The Department of Natural Resources encourages those looking for a place to waterfowl hunt this year to check out recent improvements at the Maple River State Game Area in Clinton, Gratiot and Ionia counties. For season dates, see the 2014 Waterfowl Digest.

The Maple River State Game Area is mid-Michigan's largest adjoining wetland complex, an extensive area of floodplains, lowlands and marshes along the Maple River that begins in Gratiot County and continues into Clinton County. The game area's main focus is currently improving its nearly 900 acres of wetlands.

Maple River accessible blindMaple River has seen some major changes in the last few years, including the installation of two new pump stations. While some of these projects are in their final stages of completion, others are still in progress and will continue over the next year or two. Some of the changes hunters will notice for the 2014 hunting season are a result of these projects, while others have been due to Mother Nature.

"In the past couple of years the area has had an overabundance of rain, causing major flooding events well into July, delaying the planting of corn and buckwheat," said Chad Krumnauer, wildlife technician at the DNR's Rose Lake Field Office. "The amount of rainfall has resulted in a change of management techniques."

These management techniques have included aerial seeding, because traditional planting has not been an option with the wet soil conditions the last two years.

Each of the management units at Maple River has specific areas that are being improved for hunting and bird-watching. Following are details about some of the noticeable changes that have occurred in each of the units.

Unit E:

• Extension of the eastern dike out toward the road, which will provide walk-in access to a flooded unit for duck hunters. This will likely be completed in 2015.
  
• Extension of the western dike out toward the road and providing walk-in access for duck hunters.
  
• Planting of buckwheat and corn for the 2015 duck hunting season - weather permitting.

Units C and D - Seasonal Refuges:

• Aerial-seeded buckwheat in Unit D to go with other natural foods like smartweed and foxtail.
  
• New pumps in Unit C allowing the water levels to stay consistent, which results in a stable habitat for holding birds.
  
• No corn planted the past two years due to flooding as a result of the heavy rainfall.

Unit B:

• Maintenance of accessible blind and trail for those with disabilities.
  
• Water in the unit for the 2014 hunting season (unlike the 2013 hunting season, when the unit was drawn down for construction of the pump station).
  
• Return to normal water level when pump is turned on, hopefully this fall.
  
• Pushing cattails back in potholes to open up potholes between channels (Department of Environmental Quality permit received for this long-term project, to be completed for the 2015-16 hunting season).

Units X and Y:

• Aerial-seeded buckwheat to go with other natural foods on the west side of Unit Y.
  
• Planting of rye soon for goose hunters on the east side of Unit Y.
  
• Smart wheat and other natural foods are already growing in Unit X.
  
• Little cover in these units - hunters will want to bring material for hunting blinds.

Krumnauer explained that, while some hunting opportunity will be affected because of these ongoing changes, the overall goal is to increase the use of the area throughout the waterfowl hunting season as well as to provide hunters with walk-in access and access by boat.

This habitat attracts not only waterfowl for hunters, but thousands of waterfowl and water-birds that migrate in the spring and fall. Many hunters, anglers, hikers and wildlife watchers use Maple River State Game area each year.

The 2014-15 waterfowl hunting season continues the celebration of the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy, a 10-year, cooperative partnership to restore, conserve and celebrate Michigan's waterfowl, wetlands and waterfowl hunting community. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mwl.
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.


Contact: Chad Krumnauer or Chad Fedewa, 517-641-4903 or Jordyn Richardson, 269-615-0318