UPPER PENINSULA DEER HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE

 Since 2013 The Straits Area Sportsmen's Club has applied for and completed over $50,000 worth of habitat work in Mackinac County's St. Martin Deer yards.   

Despite setbacks the Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club has completed the 2019 DRIP Grant Project. This project is in the St. Martin winter complex and will expand upon the ongoing work and partnership occurring between the Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club, Ruffed Grouse Society and Forest Service to provide high quality food to deer entering and leaving the St. Martin’s deer winter complex. The project will benefit a variety of wildlife species, including Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock. Increasing the oak component on the landscape would enhance the hard mast production of acorns which provide forage for whitetail deer and black bear among many others. 

Fifteen different wildlife openings have been opened by mechanical brushing and piling.  The project included brushing all woody stems at least 2’ tall, except for reserve species soft mast species – cherry, service berry, and white pine. Each of the wildlife openings averaged approximately 1-2 acres in size, and totaling 30 acres. In addition the SASC purchased 50 – 10 foot in height red oak tree which were planted by volunteers in September.

 Club President Gary Gorniak reported volunteers planted all 50 Oak trees over the weekend in different designated areas off of Gamble Rd.  The masticator will be back grinding up areas designated by Forest Service Biologist this Friday clearing additional sites.  This project will be completed by the end of September.