Steve
05-04-2000, 04:04 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 4 MAY 00
CONTACT: Tim Reis, 517-373-1263
2000 MICHIGAN BEAR HUNT APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 15
LANSING--The Department of Natural Resources reminds bear
hunters that May 15 is the deadline to apply for a 2000
Michigan bear hunting license. This date is earlier than in
previous years. "The application period was moved forward
one month to allow hunters more time to plan their bear-
hunting activities," said Tim Reis, DNR Bear Management
Specialist.
Hunters may apply for a bear hunting license through the DNR
Retail Licensing System. License sales outlets are located
at many DNR offices and at 1,700 authorized license dealers
throughout the state.
It costs $4 to apply for a bear hunting license. The fee
must be paid at the time of application and is non-
refundable. There is no application fee for Comprehensive
Lifetime license holders.
Beginning with the 2000 bear season, the DNR is changing the
way bear hunting licenses are issued by adopting a
"cumulative preference point" system. All applicants will
have an equal chance in this year's drawing; however,
hunters who apply and are not issued a license will receive
a "preference point." Applicants with the greatest number
of points will be offered hunting tags first in future
drawings. Hunters also will have the choice of completing an
application, but may elect to forgo the drawing in order to
bank a preference point. In addition, up to four hunters
will be allowed to apply as a party.
A total of 9,490 licenses will be available in 10 bear
management units. Seven of these units are in the Upper
Peninsula, and three are in the Lower Peninsula. The number
of available licenses represents a 17 percent increase
compared to last year.
The 2000 bear season will include the following hunt
periods: Sept. 10-Oct. 21, Sept. 15-Oct. 26 and Sept. 25-
Oct. 26 in all Upper Peninsula bear management units except
Drummond Island; Sept. 10-16 on Drummond Island; and Sept.
22-28 in the northern Lower Peninsula's Baldwin, Gladwin,
and Red Oak bear management units. An additional hunt period
for bow and arrow only will be held in the Red Oak Unit from
Oct. 6-12.
Hunters will be notified by mail of their drawing results.
Notification will be mailed by June 15, 2000. Drawing
results also will be available on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mi.us. (http://www.dnr.state.mi.us.)
Successful applicants must take their notification
announcement to any license dealer to purchase their bear
hunting license and harvest tag. The cost of the license and
harvest tag is $13 for residents, $5.20 for seniors and $150
for nonresidents.
A participation license is required for bear hunters who are
not issued a harvest tag but wish to participate in a bear
hunt behind dogs. Participation licenses may be purchased at
any license agent for the same fee as a hunting license.
Details about the application process and the new
preference point system are available online at the DNR Web
site. Copies of the 2000 Michigan Bear Hunting Season
Application Guide are available at all DNR offices, license
dealers and the DNR Web site. For more information, contact
the Wildlife Division at 517-373-1263.
CONTACT: Tim Reis, 517-373-1263
2000 MICHIGAN BEAR HUNT APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 15
LANSING--The Department of Natural Resources reminds bear
hunters that May 15 is the deadline to apply for a 2000
Michigan bear hunting license. This date is earlier than in
previous years. "The application period was moved forward
one month to allow hunters more time to plan their bear-
hunting activities," said Tim Reis, DNR Bear Management
Specialist.
Hunters may apply for a bear hunting license through the DNR
Retail Licensing System. License sales outlets are located
at many DNR offices and at 1,700 authorized license dealers
throughout the state.
It costs $4 to apply for a bear hunting license. The fee
must be paid at the time of application and is non-
refundable. There is no application fee for Comprehensive
Lifetime license holders.
Beginning with the 2000 bear season, the DNR is changing the
way bear hunting licenses are issued by adopting a
"cumulative preference point" system. All applicants will
have an equal chance in this year's drawing; however,
hunters who apply and are not issued a license will receive
a "preference point." Applicants with the greatest number
of points will be offered hunting tags first in future
drawings. Hunters also will have the choice of completing an
application, but may elect to forgo the drawing in order to
bank a preference point. In addition, up to four hunters
will be allowed to apply as a party.
A total of 9,490 licenses will be available in 10 bear
management units. Seven of these units are in the Upper
Peninsula, and three are in the Lower Peninsula. The number
of available licenses represents a 17 percent increase
compared to last year.
The 2000 bear season will include the following hunt
periods: Sept. 10-Oct. 21, Sept. 15-Oct. 26 and Sept. 25-
Oct. 26 in all Upper Peninsula bear management units except
Drummond Island; Sept. 10-16 on Drummond Island; and Sept.
22-28 in the northern Lower Peninsula's Baldwin, Gladwin,
and Red Oak bear management units. An additional hunt period
for bow and arrow only will be held in the Red Oak Unit from
Oct. 6-12.
Hunters will be notified by mail of their drawing results.
Notification will be mailed by June 15, 2000. Drawing
results also will be available on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mi.us. (http://www.dnr.state.mi.us.)
Successful applicants must take their notification
announcement to any license dealer to purchase their bear
hunting license and harvest tag. The cost of the license and
harvest tag is $13 for residents, $5.20 for seniors and $150
for nonresidents.
A participation license is required for bear hunters who are
not issued a harvest tag but wish to participate in a bear
hunt behind dogs. Participation licenses may be purchased at
any license agent for the same fee as a hunting license.
Details about the application process and the new
preference point system are available online at the DNR Web
site. Copies of the 2000 Michigan Bear Hunting Season
Application Guide are available at all DNR offices, license
dealers and the DNR Web site. For more information, contact
the Wildlife Division at 517-373-1263.