Pigeon River Country State Forest Plan review

[Hamilton Reef]

Public given chance to review forest plan

http://www.record-eagle.com/2007/aug/11forest.htm

08/10/2007

VANDERBILT — An open house will focus on the draft 2007 update to the management concept plan for the Pigeon River Country State Forest.

The public can review, ask questions and submit comments about the updated document, which can be viewed online at www.michigan.gov/dnr under the "spotlight” section. The state first adopted the plan in 1973 to guide management practices within the Pigeon River Country State Forest.

The open house is from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at the state forest headquarters, 9966 Twin Lakes Road, east of Vanderbilt.

Comments will be received until Sept. 15 and can be mailed to: Pigeon River Country Concept of Management Update, Department of Natural Resources, Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48989-7952.

[Hamilton Reef]

Pigeon River forest plan under scrutiny

http://www.record-eagle.com/local/lo...254093212.html

09/11/07 BY SHERI McWHIRTER smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

VANDERBILT -- Bob Jacobson loves the Pigeon River Country State Forest and he wants state officials to do more to protect it.

Jacobson, of Prudenville, president of the Michigan Conservation Foundation, is set to speak Thursday to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission about what he said is a lackluster update to the PRC concept of management plan. The plan is open for public comment through Saturday.

The PRC state forest makes up the heart of the state's elk territory, about 180 square miles of sparkling streams, clear lakes, dense swamps and rolling, wooded backcountry in Otsego, Cheboygan and Montmorency counties.

Jacobson's group's concerns include unenforced snowmobile regulations, unrestricted bicycle use and effects on the area by horseback riders.

Other groups also cite problems with the plan.

Jim Maturen, of Reed City, also intends to speak to the NRC about worries held by his group, the Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association. Its members have issues with a new forest management, he said.

"It was supposed to be the last wild place left in the northern Lower Peninsula. Even though civilization encroaches, it's to remain wild," Maturen said.

Increasing use of roads and trails by horseback riders is a major concern of the hunters group, he said.

"You don't see elk tracks anymore. You see horse tracks. There are horses, horses everywhere. We want specific trails for them or eliminate them altogether," Maturen said.

Bill O'Neill, field coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said all forest uses must be balanced, but concerns about horses are legitimate.

"We're trying to identify how many horses we can have in the Pigeon without having a detrimental effect on the wildlife habitat or the recreation experiences of others. We don't want to harm the ground or run everybody else out," O'Neill said.

The draft plan addresses horseback riding, and notes that horses' impact will be monitored by state officials, who must determine every five years whether horses are degrading the area's natural resources. It also covers logging, energy exploration and other recreational uses, such as snowmobile riding, hunting, fishing, camping, off-road vehicles and canoeing.

Maturen said his group also wants more openings in the woods to improve habitat for elk, deer, turkey and other wildlife.

[bombcast]

they need to get rid of 90% of the horses and cut more aspen.

[Hoppe's no.10]

Way to much mature forest but the trail riders and tourists like it that way.

Hoppe's no. 10

[Hamilton Reef]

Editorial: Horse riders, turkey hunters have to share Pigeon River

You don't have to be a forest management expert to know that horses, snowmobiles, bicycles, turkey hunters, campers and fishermen don't mix. Not well, anyway.

A new management plan for the Pigeon River Country state forest now under review is supposed to do all those things while ensuring access to everyone from campers to snowmobilers.

http://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/...263093147.html

[Mickey Finn]

I just wish the horse people would stop camping in the non horse back camping spots. they leave one heck of a mess.

[TC-fisherman]

Jim Maturen, of Reed City, also intends to speak to the NRC about worries held by his group, the Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association. Its members have issues with a new forest management, he said.

"It was supposed to be the last wild place left in the northern Lower Peninsula. Even though civilization encroaches, it's to remain wild," Maturen said.

The pigeon river forest is about as far from wild as you can get and still be a forest. I use to go there a lot but can barely stomach it now. People confuse lack of strip malls with wilderness. I wish people would travel to real wilderness areas so that they could actually see what a dump most state forest land is.

[the rapids]

that area could easily return to a wild state in 75 years if nothing was done to it. unfortunatley, as a state forest, it has a job. mineral exploitation, logging, campsites, roads, trails and private land within the boundaries, all those things play a role in it not being a wilderness. if most of the roads going in were closed, all camping areas were closed, the private land bought out and all resource harvesting was discontinued you would see a very wild area within a century. unfortunatley most people dont want those things to happen.

[kjcdo]

To all the people who seem to not like the horse in the Pigeon River. I am a avid hunter and a horse rider and would like to point out the obvious that has escaped you that the lower elk numbers is a direct result of the DNR plan and not due to horses. The DNR wishes to keep the numbers stable and not at previos levels due to crop damage complaints and habitat availability. If we start fighting amongst ourselfs I am sure a rare moth etc will be found and your hunting rights will be also limited. This said I agree that the horses should be limited to approved camps which are already defined. The resolution is not a new plan or designated trails but the Forest sevice needs to enforce the current rules as the campsites are well marked and those who break the rules with too many campers should be fined. Also the largest share of the riders are in the Pigeon River from late March to Sept. and I can tell you from experience that there are more deer in the last few years than ever in the Pigeon River so if your not successful I doubt it is because someone rode a horse through the area two hours or two months before!

[Hamilton Reef]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2008

Contact: Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

Natural Resources Commission to Review Land Use Order For Pigeon River Country State Forest at April Meeting

A proposed land use order will be amended to address the public’s use of the Pigeon River Country State Forest at the April 10 Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing. The order will discuss how multiple users can enjoy recreation in the 118,000-acre state forest tract in northeast lower Michigan, while protecting the wild character of the Pigeon River Country.

The order will be considered for action by Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries at the May meeting of the NRC.

“I recently approved the Pigeon River Country State Forest concept of management that attempts to accommodate multiple users and their interests, while protecting the wild beauty of the area,” said Humphries. “This concept is a management framework for current and future recreation in the Pigeon River Country, and is the result of a variety of user groups who worked with us to resolve concerns. I appreciate the efforts of all these groups.”

The land use order, which will be reviewed for information only at the April NRC meeting, addresses three specific recreational aspects of the Pigeon River Country State Forest: camping with horses, other riding or pack animals; trail riding with horses, other riding or pack animals; and bicycling.

Camping with horses or other riding or pack animals will be restricted under the land use orders to the Elk Hill Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp, and Johnson’s Crossing Trail Camp.

Trail riding with horses, other riding or pack animals will be restricted to certain roads and pathways. A person riding or leading a horse, other riding animal or pack animal will be restricted to the north spur of the Shore to Shore Riding-Hiking Trail; a county road; a forest road designated and illustrated as open on the Pigeon River Country State Forest access map; or a service trail road posted open by the DNR, providing over 280 miles of riding opportunities.

Bicycling in the Pigeon River Country will be restricted to the High Country Pathway, the Shingle Mill Pathway and the Pickerel Lake Pathway; a county road; a state forest road designated and illustrated as open on the Pigeon River Country State Forest access map, providing 300 miles for bicycling.

“These regulations are necessary so that multiple recreational users can enjoy the Pigeon River Country State Forest with minimal conflict,” Humphries said. “They are also necessary to protect the wild character of the area, and for the DNR to remain in compliance with federal grant fund requirements associated with the acquisition and management of the Pigeon River Country.”

Humphries said it is important to note that recreational activities can still be enjoyed in the Pigeon River Country, but that they will be restricted to certain areas.

“We want to accommodate the users who have enjoyed this area, and who have helped through volunteer efforts to maintain it,” Humphries said. “But we also wanted to make sure that the Pigeon River Country remains the ‘Big Wild’ for recreational activities that have been enjoyed for decades, such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, horseback riding and bicycling. This state forest area belongs to the public, and we are charged with best managing it for multiple public recreational uses.”

For more information on the proposed land use order, please visit the NRC section of the DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/nrc. All materials for the April 10 meeting, including the proposed land use order, are available in the agenda for the meeting.

The DNR is committed to conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.

[Motorcity_MadMan]

Is the upper management of the Department Natural Resources on drugs. Forcing bicyclists and horseback riders out into automotive traffic is their solution to use in the area. Pass the Dixie cups.

Lets get this perfectly understood , that is not wilderness , it won't be wilderness, even if they brought in the bulldozers to tear up all the roads. Shut down the roads and face a lawsuit from the federal government over the Pittman Robinson act.
The plan about limiting lake access should be reviewed by United States Department of Justice as it is.

http://www.fishweb.com/maps/pigeon/

http://www.gaylordmichigan.net/uploa...eonmapjpdf.pdf

Telling the snowmobilers to get out is also another bogus part of the plan.

Trying to imply that horseback riders or snowmobilers activities force the elk out of that area , has no basis in fact, what so ever. If that were the case the elk would be swimming in Lake Huron or paying a visit to people in Bay City. The elk continue to roam around the pigeon River area, day in and day out , with or without human activity. Try and tell me the Elk don't also roam the farm country in that area.

More DNR lies and take aways.

[ScottSki]

Unreal.....I've enjoyed the Pigeon State Forest for years, This reminds me of...
I believe it was Ted Nugent who came to the defense of snowmobile riders who were almost banned in Yosemite Nat. Park who said something to this nature.....
It's "State" land, for the people to enjoy, what good is it if we can't use it?"

[johnboy]

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like a story from Dr. Seuss?

[Mickey Finn]

I'm not sure what you guys find so wrong with this order. I usually visit the country in the early fall and have not seen alot of bike traffic. But, the horse people have made their own hard times. They leave horse manure and urine any where they picket there livestock Last year I even had a group try to ride through my camp. The dogs put a stop to it. But the lead rider acted as though he was well in his rights. This type of thing leads to complaints. Complaints lead to action. This is really all the state can do to correct the problem.

[Motorcity_MadMan]

Mikey , do the deer , bear & elk poop in the woods. ???

Mikey , they also clean up their campgrounds , there's a reason they have storage for manure.

Mikey , you didn't say if you were on public land , but you did say your dogs were harassing the horseback riders , sounds like you didn't have your dogs under control. If it was on state land , they have a right to be on PUBLIC lands , did you ever think some of those riders also have hunting licenses. ???

The state can't legally jeopardize the public health or safety, including forcing bicyclist , horseback riders and snowmobilers out into traffic .

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(1jgsbfyinahyar454hwsp5zz))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-Article-IV-51