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ATTENTION ALL MOTORIZED TRAIL MAINTAINERS: and PROPERTY OWNERS:

DO NOT PRUNE OAK TREES BETWEEN APRIL 15 AND JULY 15.

Click here for an online map showing active areas of Oak Wilt  à OAK WILT MAP 

Help prevent the spread of oak wilt:   

Know what to look for; 

  • Avoid pruning or wounding oak trees between April 15 and July 15;  
  • Use caution when grading and performing routine maintenance on Michigan’s Trails System 

 The following guidelines against pruning and preventing damage to oak trees can help prevent the spread of the disease. 

Oak trees have a reputation for being mighty, but these majestic trees need our help in spring and early summer to prevent the spread of a microscopic killer. From April 15 to July 15, oak trees are at high risk for oak wilt, a serious fungal disease that can weaken white oaks and kill red oak trees within weeks of infection. During this time of year, flying beetles can carry oak wilt fungus spores from tree to tree and the fungus can infect trees through wounds left by pruning or storm damage. The fungus can move from an infected oak to neighboring oaks through root grafts. Depending on tree size, adjacent oaks may be connected to other trees, or grafted, through root systems. Roots of large trees can reach 100 or more feet. Left untreated, oak wilt will continue to move from tree to tree, killing more red oak over an increasingly larger area. As more trees die from oak wilt, more fungal spores are produced, which allows the beetle to carry infection to new locations. Trees in the white oak family are more likely to survive an infection because they are capable of compartmentalizing the fungus. 
  • Red oaks are especially vulnerable; can die within weeks of infection 
Trees in the red oak family are most susceptible to oak wilt. These trees have leaves with pointed tips and include black oak, northern red oak, and northern pin oak. Trees in the white oak group have rounded leaf edges and include white oak and swamp white oak. They are less susceptible. Symptoms most often appear from late June through September. Affected trees will suddenly begin to wilt from the top-down, rapidly dropping leaves, which can be green, brown or a combination of both colors.  If you have an oak tree on your trail that gets damaged during the risk period from April 15 to July 15, immediately cover all wounds with tree-wound paint or latex-based paint. 
  • Contact a local DNR forest health specialist for more information 517-284-5866. 
  • Contact your local Forestry Assistance Program forester for a site visit in select counties. 
  • Seek verification from Michigan State University. Find instructions at canr.msu.edu/pestid or call 517-355-4536. 
  • Get help from an oak-wilt qualified specialist. Visit MichiganOakWilt.org for a listing and more information. 
Red and White Oak leaves

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Just a reminder as the recreation sports change from snow to dirt. ORV Highway right-of-ways (ROW) are closed until May 1 this is where the trail runs legally on the side of Highways, MI-TRALE has several ROW’s LL Route in the town of Watersmeet by the Casino on US45, LL Route in the town of Paulding on US45, ES Route south of Lake Gogebic on US2, OR & NR Route in the town of Ontonagon along M64 and the P Trail in the town of Bergland along M28.

Ottawa National Forest has seasonal roads which are closed until May 16 this includes P Trail north of the town of Bergalnd & LL Route in in Paulding through the woods. Use the Ottawa National Forest MVUM maps or our free map app Michigan UP Trails, you can touch the trails to find the seasonal designation

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Feb. 27, 2023

DNR March meetings include virtual opportunities to talk about state land review, fisheries management

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to providing Michigan residents the opportunity to share input and ideas on policy decisions, programs and other aspects of natural resource management and outdoor recreation opportunities.

One important avenue for this input is at meetings of the public bodies that advise the DNR and, in some cases, also set policies for natural and cultural resource management. Frequently check the DNR boards, commissions, committees and councils webpage for updates.

The link below will take you to the DNR webpage , where you will find meeting details such as location and agenda (when finalized). Please check these pages often, as meeting details may change and sometimes meetings are canceled.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/34a74eb

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Enjoy Free Fishing Weekend!

Two days twice a year, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan’s premier outdoor activities, Michigan Fishing, for FREE!

Free Fishing Weekend dates for 2023 are: Feb. 18 and 19 and June 10 and 11. All fishing license fees will be waived for two days. Residents and out-of-state visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes waters for all species of fish. All fishing regulations will still apply.

Recreation Passport will NOT be required for entry into state parks and boating access sites during Free Fishing Weekends. 

Check out a fishing program at a state park

Three Free Weekend

Free Fishing Weekend on June 10 and 11, 2023 is held in conjunction with “Three Free” weekend, where residents and nonresidents can grab a fishing rod, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks and boating access sites – all free of charge. During Free ORV Weekend, Michigan residents and visitors legally can ride without buying an ORV license or trail permit. All other ORV rules and laws still apply. For more information about Free ORV Weekends, visit Michigan.gov/ORVInfo.

2023 Free Fishing Weekend dates:

Winter: Feb. 18 and 19, 2023
Summer: June 10 and 11, 2023

Want to know when future Free Fishing Weekends will be? The winter weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday of President’s Day weekend and the summer weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday following the first full week of June.

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2023 Free ORV Weekends: Mark your calendars for June 10-11 and Aug. 19-20, 2023. Twice a year, residents and out-of-state visitors legally can ride DNR-designated routes and trails without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit.

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From The MI-TRALE Membership Committee:

MI-TRALE’s Membership Committee has begun our annual membership drive.  Membership applications for 2023 have been sent to the list of our 2022 supporting members via post mail.  Applications will be available in the Annual Newsletter and can also be found here on the MI-TRALE Web Page http://mi-trale-org.ntc3-p2stl.ezhostingserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Membership-App.pdf  We have already received some quick replies and have started the list of members for next year.  Your support is very important and very appreciated.  You help to cover administrative and trail maintenance costs, and equipment needed to maintain nearly 600 miles of various types of trails. Feel free to share sources for the Membership Application with your friends and business that would like to support the trails.  New members will receive a package to show our thanks: the attractive 2023 decal that you can use to proudly display your support, your membership card and a free MI-TRALE paper trail map. You can also find MI-TRALE’s popular “map app” Michigan UP Trails in “Google Play” or  the “APP Store.” All of MI-TRALE’s members are notified via email of our monthly meetings, which are open to the public and very informative.  You can also consider how else you might become involved to help keep this vital trail group going for future generations of trail enthusiasts. Visit (mi-trale.org) for this information and more.  Feel free to contact us if you need more information. Thank you for your interest and support of the recreational trails available in the beautiful Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We could not do this without you!

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Keep it safe, ORV riders

A person riding a dirt bike drives down a sandy slope; in the foreground, a road sign indicating a twisting path is slightly blurred.A friendly reminder to off-road vehicle operators to keep it safe while riding this holiday weekend and into the colder seasons.“Conservation officers see an increase in riders during holidays and on the weekends. Please keep the extra traffic in mind when you’re taking a turn and going over a hill,” said the DNR’s Cpl. Mike Hearn. “ORV accidents often happen when people get caught up in the moment of riding and keep increasing their speed, aren’t familiar with the terrain or their machines capabilities, or take a turn, hill or jump too fast without knowing what’s on the other side.”Speed and rider inexperience are the primary contributing factors for ORV accidents, serious injuries and death. Make sure to Ride Right and keep these tips in mind:Ride on the right side of the trail.Keep lights on when riding.Always wear a helmet.Ride sober.Understand and operate within the limits of your ORV and your own capabilities and experience.For more ORV safety and trail etiquette information, go to Michigan.gov/RideRight. Find places to ride, rules and regulations, ORV events and more at Michigan.gov/ORVinfo. Questions? Email Cpl. Mike Hearn.

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Get your MI-TRALE Route Maps from our sponsor local businesses or at https://mi-trale.org/atv-orv/maps/

Ottawa National Forest -Planning on exploring the Forest on your OHV? Be sure to stop by any of the National Forest Offices and pick up your free Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Motor Vehicle Use Maps show the designated roads, trails, and areas for motorized use. Know before you go!

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Partial Route Closure – NR Route ( Norwich Rd.) from the SB Route to P Route closed due to a road washout located about 2 miles south of the Ontonagon River. Please use the P Route in Bergland or the G Route in Trout Creek to go north. We will update when info from the county is available

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The U.S. Forest Service, Ottawa National Forest announces road maintenance on Forest Roads (FR) 400 and FR 630 on the Ontonagon Ranger District, northeast of Bergland, Michigan.Beginning Monday, June 20, 2022, the Ontonagon County Road Commission will be performing work on FR 400 and FR 630 to install ditching, culverts, gravel and other associated road re-conditioning work. Work is being done through an agreement between the Ontonagon County Road Commission and the Forest Service. Work is expected to begin on FR 630 and will continue over 3 to 4 weeks until completed. The road may be closed during construction, but will be open and accessible at the end of each day. Travelers can expect some disruptions as culverts are being replaced. Please plan accordingly.Please remember to use caution when traveling on forest roadways, adhere to speed limits, and directional signage. To receive updated information on road conditions, please call your local Forest Service office.

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Camp Nesbit 2022

May 14, 2022

May 2022 – MI-TRALE as posted earlier has been holding youth DNR ATV safety classes with our DNR registered trainer at various local schools in April and early May. To go along with that training MI-TRALE puts a hands -on training for those students-Camp Nesbit. YOUR CLUB DOLLARS and VOLUNTEERS AT WORK!! Thanks to the […]

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