources on the use of dedicated funds, provided by boaters, for the acquisition, development and maintenance of public harbors and boating access sites, as well as certain locks and dams.
Two key boating access sites on Old Mission Peninsula – East Arm and Bowers Harbor – will receive significant upgrades, including paving. These improvements will enhance public recreational boating opportunities in the Grand Traverse area. Construction is anticipated in 2025. Details can be found below.
In September 2023, a fire at the Great Lakes Tissue plant led to the shutdown of the plant’s hydroelectric generator. The Great Lakes Tissue hydroelectric facility played a key role in water level management through “fine-tuned” incremental adjustments to water levels. Without these adjustments, the DNR must exclusively use the six gates at the Cheboygan Dam to manage water levels.
Beginning Oct. 15, the Inland Waterway will undergo its seasonal drawdown. Water levels in the Inland Waterway, especially in areas along the Cheboygan River and Mullet Lake, will decrease by approximately 12 inches until March 31. This allows for better management during spring thaw and runoff. Water levels will then be replenished starting April 1, with the goal of reaching the target lake level of 593.1 feet by April 15, depending on weather conditions. In the summer, lake residents and boaters along the Inland Waterway may experience larger water level fluctuations.
In 2020, the DNR completed a Waterways Facilities Assessment of several state-sponsored (state and local grant-in-aid) harbors, boating access sites and two lock/dam facilities. This effort culminated in a report that includes facility infrastructure data, cost analysis, trends, and facility operation and development recommendations. This report provides guidance on funding, design, and operations.
Provides federal funding assistance for the design and construction of public recreational harbor facilities serving transient boaters. Local units of government, public universities and private facilities are eligible.
Provides funding for new or upgraded marine sewage disposal facilities, pumpouts and dump stations. Grants are provided to both private and public boating facilities, as long as they are open to the public.
Provides financial and technical assistance for design and construction of public recreational boating facilities, including state-sponsored harbor and mooring facilities. Only local units of government and public universities are eligible to apply.
