June 6, 2011

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 9, at the Lansing Center, located at 333 E. Michigan Ave. in downtown Lansing.

Prior to the meeting of the Committee of the Whole, several policy committees of the NRC will meet.

At 9 a.m., the NRC Policy Committee on Land Management will meet in Room 203. The committee will receive an update on state forest campgrounds, review pending land transactions before Department of Natural Resources Director Rodney Stokes, and discuss habitat enhancement projects and partnerships.

At 10 a.m., the Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee will meet in Room 205. The committee will receive an update on urban outreach programs, review the operation of Lime Island State Forest Campground by the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, consider a resolution to rename the Traverse City State Park the Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park, and receive an update on the Recreation Passport.

At 1 p.m, the NRC Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries will meet in Rooms 201-202. The committee will hear a brief update from DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason, review proposed changes to the early season waterfowl hunting regulations and antlerless deer license quotas for 2011, receive a report on the final results for the 2010 deer season and discuss Lake Huron Chinook salmon stocking.

At 3 p.m., the NRC Committee of the Whole will convene in Rooms 201-202. DNR Director Rodney Stokes will give his Director's Report and honor the recipients of the 2011 Director's Award. DNR Budget Chief Sharon Schafer will review the DNR's Fiscal Year 2012 budget.

Public appearances before the NRC begin at 4:30 p.m. in Rooms 201-202. Persons wishing to offer public comment to the NRC should contact NRC Executive Assistant Deb Whipple in advance at 517-373-2352 or whippled1@michigan.gov or at the meeting location.

Action items before the NRC include a proposal to lift the deer baiting and feeding ban in the Lower Peninsula that has been in place since 2008 due to the detection of the state's first case of Chronic Wasting Disease. The proposal would allow two gallons of bait on the ground at any time from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1 and would restore recreational feeding of deer.

Other action items before the NRC include changes to the season purchase limit on antlerless licenses for deer management units in Zone 1 and Zone 2, statewide antlerless license availability, changes to furbearer regulations and an antler point restriction proposal for Beaver Island.

Before DNR Director Stokes for action at this meeting is an order to close 23 state forest campgrounds, approval of the results of the May 3 oil and gas lease auction and authorization of several land transactions.

For more information on the NRC, including past meeting minutes, the agenda for this meeting and information memos on the action items, go to www.michigan.gov/nrc.

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.