State Land Disappearing

[Set-N-Hooks]

I was rather disappointed to hear almost 80 acres of state land where I hunt, Presque Isle Co. was being traded for land in the Upper Peninsula. This 80 is on a county maintaned road and accessble all year round. It seems the DNR wants to sell/trade "land locked" state land and other small parcels that cannot be managed. I say Ok with the land locked stuff but getting rid of accessable land will only hurt Michigan as a whole. Below is a link to the Natural Resource Commission Agenda. Write your State Reps, this is not good!!!! :rant:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10371_12831---,00.html

[outfishin_]

If they were trading land locked land.....what would they trade it for? Unlock land right? That sounds like what they did...but unfortunately it was the parcel you used....so another words I don't get your beef.....I would if they just plain sold it out right....and not traded it...

[Burksee]

Seems kinda sad but what you experienced is nothing new. Its not "disapearing" - Buy, sell or trade land, the states been doing it for years. Total state owned acreage has never been higher. As far as "manage-able" pieces, small isolated spots like those are when compared to the larger tracts the state has are much harder to keep an eye on and patrol. They’ll be buying bigger pieces or buying property adjoins to property they already have.

[boehr]

It all depends on what they are trading it for. If the land they are getting is more valuable to the resources that the land they gave away then it is a good thing. It's unfortunate that it effects the people who used the land traded but; it is fortunate for those that will be able to use the new land they got. You have my sympathy but I'm all for trading up for better.

[Dave Lyons]

boehr,

Are they not also trying to buy up or trade land where a road across a river or stream to help maintain run-off at the roads. Banks washing out at the roads???

Dave

[boehr]

I have no idea what they use to make those decisions.

[uptracker]

If it was a "trade", I believe it is part of the U.P. program in which they are trying to obtain as much deer wintering area as possible. The U.P. is losing an alarming rate of cedar swamp of all ages, hence one of the reasons the winter kill is so high. Currently, they are trying to lock down as much as the can for now and future use. The Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Game are also involved and cooperating. For me, I hope it turns for the better in the U.P., for you, that sucks and I feel for you. I've had it happen to me on my bowhunting properties in Jackson and Washtenaw Co.'s, although it wasn't State Land, it still put a horrible hurting on me.

Give and Take....Cause and Effect.

[Set-N-Hooks]

Thanks for the replies. It really does hurt. We have a camp and 15 acres next to this state land. Our camp has been in the family since the 1960's. We and others hunt, hike, pick blueberries and snowshoe on this state land and there sure are alot of memories there. My grandfather is going to roll over in his grave when this happens. Throw in decreasing the property value too. My 2 cents.

[Linda G.]

Set-look into this further by contacting the DNR's real estate division or have an attorney read the transaction description to you in plain English instead of the legal gobbledygook. The DNR has several different programs, some of the land they will trade for other pieces, other lands they will offer outright for sale, and they claim to be giving first dibs to adjoining landowners like you...I've even heard they're willing to work out land contracts.

Don't give up...if you're unable to acquire this land yourself or the DNR is dead set on this trade, then go to your local media, your local county and township government, anyone you can, and make NOISE about this that can be easily heard all the way to Lansing. Let the Real Estate powers that be in Lansing with the DNR know you aren't happy about this.

And to everyone else, it frightens me that everyone is being so blase about the DNR shuffling our public lands.

[Set-N-Hooks]

Linda,
Thank you for your words of encouragement. This proposed trade will be going before the NRC in a couple of months. In the eyes of the DNR it is a done deal. As I understand it the proposed trade is some 400 acres in Luce County. The owners of that property also have property in Presque Isle County. Their property in Presque Isle borders some 280 land locked state land acres. The DNR thought it to be an unfair (acre for acre) trade and found another 80 (not land locked, accessable by year round county road) to include. Well this 80 is what tugs my chain. If the state is going county by county, and selling or trading these smaller lots of land it means less and less access and fewer opportunities for us sportsman. The state would not disclose the land they were going to get so I have no idea what is looks like. Myself, ajoining property owners and friends have been e-mailing the State Representative for the area and he IS helping us out. Representative Matt Gillard is a sportsman and an asset to have in Lansing. Once this thing is on the NRC agenda we will be contacting the media.
Brian

[Michihunter]

Where specifically is the Presque Isle property located? Thompson Harbor area?

[Set-N-Hooks]

Bismark Twp. Lake May area.

[Michihunter]

Thanks. I hunt in Presque Isle myself (private property) and it seems that the last few years there has been little or no hunters in the area. Of course there aren't too many deer either as of late!!:rolleyes:

[Set-N-Hooks]

Michihunter
We have quite a few deer in the area. We are surrounded by large parcels of private lannd owned by hunt clubs. Were is your camp?

[Michihunter]

Rogers City area. Right behind Calcite!!;)

[target-panic]

This link should explain it a little better......it's a land consolidation program.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31154_33787-105227--,00.html

[Burksee]

Where specifically is the Presque Isle property located? Thompson Harbor area?Given the size and location of the state land around Thompson Harbor I dont (and hope not!) think that area would be considered for that program.

I'm in PI county as well, in PI township matter of fact. Our camp is just north of the PI/Alpena county line. Just north of Long Lake, just west of Grand Lake.

[NorthJeff]

I am in the middle of swaping lands with the feds, which is even more "involved", and have seen the appraisal end of swapping land with the state. All I can say with both swaps is that it is typically a "value for value" exchange in which the government rarely if ever ends up on the losing side of the equation.

I can say with the feds that neighboring property owner and boundery/current use seems to be a lower priority in the entire evaluation. However, land values, net wetlands gain (NEVER a loss), environment concerns, and endangered species net gain (never a loss), are all very important. Consolidation is very important, meaning if you have a land-locked public 40, and that can be swapped with another parcel within or adjacent to current public holdings then that is better for the public.

If you could find an edangered species on that site, and there is not the same level of endangered species on the other, that might stop the swap....but who knows. I can say that it seems the state "approved" appraisers seem to lean towards the conservative side of the value range...favoring the state so in the end the state or feds would rarely, if ever "lose" in the entire situation unless something unforseen was not discovered-maybe a rare species? maybe even an environmental concern that was missed...might be something out there for you.

[Michihunter]

Given the size and location of the state land around Thompson Harbor I dont (and hope not!) think that area would be considered for that program.

I'm in PI county as well, in PI township matter of fact. Our camp is just north of the PI/Alpena county line. Just north of Long Lake, just west of Grand Lake.
Wouldn't be in the Presque Isle Harbor Assoc by any chance, would ya?

[Burksee]

Wouldn't be in the Presque Isle Harbor Assoc by any chance, would ya?Heck No! Friends of mine bought land in there 10 years ago, just bought the lots next them. ............For the same price they paid for there's 10 years ago! :yikes: PIHA is a nice place, just not a place I'd put money into for a real-estate investment....

We're down near the sound end of Grand Lake, west side of US-23....

[Michihunter]

My cousin lives in there. I'm thinking of picking up a lot just for the club privelages!! Can't beat the price, huh? Maybe we can get together sometime. I hunt the Thompson Harbor quite a bit, especially for Turkey.

[Burksee]

My cousin lives in there. I'm thinking of picking up a lot just for the club privelages!! Can't beat the price, huh? Maybe we can get together sometime. I hunt the Thompson Harbor quite a bit, especially for Turkey.Cool! We primarily hunt deer on our place, I did turkey in TH area about five/six years ago as I got shut outa where we usually hunted and picked up a OTC 234 and was up doing some work at our place there. Seen some awfully nice bucks come outa that area as well! ;)

Didnt mean to sound down on the PIHA, it is a nice set up, nice club house and there are some awesome homes and cabins in there but to many rules to my liking. One in particular is you cant hunt in there! :sad:

Definetly! We'll have to hook up for a cold one! :)

[Michihunter]

First rounds on me!!;)

[Jim Maturen]

The Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association (MWTHA) has been involved for a nuumber of years with both national and state land consolidation and has openly opposed a number of transactions. An article dealing with the current state land consolidation will be published in the September issue of Michigan Turkey Tracks. Set-N-Hook if you would like some information give me a call at (231) 832-2575.

[Set-N-Hooks]

Thanks Jim, I'll give you a call. We are trying to get as many arrows in our quiver as possible.