The Department of Natural Resources' Northern Lower Deer Advisory Team (NLDAT) will meet on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McGuire's Resort in Cadillac (7880 Mackinaw Trail).
With the approval of the Michigan Deer Management Plan in 2010, the Department of Natural Resources committed to establishing Regional Deer Advisory Teams (DAT) for each area of the state. Each DAT corresponds to the boundaries of the DNR hunting and trapping zones - Zone 1 being the Upper Peninsula, Zone 2 the northern Lower Peninsula, and Zone 3 the southern Lower Peninsula.
The NLDAT serves as an advisory team to the DNR Wildlife Division on deer management in the northern Lower Peninsula. The goal of the team is to serve as a conduit between the public and the DNR to better understand the major concerns surrounding white-tailed deer.
The Feb. 16 meeting will focus on:
- the 2012 deer season
- the antler point restriction proposal process
"Understanding what is most important to the public is a major part of wildlife management, and this group offers an excellent way for us to gain that," said DNR deer program biologist Ashley Autenrieth. "We hope to accomplish a lot with the NLDAT in the future."
The NLDAT is made up entirely of volunteers who have been appointed by the Natural Resources Commission and the DNR, for either two or three years. Team members will attend local open houses, which will be public meetings for sharing information and gathering public input in their region.
"The Deer Advisory Teams are a critical connection between the public and the DNR," said Russ Mason, DNR Wildlife Division chief. "Understanding the public's views on deer management is the only way we can have successful deer management in Michigan."
Members of the public are welcome to attend as observers, although the meeting is not open for public comment. If time permits, the NLDAT will take questions and comments from the public.
Anyone who would like to suggest topics for NLDAT discussion is asked to email Ashley Autenrieth atautenrietha@michigan.gov or to share comments at http://deer.fw.msu.edu/involved/nlteam.php.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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