Find harbor and boating access, rules and regulations, safety info and more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE BOATING HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below:
Calendars: Classes & Workshops; Hunting and Fishing; Public Meetings; Volunteer Opportunities; State park, historic sites and visitor center events.
Find camping and overnight lodging options, reservation info, rules and regulations and more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE CAMPING HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below:
Get all your fishing information here, including rules and regulations, license info, the weekly fishing report and much more. Use the button 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:
Find ORV license and permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE ORV HOMEPAGE or go directly to you 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.
Wildlife Viewing
Find cross-country ski, ice fishing , snowmobiling info and much more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE WINTER FUN HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below:
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.
State Forests
Natural Areas
Find facility info, overnight info, an event calendar and much more. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE RAM HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below:
Recreation Passport
Big Wild Forest Carbon Project
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 programs engage youth in our natural resources. Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below.
Safety Information
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.
Landowners
law enforcement, legislation, rules and regulations
Accessible recreation opportunities in Michigan
All DNR-related boards, committees, and advisory groups
Find seasonal, part-time and full-time job openings with the DNR
Funding
information about volunteer and donation opportunities
News releases, closures, photos and more
Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry
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Forest fire experts occasionally will plan fires. These prescribed burns help control invasive species, create critical habitat for wildlife and help Michigan's forests and grasslands grow. They also remove natural materials that, left unchecked, could provide fuels for bigger wildfires.
Burns can take place any time of the year but are usually are conducted in spring or fall. Foresters, wildlife biologists and other natural resources professionals evaluate the area and write a plan to help them achieve their goals. Trained fire staff uses specialized equipment to light and control the fire. Throughout the burn, they monitor safety, site conditions and the weather. A site may require multiple burns before it reaches desired conditions.
In Michigan, plants and animals are adapted to co-exist with fire. Some species, like jack pine trees, even depend on fire for survival - their resinous cones won't open to release seeds unless exposed to heat. Burned areas regrow quickly, providing abundant food and shelter for animals.
Before European settlement in Michigan, fires were ignited by Native Americans or lightning strikes. Today, fires are quickly suppressed for safety reasons, but certain landscapes like pine forests, grasslands and prairies can still benefit from fire. That's where prescribed burns come in.
Prescribed burns also provide an opportunity for Michigan firefighters to receive valuable training. DNR fire staff and local fire departments can learn about wildfire behavior and learn new tactics and skills.
Network of prescribed fire practitioners
Map of burn locations for morel foraging
Subscribe to prescribed fire updates:
Get notified of upcoming burns in your area.
