Pointe Mouillee Managed Waterfowl Area Annual Report · 2017 ANNUAL REPORT By: Zach Cooley, Wildlife Biologist Table of Contents POINTE MOUILLEE MANAGED WATERFOWL AREA .....0

POINTE MOUILLEE MANAGED WATERFOWL AREA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

POINTE MOUILLEE STATE GAME AREA 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

By: Zach Cooley, Wildlife Biologist

Table of Contents

POINTE MOUILLEE MANAGED WATERFOWL AREA .............................0 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................1 2. AREA GOALS AND MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS (GPS GOAL 2) .........1

Ecosystem Management.........................................................................1 Land Management Strategies .................................................................2

3. WILDLIFE PRODUCTION AND USE ESTIMATES (GPS GOAL 1) .......2 4. SIGNIFICANT HABITAT MANAGEMENT (GPS GOAL 2 MBFYB) ........3 5. LAND ACQUISITION UPDATE (GPS GOAL 3) .....................................3 6. AREA MAINTENANCE (GPS GOAL 2 MBFYB) ....................................3 7. EQUIPMENT (GPS GOAL 6) ................................................................4 8. SPECIAL PROJECTS (GPS GOAL 5 MBFYB)......................................4 9. RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ..........................4

Table1 .....................................................................................................5 Activity ....................................................................................................5 User Trips ...............................................................................................5 Harvest ...................................................................................................5

10. TRAPPING (GPS GOAL 4) ...................................................................6 11. WATERFOWL BANDING (GPS GOAL 1 MBFYB) ................................6

Table 2 ....................................................................................................6 12. WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASON ....................................................7

A. Introduction (GPS Goal 4) ................................................................7 B. Weather And Habitat Conditions ......................................................7 C. Migration And Waterfowl Numbers (GPS Goal 1 MBFYB) ...............8 D. Season Dates And Area Regulations (GPS Goal 4) ........................8 E. Hunting Season Results (GPS Goal 4) ............................................8 F. Hunter Days And Individual Hunter Numbers ................................ 10 G. Permits And Harvest ...................................................................... 11 H. Species Harvest ............................................................................. 12 I. Cropland, Marshland And Water Level Management .................... 13 J. Significant Projects (GPS Goal 6 MBFYB) ..................................... 13 K. Recommendations (GPS Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) ............................. 13 L. Prominent Partners And Volunteers (GPS Goal 5 MBFYB) ........... 14

10. ECONOMIC BENEFITS (GPS GOAL 3) .................................................... 15 11. OPPORTUNITIES ................................................................................... 16

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1. INTRODUCTION The Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is a managed waterfowl unit consisting of 5,195 acres of hemi-marsh, shallow open water, diked cropland, lake plain prairie and lowland hardwood communities. The project is located about 30 miles southwest of Detroit at the confluence of the Detroit River, Huron River and Western Lake Erie. The state game area has three permanent full-time employees (one biologist, one technician and one wildlife assistant along with some seasonal staff). This staffs are also responsible for management of Erie SGA, Petersburg SGA, Pointe Aux Peaux SWA and Brownstown Prairie SGA.

2. AREA GOALS AND MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS (GPS Goal 2) The management goal for Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is to restore and maintain biotic communities and public use opportunities through practices and improvements that do not disturb existing unique features, and which complement natural processes and local area ecology applying featured species management. Management of this area will focus on restoring sustainable, naturally functioning systems where possible, and actively manage those systems that cannot be restored to function naturally. Hunting, trapping, fishing, viewing and other wildlife recreational opportunities will be available in a diversity of settings as a result of area management.

Ecosystem Management Barry Commoner’s first law of ecology is everything is connected with everything else. Waterfowl is our main focus in our management activities, but within that focus we manage on an ecosystem level. As we manage our water levels for dabbling ducks we take into account how we can tie in management for emergent and submergent vegetation. This promotes cattail, lily pad, smartweed, etc. By providing habitat for these flora species they in turn provide habitat for invertebrates, muskrats, mink, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The invertebrates become a byproduct of emergent vegetation management and are very important to dabbling ducks and brood rearing. Muskrats use the cattails to make their lodges and in doing so create openings in the emergent cattail cover for the dabbling ducks. If Muskrats are left unchecked they can decimate cattail cover so to keep them in balance, we have trapping by permit only to keep the population at a desired level. Everything is connected with everything else. Our upland and cropped areas are also managed using featured species management. The upland areas are broken into two main habitat types; grasslands/fields and wood lots. Our grasslands are then managed as warm season or cool season fields. We manage our grasslands for nesting, brood rearing, and roosting cover to many species of birds but we tie in our ability to provide food and cover for other wildlife, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. The grasslands provide food and cover for Deer, Fox Snakes, Blanding’s Turtle, and a wide range of insects. The insects need the grassland habitat to live; the grasslands need the insects and wildlife to pollinate, the wildlife needs the grassland for cover and the wildlife need the insects for brood rearing. Everything is connected with everything else.

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Land Management Strategies The Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (PMSGA) Master Plan promotes the management and values of wetlands to hunters and other recreational users (i.e., trappers, birdwatchers, etc.) through the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy Program. Implementing this program is one of our More Bang for your Buck tasks. Implementing this task also aligns with the strategies and goals identified by the DNR’s Evergreen Goals, the Wildlife Division’s GPS goals and the Southeast Region Operational Plan.

The Master Plan sets the direction for management within the game area. Through successful implementation of these strategies there will be an increase in the diversity, quantity, and quality of the habitats that will produce a greater variety of wildlife species. Waterfowl use during migration, diversified public uses, habitat and hunting will be increased, as well as production of waterfowl and small game. Nesting habitat will be increased for waterfowl by restoring and maintaining open areas adjacent to brood rearing habitat and restoring some of the historical wet prairie that once existed. The wildlife and fish produced and maintained on the game area will be the basis for increased recreation by hunters and non-hunters.

3. WILDLIFE PRODUCTION AND USE ESTIMATES (GPS Goal 1) A. 125 pairs breeding ducks; 400 ducklings produced

B. 105 pairs breeding Canada geese (Branta canadensis); 420 goslings produced

C. 65 White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on September 1st

D. 50 Ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) on September 1st

E. Other game: a. 100 Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger) b. 500 Eastern Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) c. 400 Woodchucks (Marmota monax) d. 8,000 Muskrats (Ondatra zibethica) e. 0 Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

F. Unique wildlife species: a. 6 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 pair nesting on the game area

and multiple pairs nesting within 20 miles b. 0 nesting pairs of Great Egrets (Casmerodius albus) c. 35 Black-Crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) d. 55 nesting pairs of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) e. 5 nesting pairs of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), 100 non-breeding

individuals, and 15 cygnets produced f. 25 American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) g. 3 pair of nesting Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus). Each nest successfully

fledged chicks. h. 2 cattle egrets i. 1 little blue heron

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4. SIGNIFICANT HABITAT MANAGEMENT (GPS Goal 2 MBFYB) During 2017, through our participation in a Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Lake Erie Metro Park and The Nature Conservancy (among others) 200 acres of phragmities (Phragmites sp.) was sprayed via aerial spraying in the Humphries Unit outside of Bad Creek and the diversion dike. This was the 14th consecutive year that phragmites was sprayed at the PMSGA. Another 150-200 acres are scheduled to be sprayed in 2018.

We drew down the Bad Creek Unit for the third year in a row and on the south end we sprayed approximately 8 acres of resprouting dogwood and willow shrubs that was mowed the year before. We also mowed and sprayed 20-25 acres of reed canary grass/phragmities and felled trees that were out in the middle of the unit. The long term plan is to encourage marsh vegetation such as cattails and wild duck food to establish in this area.

The Vermet unit was drawn down in June to promote the growth of vegetation on the north and east parts of the unit. This is the 4th consecutive year that we have drawn down this unit and are seeing excellent results. We are planning for another draw down this summer, 2018 it will be the last draw down for this project. For the waterfowl season, we added water to the unit to allow access for hunters. During our weekly waterfowl observations, an abundant number of ducks were seen utilizing this unit. However the heavy use of the unit does not take place until after teal season.

Humphries Unit was kept at an average depth this year. We did have a contractor fill the end tubes of the South Causeway, this slowed water from entering the unit and completed phase one of the south causeway project. Phase 2 is being developed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and will either slip line the remaining tubes or completely replace them.

Staff planted 130 acres of corn, 75 acres of buckwheat, 35 acres of millet, 30 acres of soybeans, and 35 acres of food plots for managed waterfowl hunting and open hunting at PMSGA.

5. LAND ACQUISITION UPDATE (GPS Goal 3) No land was acquired in 2017

6. AREA MAINTENANCE (GPS Goal 2 MBFYB) Water levels in southeast Michigan were average this year. This did not create any problems with the area dikes and seawall systems.

Parking lots were improved at PMSGA by maintaining signs, barricades, gates, grading, and adding gravel.

2,670 tons of 21AA gravel was used to top dress approximately 3 miles of dikes (sump dike, walpatich dikes, and north end of diversion dike). Adding gravel to the dike tops is essential for maintaining the integrity of the dikes as well as for the safety of the general public and local staff that utilize the dikes.

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Staff installed two catwalk systems on water control structure screw gates.

Staff maintained equipment, parking lots, signs, dikes, pumps, barriers and several buildings.

Trees growing along the dikes around the PMSGA were cut down.

All the rollers at PMSGA were repaired before the waterfowl season. The middle causeway roller was damaged during the season and could not be immediately repaired.

7. EQUIPMENT (GPS Goal 6) • No-till/conventional till 6 row John Deer corn planter to replace a 1982 Massy

Ferguson 6 row conventional. • A 2-row corn planter fabricated from a 4 row for doing food plots at our satellite

game areas. • Go Devil flat bottom boat transferred from Law Division

8. SPECIAL PROJECTS (GPS Goal 5 MBFYB) The 70th Annual Michigan Duck Hunters’ Tournament took place this year. An estimated 8,000 people attended the two-day event held at the Pte. Mouillee State Game Area September 16th – 17th. Area personnel assisted in Canada goose banding (438), duck banding (48). Deer Check was open at the Pointe Mouillee Check Station. 412 (as of 1/15/18) deer were checked from Oct. 3 – Dec 8, and Jan. 2-31 at Pte. Mouillee. We also had a check station at Cabela’s in Dundee. 162 deer were checked from Nov. 15, 18-19, 25-26 and Dec 2.

We continued a hen house project with South Carolina Delta Waterfowl Association. They supplied the hen houses, hardware and poles to erect them. We agreed to put them up, monitor them and maintain them. 65% usage by mallards and wood ducks was observed in 2017. We also held our 3rd annual wood duck box work day cleaning out the boxes and adding wood shavings.

Eastern Michigan University continued a research project on the PMSGA. They will be taking data from Phragmites plants in various stages of growth and at various stages in our control efforts.

PMSGA personnel continued their affiliation with the Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) steering committee with the US Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, DTE, Huron Clinton Metro Park Authority, and Eastern Michigan University among others.

9. RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS (GPS Goal 5 MBFYB) Bird watching, fishing, trapping and hunting are the major recreational activities at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. Thousands of people from all over the United

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States and Canada visited the game area throughout the year to view a diverse group of bird species. Fishermen also make thousands of trips out to PMSGA and to the Headquarters to launch their boat or fish from the sea wall. Wildlife watching, hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, dog training, and boating are recreational activities enjoyed by the public here at PMSGA (Table 1). Below is a list of special events that occurred at PMSGA in 2017:

Youth fishing derby put on by Brownstown Township 25-30 youths participate in this event.

Youth duck hunt, lunch, and workshop put on with Waterfowl USA Southwestern Lake Erie Chapter, Gibraltar Duck Hunters Association and the wildlife Division. 50 kids participated.

A spring birding tour was hosted by Pointe Mouillee staff. 35 attended on a cool snowy April morning. Mostly non-hunters and we talked to them about the game area, funding and what they can do to help with the management of the game area.

Fall open house hosted by Pointe Mouillee staff. 76 attendees included both hunters and non-hunters. Provided some light refreshments and discussed the projects accomplished over the past year and current marsh conditions leading up to waterfowl season.

Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival. Between 7 and 8 thousand people come to Pointe Mouillee over a weekend in September to participate in the festivities surrounding the Waterfowl Festival. This past year was the 70th Waterfowl Festival at Pointe Mouillee.

6 Audubon driving tours – Chapters from Detroit, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Jackson organize driving tours for their members

Christmas bird count – Yearly bird count performed by members of our local Audubon chapters

Greatest week in birding event – Driving tour/count organized by the Black Swamp Observatory out of Ohio.

DNR birding tour led by Caleb Putman resulted in 25 participants.

Table1. Estimated User Trips and Harvest at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area 2017

Activity User Trips Harvest Waterfowl hunting 7,000 7,000 Deer hunting 300 18 Small game hunting 3,000 500 Trapping N/A N/A Fishing 30,000 unknown

Wildlife viewing 6,000 unknown

Tournament 8,000 unknown

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Activity User Trips Harvest Educational tours 500 unknown

Other (boating, etc.) 3,000 unknown

TOTALS 56,800 7,518

10. TRAPPING (GPS Goal 4) Trapping season is still under way at the time this report was due. A separate report will be written for the 2017-18 trapping season.

11. WATERFOWL BANDING (GPS Goal 1 MBFYB) Goose banding was down from last year with 438 Canada geese banded, and 95 re-captures. Duck banding was down with 48 ducks banded (1 mallards, 47 wood ducks) (Table 2).

Table 2. Waterfowl Banding Results for Pointe Mouillee State Game Area 2003-2016

Year C. Geese Mallards Wood ducks Blue-winged Teal Other Ducks

Common Tern Totals

2017 438 1 47 0 0 0 486 2016 609 2 96 0 0 0 707 2015 538 250 127 0 1 0 916 2014 705 125 70 0 0 0 900 2013 699 0 31 0 0 0 730 2012 781 32 1 0 0 0 814 2011 529 34 0 0 2 15 580 2010 768 205 6 0 0 0 979 2009 741 0 0 0 0 56 797 2008 588 171 3 0 0 0 762 2007 778 0 0 0 0 0 778 2006 480 0 0 0 1 0 481 2005 507 0 0 0 0 0 507 2004 805 0 0 0 0 0 805 2003 450 0 0 0 0 0 450 Totals 8978 819 334 0 4 71 10,695

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12. WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASON

A. Introduction (GPS Goal 4) Managed hunting at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is only done three days a week (Sunday AM/PM, Tuesday AM and Thursday AM/PM) in the Walpatich, Long Pond and Nelson Units (21 zones totaling approximately 450 acres). Through a cooperative agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service we also draw for three AM zones owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Brancheau Tract in Estral Beach. The Vermet, Humphries and Bad Creek Units consist of 1,820 acres of high quality, easily accessible emergent/cattail marsh. These areas are open to public hunting 7 days a week during waterfowl season. There are also three refuge units (Bloody Run, Banana Dike and Lautenschlager Units) that are closed to all use and occupancy September 1st through December 15th. The information below only contains data on waterfowl taken and hunter trips for the 24 zones in the managed waterfowl hunt area.

The 2017 managed waterfowl season saw a total of 1,407 hunter trips. Usage increased considerably in 2017 compared to 1,239 trips made in 2016. We had another year of great corn production, which provided hunters with exceptional hiding cover and we added decoy openings in the corn zones, something we had not done before. We started out a little warm the first week of the season but settled into some good temperatures and an occasional weather event. The hunting success was steady through the first two weeks of November and then slowed a bit. The hunting picked up again on Thanksgiving and was very slow the rest of the season.

Wildlife employees inspected hunter harvested species from morning hunts only. Avian influenza sampling was done this year. Hunters were very receptive to having their harvested waterfowl sampled.

B. Weather and Habitat Conditions (Waterfowl Season October and November) (GPS Goal 2) The 2017 water levels in western Lake Erie were above average for the majority of the year. Water levels were not an issue this year for flooding our various units.

Much of the autumn’s weather across Southeast Lower Michigan started mild turning cool in late October with average precipitation, and only a few weather events throughout the fall. Waterfowl movement was steady, we did not seem to have one big push but we had a steady influx of birds throughout late October into late November. We had cold temps in the last week of November and the first week of December. The majority of the marsh froze up for the last hunt on December 10th.

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C. Migration and Waterfowl Numbers (GPS Goal 1 MBFYB)

Table1. 2017 Waterfowl Population Estimates Pointe Mouillee State Game Area

Date Ducks Geese Swans Sept. 3 206 15 5

Sept. 10 447 25 0 Sept. 17 575 25 5 Sept. 24 1207 32 10 Oct. 1 5207 325 6 Oct. 8 15450 1200 5 Oct. 15 14749 1200 2 Oct. 22 7287 150 1 Oct. 29 7083 55 3 Nov. 5 9605 42 2

Nov. 12 7849 23 10 Nov. 19 8694 15 53 Nov. 26 7326 22 90 Dec 3 3517 12 32

D. Season Dates and Area Regulations (GPS Goal 4) Managed hunting was offered three days a week on a regular Sunday AM/PM, Tuesday AM and Thursday AM/PM schedule in the Long Pond, Nelson, and Walpatich Units and at the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s Brancheau tract in Estral Beach during the 2017 season. The managed hunt season at Pointe Mouillee ran continuously from October 14th through December 10th, 2017.

E. Hunting Season Results (GPS Goal 4)

A. Pre-registration 2017 was the sixteenth year without a pre-registered hunt for the opening weekend. The opening day afternoon hunt was a non-registered youth hunt, and received good youth hunter participation with 10 parties.

B. Harvest and Hunter Use Daily bag limits for 2017 were 6 ducks, the same as 2016. No changes to the bag limit in 2017. Harvest greatly increased from 901 ducks and 35 geese in 2016 to 1,540 ducks and 25 geese in 2017. 17 different species of waterfowl were harvested in the managed zones. Hunter trips increased from 1,239 in 2016 to 1,407 in 2017. Hunter success was at 1.11 birds per hunter trip. 2017 was an average year in the managed zones, as far as ducks per hunter trip. It was however the most ducks ever shot in the managed hunt zones since the marsh was reconstructed in the late 70’s. 8 more zones and an additional morning hunt were added in 2014.

Teal Season: The managed waterfowl hunting area is not open for teal season, teal hunting is allowed in the public hunting areas throughout the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. Hunters are not required to report their harvest in the open hunting

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areas. Our observation is that over the weekend there was good participation in the hunt but during the week participation was very limited on the Game Area.

Youth Hunts: There is not an early season youth hunt in the managed waterfowl hunting area however all the public hunting areas are open. We partner with Waterfowl U.S.A. Southwest Lake Erie Chapter and Gibraltar Duck Hunters Association to put on a youth hunt/workshop/luncheon. This youth event brings in 45-55 youth hunters every year, each youth receives a dozen decoys, duck and goose calls, and a goody bag.

During the regular waterfowl season, we host two youth preferred draws in our managed waterfowl area. Opening day in the afternoon we had 10 youth parties and November 5th in the morning we had 5 youth parties.

Table 2. Harvest Data at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area 2012 - 2017

Number Harvested (Percentage)

Species

2012

2013

2014 2015 2016 2017 Male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 277 (27) 265 (26) 319 (23) 224 (26) 227 (24) 386 (25) Female Mallard 223 (22) 174 (17) 251 (18) 256 (30) 180 (19) 341 (22) Am. Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 27 TR 19 TR 29 TR 12 TR 25 TR 32 TR Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 28 TR 36 TR 26 TR 49 (6) 41 TR 69 TR Gadwall (Anas strepera) 21 TR 254 (25) 235 (17) 60 (7) 69 (7) 177 (11) Am. Wigeon (Anas Americana) 2 TR 13 TR 4 TR 6 TR 0 20 TR Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 83 (8) 74 (7) 71 (5) 92 (11) 65 (7) 141 (9) Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) 79 (8) 28 TR 47 TR 24 TR 67 (7) 28 TR N. Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 44 TR 16 TR 44 TR 3 TR 20 TR 76 (5) Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 202 (20) 108 (10) 250 (18) 64 (7) 181 (19) 234 (15) Redhead (Aythya Americana) 5 TR 4 TR 15 TR 8 TR 1 TR 1 TR Scaup Sp. (Aythya sp.) 0 6 TR 7 TR 6 TR 2 TR 7 TR Ring-necked (Aythya collaris) 5 TR 7 TR 4 TR 9 TR 5 TR 5 TR C. Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 0 0 0 0 1 TR 0 Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 0 2 TR 1 TR 10 TR 0 12 TR Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 0 0 4 TR 1 TR 8 TR 1 TR Merganser Sp. (Mergus sp.) 6 TR 3 TR 5 TR 2 TR 1 TR 0 Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 0 0 0 1 TR 2 TR 2 TR Unknown 2 TR 0 0 1 TR 2 TR 0 American Coot (Fulica americana) 0 3 TR 10 TR 7 TR 4 TR 8 TR Canada geese (Branta Canadensis) 12 TR 6 TR 38 TR 30 TR 35 TR 25 TR Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 1016 1018 1360 865 936 1565 Hunter Trips 814 712 1125 1053 1239 1407 Cripples 250 218 260 204 221 315

Birds/Hunter 1.24 1.43 1.21 0.82 0.75 1.11

TR denotes ‹ 5%

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F. Hunter Days and Individual Hunter Numbers Hunter participation in the drawings was up from an average of 12 parties in 2016 to an average of 14 parties in the drawings for the 24 zones available in 2017. In addition, there were 39 LO parties issued zones. The highest attendance for a drawing was 33 parties for the a.m. hunt on October 14th and the lowest was 3 parties for the p.m. hunt on November 23rd and the a.m. hunt on December 10th. Youth hunts were held on October 14th p.m. with 10 parties participating and November 5th a.m. with 5 parties participating. Drawings were held through December 7th and the last day of the season December 10th was a self-register hunt.

The number of hunter days for the managed hunt areas at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area was 26 days and the total number of individual hunters using the area was 1,407 hunter trips. In 2016, there were 26 hunter days and a total of 1,239 hunter trips using the area.

G. Permits and Harvest Table 3. 2017 Daily Harvest by Zones at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area

* O = October, N = November, D = December

O14 O15 O17 O19 O22 O24 O26 O29 O31 N02 N05 N07 N09 N12 N14 N16 N19 N21 N23 N26 N28 N30 D03 D05 D07 D10

2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 62 5 1 4 3 0 0 0 1 0 8 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 332 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 84 8 9 0 8 9 1 0 3 6 7 6 3 2 6 10 4 5 16 1 3 6 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7 0 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 8 0 6 152

13 6 0 1 0 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 5 339 2 5 11 12 5 6 4 1 8 1 3 16 8 3 10 9 1 8 2 10 4 18 13 1 6 10 6 12 2 0 9 1 2 4 3 3 3 0 17 0 9 2570 2 0 0 0 1 38 1 0 8 8 2 0 3 4 4 2 3 1 7 13 2 1 9 5 7 1 5 3 0 0 0 0 975 1 0 0 0 0 0 62 0 2 0 17 0 1 3 12 3 1 10 4 6 2 3 6 2 0 2 2 6 7 0 5 3 0 2 0 12 0 0 1 0 5 1 1206 0 2 2 4 1 11 2 17 4 5 10 3 2 2 6 0 2 10 10 9 13 1 2 0 15 12 3 8 0 2 4 1 0 6 0 2 0 0 0 4 6 187

24 6 1 4 5 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 2 0 11 3 1 4 2 2 3 3 2 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 2 1 1024 2 3 1 1 3 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 2 1 1 0 2 0 3 0 6 3 6 8 0 1 0 3 1 2 4 0 2 0 6 0 0 784 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1012 9 10 13 6 2 2 2 0 4 1 1 1 2 2 6 12 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 924 7 5 2 6 4 2 0 0 3 1 0 2 6 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 527 3 1 2 0 1 5 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 31

17 4 3 18 9 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 4 4 0 1 9 1 2 0 4 0 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 9211 1 2 4 3 0 0 4 1 1 5 5 5 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5012 4 8 4 4 2 4 0 0 4 9 2 1 10 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 7114 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 1 6 0 3 1 0 0 353 0 1 6 1 1 123 0 0 0 0 1 41 0 5 2 0 1 0 0 9

TOTAL 169 49 73 71 73 0 46 28 24 25 45 0 22 25 48 19 44 0 48 39 44 90 34 0 30 49 69 32 5 0 42 40 34 34 10 0 12 37 2 10 9 0 9 11 5 4 15 0 6 44 0 15 1540

62 42 56 49 28 35 19 56 39 37 23 16 59 30 27 22 29 44 37 50 35 24 65 47 28 18 22 62 30 30 47 11 39 38 12 12 16 27 13 20 11 20 6 14 1407169 49 72 71 73 46 28 24 25 45 22 25 48 19 44 48 39 45 88 34 30 49 69 34 5 42 40 34 34 10 12 37 2 10 9 9 11 5 4 15 6 44 0 15 15402 5 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2537 14 21 13 11 10 4 5 2 10 4 1 11 4 16 10 6 13 14 8 2 9 14 8 2 7 5 8 14 5 3 4 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 5 2 5 2 0 315

POINTE MOUILLEE STATE GAME AREA MANAGED HUNTING 2017

1213

AM PM* AM PM

89

AM ---- AM PM

14

232425

HUNTERSDUCKSGEESE

* YOUTH HUNT

CRIPPLES

TOTALS

AM PM AM ----- AM PMAM PM AM PM AM ----- AM PM AM PMAM PMZONE23

1011

4567

AM PM AM PMAM ----- AM PM AM PM AM -----

171615

2221201918

AM ----- AM -----AM PMAM ----- AM PMAM PM AM PM

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H. Species Harvest Table 4. 2017 Daily Harvest by Species at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area

O14 O15 O17 O19 O22 O24 O26 O29 O31 N02 N05 N07 N09 N12 N14 N16 N19 N21 N23 N26 N28 N30 D03 D05 D07 D10

60 23 25 41 40 16 10 7 11 27 7 10 13 7 12 22 16 14 45 19 19 37 35 17 4 28 24 18 22 7 5 3 1 5 7 6 5 3 2 13 3 27 13 65736 14 9 26 20 7 5 2 7 11 2 6 5 4 7 9 3 8 20 11 10 23 17 9 2 16 14 10 12 3 3 2 1 4 3 4 3 1 1 4 1 21 10 38624 9 16 15 20 9 5 5 4 16 5 4 8 3 5 13 13 6 25 8 9 14 18 8 2 12 10 8 10 2 2 1 1 4 2 2 2 1 9 2 6 3 34162 18 17 12 9 12 14 8 8 3 3 8 6 1 10 7 6 13 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 23423 14 6 9 8 2 4 6 7 1 4 8 1 6 24 3 1 7 2 2 2 1 14110 3 7 1 1 1 1 1 3 28

2 4 3 1 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 325 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 4 3 1 1 1 4 3 3 2 6 6 1 2 2 13 1 3 3 1 762 1 2 1 3 2 4 5 4 7 11 8 8 10 11 2 10 5 5 3 21 3 3 8 3 3 1 16 1 3 2 9 1776 1 4 10 8 6 1 3 1 4 2 6 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 69

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 5 1 3 201 1 2

1 11 1

1 1 1 1 1 53 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 12

1 1 2 1 1 1 71 1 1 1 1 2 1 8

TOTAL 169 49 73 71 73 0 46 28 24 25 45 0 22 25 48 19 44 0 48 39 44 90 34 0 30 49 69 32 5 0 42 40 34 34 10 12 37 2 10 9 9 11 5 4 15 6 44 15 1540

RUDDY

SHOVELERGADWALL

SPECIESMALLARD

Female

CANVASBACK

BWTBLACK DUCK

Male

PINTAILWIDGEON

WOOD DUCKGWT

REDHEAD

POINTE MOUILLEE STATE GAME AREA MANAGED HUNTING 2017AM PM AM PM AM PM AM* PMAM PM* AM PM AM PM AM PMAM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PMAM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM

RINGNECKBUFFLEHEAD

SCAUPCOOT

I. Cropland, Marshland and Water Level Management (GPS Goal 2 and 4 MBFYB We had an early spring and could start working our fields in April. We had great corn production in the Nelson, Bloody Run, and Walpatich Units. We had decent heat and rainfall throughout the summer. We also had great buckwheat and millet production in the Nelson, Bloody Run, Walpatich and Bad Creek Units. The Nelson, Bloody Run, and Walpatich Units (agricultural units) were flooded a week prior to general waterfowl season and gradually added water at various points throughout the season to reach full pool.

Farming direction in zones 13 and 14 were continued in a North/South direction. Millet was added into the buckwheat, and corn alternating strips rotation in zones 11, 12, 13, and 14. Zone 15 was planted with the plan of a dry field with corn surrounded by buckwheat.

Corn was no-tilled into the Lautenschlauger unit in an area of reed canary grass that could be flooded.

Water was added to Long Pond and Lautenschlauger in September to bring it up to hunting depth. Both marsh units have good cattail growth and did not require much habitat management in 2017.

J. Significant Projects (GPS Goal 6 MBFYB) 2,670 tons of 21AA gravel was used to top dress approximately 3 miles of dikes. Adding gravel to the dike tops is essential for maintaining the integrity of the dikes as well as for the safety of the general public and local staff that utilize the dikes.

Catwalk systems were installed on 2 different water control structures.

K. Recommendations (GPS Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Continue to pursue funding for wetland restoration projects at Pointe Mouillee. • Cripple Point Unit – should be funded for 2018 • Lezotes Landing • Pointe Sec Unit

Continue experimental methods to control Phragmites. Without intensive management practices Phragmities will out-compete native vegetation in the wetland ecosystem, resulting in a monoculture of Phragmites.

Continue row crop planting on drier sites to help control brush invasion, and prepare site for conversion to a native plant community.

Maintain existing program of flooding cropland in the Bloody Run and Lautenschlager Unit Refuge to attract, feed, and hold migrating waterfowl during fall and spring migrating seasons.

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Develop new nesting meadow and prairie grassland sites along the Long Pond Unit, particularly in zone 4 and extend the prairie grassland in the back of Zones 11 and 12.

Continue with no pre-registered hunts at PMSGA during opening weekend. Hunter’s lack of participation does not warrant pre-registration. Continue two youth hunts conducted in the managed areas. Continue experimenting with a self-registration system that allows hunters to register themselves late in the season when the marsh is frozen or there is a lack of participation.

Continue prescribed burn rotations on prairie grass fields at PMSGA. This management strategy will maintain our warm season grasses while setting back cool season grasses, broadleaf weeds and brush.

Update current Master Plan and work from a 5-year operational plan.

L. Prominent Partners and Volunteers (GPS Goal 5 MBFYB) Michigan Duck Hunters’ Tournament Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival: 2017 was the 70th anniversary of the tournament/festival that is held at the game area headquarters each September. The tournament regularly donates money to the game area for seed, fertilizer, and/or equipment.

Waterfowl USA Southwestern Lake Erie Chapter: Regularly donates money to the PMSGA for equipment and/or aid with the cost of the regional and flyway meetings that the DNR hosts. Co-sponsor of the annual youth waterfowl hunt at PMSGA.

Ducks Unlimited: Works with us on wetland restoration projects, grants, phragmites control, and advice on pumps and water control structures. Also donates seed and nest boxes.

Pheasants Forever: Donated $1,500 of corn seed, food plot mix and prairie grass seed to help create and restore native prairie grass fields. Eastern Michigan University: Continued a Phragmites research project at Pointe Mouillee

Detroit, Jackson, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Oakland Audubon Societies: Provide us with volunteer hours for bird counts and tours.

Detroit International Wildlife Refuge: Apply for grants together. Help with management on some of their lands. Common Tern Banding, duck and goose banding, Hunting Regulations on Federal land, and managed draw for the Brancheau Unit.

Gibraltar Duck Hunters Association: Help purchase some equipment and co-sponsor the youth waterfowl hunt at PMSGA.

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Sportsman’s Forum Group various: Help out with trash pick-up, goose banding and duck banding

South Carolina Flyway Foundation: Provides Mallard Nesting Tubes for us to put up

Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA): Phragmities strike team TNC, DTE, Consumers Energy, Huron Clinton Metro Park Authority, Eastern Michigan – apply for grants, and a group attack on Phragmites partnered with various groups.

Michigan State University: Partnered with MSU to conduct monthly surveys with Adam Byrne for the PMSGA.

Wayne County Road Commission: Grade drive/parking lot and the section of Mouillee Road that is state-owned. Cut back vegetation growing along Mouillee Rd and plant trees at headquarters and along Mouillee Rd.

Brownstown Twp.: Youth fishing derby – we provide them use of the HQ Island

Monroe County Conservation District: We partner with the CD on their no-till drill program by housing and maintaining the drill.

Law Enforcement Division: Cooperatively work with them on violations, game area, and hunting rules etc.

Fisheries Division: Work with them to tag walleye in the Huron River and net fish in Lake Erie.

Parks and Recreation Division: Work with PRD Division on various wetland projects and the osprey platforms at Sterling State Park.

Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan: They monitor all osprey nests in Southeast Michigan and keep us informed so we can band the osprey chicks

10. Economic Benefits (GPS Goal 3) There are a number of local businesses that benefit from having the PMSGA nearby. Because we offer so many recreational activities at the PMSGA our users purchase a laundry list of items from local retailers. The local Marina party store and the local bait and tackle store depend on our patrons for a good portion of their business. There are three public boat launches with access to Lake Erie and the Detroit and Huron Rivers in the immediate vicinity of the PMSGA but only the one at Pointe Mouillee is free of charge. In addition to the obvious benefit bait and tackle stores get from being near the PMSGA the gas stations in Rockwood and South Rockwood also benefit. These gas stations are near the expressway and these are the main two exits people use to get to the PMSGA. Our hunters, bird watchers, and

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fishermen frequent these establishments purchasing gas, coffee, water, energy drinks, and snacks. There are also a few restaurants and bars in Rockwood, South Rockwood, and Brownstown Twp. that benefit from hunters, fishermen and bird watchers stopping to get something to eat. During the Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival upwards of 8,000 people descend on the PMSGA over a two day period injecting their money into the surrounding area. In 2015 we added a map to the check station showing local businesses and where people could get food, gas, bait, etc.

11. Opportunities Phragmites continues to be a problem, requiring constant and intensive management.

Continue positive relationships with local wildlife conservation organizations and non-profit organizations, as well as developing new relationships to help achieve goals, and increase donations and volunteerism.

The big pump is in need of being upgraded to meet our demands and allow us better flexibility in water management.

We will be working with The US Army Corps of Engineers on projects involving the Banana Dike and South Causeway water control structure.

Increase open field hunting opportunities at PMSGA.