Conservation Corner
Campground Volunteers
The Conservation Committee would like to share a few of
the topics from the April Conservation Committee meeting:
• CCR has (6) hiking trails. The trails require maintenance
once or twice a year. Typically maintenance includes using a
“weed whacker” to clear the trails and replacing the trail
reading pamphlets. In the spring, a chainsaw may also be
needed and occasionally repainting of the numbered signs
is required. Please contact Nancy Thurston if interested in
“adopting” one of the trails.
• The final Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) numbers & locations
were recently released by the DNR for 2017 & 2018. The
results showed that one positive TB deer was harvested on
CCR in 2017. The Committee would like to strongly
encourage hunters to take their deer to the DNR check
stations in the future.
On Saturday, April 13 th , a campground cleanup session with
both the Staff Team and Volunteer Members was held. The
overall project was a great success.
Thank you to members Tom Ames, Tom Costigan, Mike
Cramer, Al Lifsey, Sue Schymanski, and Jim Treadaway for
volunteering your time. These individuals worked hard and
completed the task at hand. From trimming branches,
splitting wood, cutting logs, stacking firewood, to filling in
holes, these members were the work-engine to this project.
Thank you to Team Members, Lanny Cotner and Matt Reilly
for running the heavy equipment and helping with cleanup.
Thank you to Team Members Nick Burleigh and Phylicia Little
for helping feed our volunteers. Thank you to Board
Members, Mark Smith and Tim Chambers, for organizing the
event. They worked alongside volunteer members flawlessly.
Everyone who participated in this project finished with a good
feeling of pride in what they did for CCR. A big thank you to
all for your hard work and dedication to CCR!
• A spring grouse drumming survey will be conducted on
CCR again this spring from April 15 th thru May 5 th . Anyone
interested in volunteering to help with the survey please
contact Nancy Thurston.
• Several members have recently observed what they believe
to be wolves and wolf tracks on CCR. Anyone who observes
what they consider may be a wolf please inform the
Conservation Committee or the Ranch office. The DNR can
also be notified at the Atlanta Field Office (989-785-4251,
ext. 5233) or report sightings online through Eyes in the Field,
found at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
• The past two years has shown a significant increase in the
number of tree stands and blinds left in the hunting area
after the deadline date for them to be removed. The
Conservation Committee and Manager are currently
revisiting this rule (Ref: Rule 19.09). Please note that this
rule includes tree stands, pop-up tents, and all man made
material such as tarps. Additionally, please consider
removing all “orange” ribbon and trail markers as well.
Kirk Zechel’s team won 14 straight to win Gold Medal
in Michigan Senior Olympics volley ball match.
Seniors legs were cramped for 2 days
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