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:
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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:
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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
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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.
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Photo caption: Recruits from Training Academy #13 took the “plunge” to raise money and awareness for Michigan Special Olympics. DNR recruits raised over $7,000 for the event, which was hosted at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing on March 26. All proceeds will go to Michigan Special Olympics.
Week 12 began with our arrival at the Michigan State Police Academy facility on Sunday night, following our usual schedule. We spent Sunday evening completing training from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This training is crucial for ensuring that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is prepared to collaborate with local, state and federal agencies in responding to various types of emergencies. We learned about the potential role we would have during a mass response to large issues (such as natural disasters) and how to work with other agencies within an Incident Command.
Monday began with a run around the MSP drive track and a mix of calisthenic exercises. Our morning and afternoon classes were spent learning about the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, taught by David Greydanus, retired MSP inspector. The primary focus was on search warrants. We reviewed dozens of court cases surrounding violations and exceptions to the Fourth Amendment to gain a thorough understanding of search and seizure law. On Monday night, we learned about caring for prisoners.
On Tuesday morning we were in the tank (swimming pool) conducting a circuit workout and practicing diving techniques. After breakfast, we were off to the shooting range for our second week of firearms training led by Conservation Officer Kyle Bader. That morning, we learned how to safely and effectively draw and fire a handgun with accuracy. This is an important skill for law enforcement officers to stop sudden and unexpected threats. In the afternoon, COs Dan Robinson and Brian Lasanen continued teaching about Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Recognizing the indicators of operating while impaired is essential for COs to keep the roadways, waterways and trails safe. Of the 19 snowmobile fatalities in Michigan during the 2022-2023 season, 12 involved impaired operators. During the 2024-2025 snowmobile season, there were 13 fatalities. There are still pending toxicology reports.
Wednesday marked the first day of our weightlifting program. We completed a full-body barbell workout that included overhead presses, barbell rows, weighted lunges and burpees. The morning and afternoon class schedules on Wednesday mimicked those on Tuesday. In our firearms class, we focused on using cover and shooting ambidextrously from behind a barricade. During lunch, we jumped into the frigid water to support the Michigan Special Olympics Polar Plunge. Our class successfully raised over $7,000, which will assist Michigan Special Olympics in providing training and services to more than 23,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state. In the afternoon, we took the exam to become certified in conducting SFSTs. The exam required us to execute the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Field Sobriety Test, which evaluates a person’s eyes, and a “walk and turn” test. When SFSTs are properly performed, the combined tests have a 91% accuracy rate for identifying impaired drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration over the .08 legal level. In the evening, we had a class on civil disputes and process.
Thursday's physical training session was based on a competitive atmosphere. We began with a two-mile run around the MSP drive track, then our class divided into two teams. Each team was tasked with carrying two, 26-pound kettlebells around the track, passing the kettlebells between members of the group while racing the other team. Both teams completed the mile course in less than eight minutes and 30 seconds. Thursday's firearm class focused on precision shooting from distances of up to 20-yards and engaging multiple threats from behind cover. After lunch, CO Robinson taught a class on the types of illicit drugs, their effects, and how to address people under the influence of drugs that we encounter.
One more week down, 14 to go. Overcoming another week at the academy feels like reaching a mountain peak; we might not be done, but the summit gets closer with every step.
