Hunters invited to visit the GEMS site | News, Sports, Jobs

MARQUETTE – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to visit an improved grouse management site, with Wednesday the opening day for the small game hunt.

There are six GEMS in the north of the Lower Peninsula and 13 in the Upper Peninsula, including the Bill Rollo Memorial GEMS located approximately 7 miles south of Gwinn. These areas have been specially designed for the habitat of grouse and woodcock, thus optimizing the chances of a successful bird season.

Adam Bump, MNR game bird and furbearer specialist, said that with mowed hiking trails, abundant forest cover and open parking areas with trail maps, GEMS provides a hunting experience. quality to all hunters.

Each site offers a unique hunting trip and hundreds of acres of publicly accessible land. Eighteen sites are equipped with a map, an information kiosk and hiking trails for hunters. For a more remote experience with no trails, check out the Norwich GEMS, located in the Ottawa National Forest.

Find other public hunting grounds using the interactive Mi-HUNT map. This free mapping tool provides cover types, trails, and rough boundaries of land open to public hunting. Learn more about Mi-HUNT and watch video tutorials on using the app at Michigan.gov/MiHunt.

Hunters can conclude their GEMS trip by stopping at a local partner company and receive a discount by showing their basic hunting license or a photo of themselves to GEMS. Look for the “I support GEMS” sticker in the window of nearby shops and get a few dollars on a lunch or a hotel stay.

Plan your GEMS trip and find local businesses at Michigan.gov/GEMS.