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Fish Point Wildlife Area Annual Hunting Season Report 2017

MANAGEMENT REGION: Southeast NAME OF AREA: Fish Point Wildlife Area

AUTHOR: Pat Brickel SEASON: 2017

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Table of Contents Fish Point Wildlife Area Annual Hunting Season Report 2017 .............................................................. 1

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3

2. Area Goals And Management Emphasis ................................................................................. 3

3. Wildlife Production And Use Estimates .................................................................................... 3

4. Significant Habitat Management .............................................................................................. 4

5. Land Acquisition ...................................................................................................................... 5

6. Area Maintenance .................................................................................................................... 5

7. Equipment ................................................................................................................................ 5

8. Special Projects ....................................................................................................................... 5

9. Recreational and Educational Activities ................................................................................... 5

10. TRAPPING .............................................................................................................................. 6

11. WATERFOWL BANDING ........................................................................................................ 6

12. Weather and Habitat Conditions .............................................................................................. 6

13. Migration and Waterfowl Numbers ........................................................................................... 6

14. Season Dates and Area Regulations ....................................................................................... 7

15. Hunting Season Results .......................................................................................................... 7

A. Pre-Registration .................................................................................................................... 7

B. Harvest and Hunter Use ............................................................................................................ 7

C. Permits and Harvest ............................................................................................................. 8

D. Species Harvest ................................................................................................................... 9

16. Cropland, Marshland, and Water Level Management ............................................................ 11

17. Volunteers and Partners ........................................................................................................ 11

18. Economic Benefits ................................................................................................................. 12

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1. Introduction The Fish Point State Wildlife Area (FPSWA) is a 2,477-acre managed waterfowl area located three miles northwest of Unionville, adjacent to Saginaw Bay. Habitat composition consists of approximately 1,200 acres of diked wetland and meadow. About 720 acres of marshland is a seasonal refuge (September 1 - January 1.) Additionally, there is 535 acres of impounded crops (corn, buckwheat, millet, and milo) planted for food and winter cover on a yearly basis. The FPSWA is one of Michigan’s seven managed waterfowl hunting areas. Permits are required for 79 hunting zones, including 51 cropped units consisting of corn, buckwheat, barley and millet. Five zones are located in the area’s three permanent marshes. Two additional areas are “scramble zones”, with a capacity for 20 hunters. Check station hours are 5:00 am to 4:00 pm.

2. Area Goals and Management Emphasis The operation of managed waterfowl areas are identified as a high priority action for the Wildlife Division and meet the following Guiding Principles and Strategies (GPS) goal and objectives:

Goal 1: Manage for healthy and sustainable populations of wildlife.

Objective 1.1: Develop, implement, and revise management plans and guidance for priority game species and species of greatest conservation need

Goal 4: Enhance sustainable wildlife-based recreation use and enjoyment Objective 4.2: Increase the retention rate of hunting and trapping license purchasers

Goal 5: Improve and maintain public communication, strong relationships, and partnerships.

Objective 5.3: Foster positive relationships through collaborations and partnerships to implement Wildlife Division goals.

Through implementing the highlighted GPS goals and objectives, FPSWA is helping Wildlife Division meet high-quality waterfowl hunting criteria listed in the Wildlife Division’s More Bang for Your Buck focus document.

3. Wildlife Production and Use Estimates Mallards, Canada geese, black ducks, blue-winged teal and wood ducks are the most common nesting ducks on the area. Small numbers of gadwalls, pintails, northern Shovelers, and redheads also nest on the area. In any given year a reasonable estimate of 150-200 breeding pairs likely produce 750-1200 ducklings. Brood surveys have been conducted on a 4-mile route within the refuge since 1991. Surveys were conducted 6 times between June 15 and July 20. Brood production of mallards at the FPSWA doubled in 2017 compared to 2016 (Table 1). Outside the refuge, mallard and wood duck production increased over last year. Canada goose production increased slightly compared to 2016 numbers.

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Table 1. Duck broods observed/mile for Fish Point brood surveys, 2013-2017

Deer numbers fluctuate annually due to habitat conditions, hunting pressure and mortality from a variety of causes. The best way to gauge deer numbers on the area is by their impact on crops; particularly corn. Using this as an indicator, it appeared that increased deer harvest in 2016 helped to minimize the crop damage significantly in 2017.

Pheasant brood sightings are recorded each year and generally range from 5-15 broods/year. Spring weather was favorable for pheasant reproduction in 2017. The end of April to early May temperatures were warmer than average with below average rainfall. In June, however, we had above average precipitation. Despite the heavy rains, nine pheasant broods were observed, one more than last year. Brood size ranged between 5 and 10 chicks/brood.

Interesting non-game wildlife on the area included great egret, sandhill crane, yellow-headed black bird, American bittern, tundra swan, snowy owl, bald eagle and black-crowned night heron. These species are present at different times of year as regular nesters (yellow-headed black bird, American bittern, bald eagle) or as migrants (tundra swan, sandhill crane, snowy owl) passing through the area on their way to nesting or wintering areas.

4. Significant Habitat Management • Applied herbicide to 9 miles of dikes and 1,105 acres of bottom lands to

control phragmites and brush • Applied herbicide on the east refuge and zones 5-7 to control phragmites and

create opening in cattails on approximately 150 acres • Mowed 65 acres of decoy openings • Mowed 15 acres of brush with a HydroAxe to restore native warm season

grasses • Removed water from the east refuge to perform a prescribed burn and

topographical survey • Conducted a prescribed burn in the north end of the Gaede Marsh to create

openings in the cattails and in the south end to set back the woody vegetation

Mallards Wood Ducks Blue-Wing Teal Year #

Broods # Young

# Broods

# Young

# Broods

# Young

2013 0.05 0.25 0.1 0.55 0 0 2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 2016 0.08 0.66 0.16 0.75 0 0 2017 0.21 1.08 0 0 0 0

5 Year Ave

0.07 0.40 0.05 0.26 0.00 0.00

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5. Land Acquisition There were no new land acquisitions in 2017.

6. Area Maintenance • Mowing and spot spraying for brush on 24.5 miles of dike tops • Collected trash weekly in parking lots and nature trails • Hunter access paths and parking areas were mowed and sprayed • Boating access/main field drainage ditches were re-excavated in zones 64-69

to improve hunter access and water flow • Repaired multiple dike breaches to improve and maintain water manipulation

capabilities • Approximately eight miles of access road and several parking lots were

enhanced by grading, disking and adding gravel • Burned off cattail thatch in east refuge and zones 5-8 • Replaced a tube and gate in the refuge • Removed sediment from 0.5 mile of ditch at the Gaede Marsh

7. Equipment Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) approved the purchase of a John Deere 650K LGP dozer to be shared between Fish Point, Nayanquing Point and Cass City Field Offices. The purpose for this purchase was to improve hunter access, parking areas, dike and ditch infrastructures to state land around the Saginaw Bay and throughout the Thumb areas.

8. Special Projects The check station was remodeled over the past year. The remodel included the replacement of old, broken concrete in our self-registration area and the installation of walls around the entry way. This construction became the new entrance into the check station. A new counter was built and repositioned to provide better foot traffic flow during hunter check in. The bottom half of the interior walls were resurfaced with barn steel. The woman’s bathroom had new paneling, insulation and a drop sealing installed. Lighting was changed from florescent to LED to improve efficiency. The floor was resurfaced to minimize slipping.

9. Recreational and Educational Activities A spring migration tour was held on April 8. Several flocks of tundra swans and thousands of waterfowl were observed by 11 bird watchers from across the state. Those who attended enjoyed this annual tour and are looking forward to spring tours in the years to come.

A third-grade class from USA Schools toured the area as part of a spring Fish and Wildlife Education Day coordinated by the Fish Point Wildlife Association. Students walked the nature trail and listened to a talk on wetlands and wildlife presented by the Wildlife Division’s Outreach and Education staff.

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Bird watching continues to be a popular activity year-round on the area. Perch fishing and trapping remain popular seasonal activities. The fourth annual fall open house took place on October 11th at 6pm. Thirty-two hunters came from across the state to preview fall hunting conditions, see the improvements that were made over the summer, and ask questions of area staff.

In the spring of 2017, Reese High School Out-of-Doors Club assisted DNR staff with wood duck nesting box inspections. Boxes were cleaned out, repaired and replaced as needed across the area.

10. TRAPPING Five trappers harvested 297 Muskrat, 5 Mink and 3 Beaver.

11. WATERFOWL BANDING Fish Point staff assisted with banding operations throughout the northern portion of the Southeast Region. There were no waterfowl banded at FPSWA in 2017 due to staff limitations.

12. Weather and Habitat Conditions Spring was warm with average rainfall amounts, except June 23, which brought 5 inches of rain overnight. Overall, summer weather was warm with average rainfall throughout, which helped produce above average corn yields along with good yields of buckwheat, barley and millet.

Water was readily available and allowed for more than adequate water level management in all zones. Hunting zones were flooded in 6-inch increments to maximize food availability. All hunting zones were at full pool by the third week of October.

Several moderate to strong weather fronts moved through the area in October and November, which increased hunting bags on those days. Two days of hunting were lost to ice during the regular duck and goose seasons.

13. Migration and Waterfowl Numbers Weekly refuge duck counts built steadily from September thru the second week of November and peaked the week of November 5 – November 11. A minor peak occurred the last week of October due to an influx of puddle ducks (Figure 2). Duck numbers steadily declined after the second week of November. Total refuge duck counts increased by five percent over 2016. Weekly refuge goose counts climbed gradually through September and mid-November, counts peaked the second week of November. Another influx of geese occurred the first week of December which stabilized goose numbers thru the end of the month. Total refuge goose counts increased by 8.5% over last year. Duck counts peaked two weeks prior to the peak of the tundra swan migration. Overall, large numbers of tundra swans were using the refuge throughout the night and early morning but took refuge in winter wheat fields surrounding the area during the late morning and afternoon.

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14. Season Dates and Area Regulations

Ducks Oct. 14 – Dec. 10, 2017 & Dec. 30-31, 2017 Goose Sept. 1-30, 2017 & Oct. 14- Dec. 10, 2017 &

Jan. 27 - Feb. 12, 2018 Youth Sept. 9 & 10, 2017

15. Hunting Season Results

A. Pre-Registration On opening weekend (Oct. 14-15) there were 35 pre-registered hunts available for each of the morning and afternoon hunts. The PM hunt on opening day was a youth priority drawing. Preregistered hunters harvested 671 on opening day.

Youth Hunt: 153 youth hunters harvested 25 ducks and 15 geese. Each youth hunter averaged 0.26 waterfowl/ hunter.

B. Harvest and Hunter Use As is the case in most years, hunter success and use was high at the start of the season and steadily declined thereafter (Table 2). Spikes in daily and weekly harvest coincided with weather fronts and the arrival of new birds. Hunter trips,

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total duck harvest and ducks/hunter trip all increased over last year (Figure 3). Duck harvest increased by 20% over 2016. All these indices, except duck harvest, were well below the five-year average.

TABLE 2. HARVEST SUMMARY BY WEEK IN 2017 Date Days Hunter

Trips Hunters/

Day Ducks

Harvested Ducks/

Day Ducks/Hunter

Trip Cripples Crips/Hunter

Trip Oct. 14-20 7 1289 184 1801 257 1.40 278 0.22 Oct. 21-27 7 1146 164 1241 177 1.08 143 0.12 Oct. 28-Nov. 3

7 878 125 1151 164 1.31 187 0.21

Nov. 4-10 7 992 142 1193 170 1.20 188 0.19 Nov. 11-17 7 465 66 491 70 1.06 64 0.14 Nov. 18-24 7 654 93 284 41 0.43 57 0.09 Nov. 25-Dec. 1

7 190 27 95 14 0.50 29 0.15

Dec. 2-8 7 172 25 144 21 0.84 14 0.08 Dec. 9-10 2 30 15 5 3 0.17 1 0.03 Dec. 30-31 2 2 1 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 Totals 60 5818 N/A 6405 N/A .80 961 N/A

Figure 3. Hunter/Harvest Data, 2013-2017 with 5-year Average of Ducks per Hunter

C. Permits and Harvest In terms of total duck harvest, zones 1-3, 5, 11, 21, 25 and 28 accounted for over a third of the total duck harvest on the area (Table 3). Other productive areas included zones 13, 20, 22, 66 and 68.

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Table 3. Harvest by Zone at FPWA, 2017 ZONE # OF

HUNTERS CANADA GOOSE

DUCKS HARVESTED

ZONE # OF HUNTERS

CANADA GOOSE

DUCKS HARVESTED

Zone 1 148 3 259 Zone 30 60 0 34

Zone 2 182 18 269 Zone 31 39 0 53

Zone 3 200 18 305 Zone 32 92 2 83

Zone 4 115 5 29 Zone 39-44 78 12 12

Zone 5 164 38 218 Zone 45 90 8 123

Zone 6 203 25 130 Zone 46 77 3 70

Zone 7 149 11 83 Zone 47 98 3 172

Zone 8 127 9 32 Zone 48 101 1 149

Zone 9 143 5 103 Zone 49 107 0 96

Zone 10 173 6 179 Zone 50 31 0 27

Zone 11 227 26 349 Zone 51 53 0 39

Zone 12 122 9 121 Zone 52 34 0 40

Zone 13 195 23 211 Zone 53 70 2 53

Zone 14 69 1 47 Zone 54 46 0 48

Zone 15 134 11 76 Zone 55 55 0 61

Zone 16 130 9 145 Zone 56 41 0 24

Zone 17 144 15 106 Zone 58 84 1 78

Zone 18 69 2 101 Zone 59 58 0 53

Zone 19 76 6 90 Zone 60 84 4 99

Zone 20 178 15 200 Zone 61 68 12 39

Zone 21 172 44 361 Zone 62 45 0 18

Zone 22 135 27 194 Zone 63 23 4 28

Zone 23 181 1 65 Zone 64 38 0 14

Zone 24 140 1 118 Zone 65 28 2 9

Zone 25 191 6 214 Zone 66 138 4 198

Zone 26 121 4 77 Zone 67 136 1 44

Zone 27 97 0 96 Zone 68 101 5 149

Zone 28 155 4 253 Zone 69 79 4 63

Zone 29 114 1 106 Zone 70-77 89 2 38

D. Species Harvest Sex and age data was collected from mallards and black ducks at the FPWA throughout the season (Figure 4).

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Figure 4. Sex and age data collected from Mallards and Black ducks

Mallards were the bulk of harvest, followed by green-winged teal, pintail, wood duck and red head. In 2017, wood duck harvest decreased by 66%, pintail harvest increase by 54% and red head harvest increased by 49% compared to 2016 (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Species composition harvested in 2017 at the FPSWA

Sex and age data collected from Black Ducks, 2017

Male, Hatch Year Female, Hatch Year

Male, After Hatch Year Female, After Hatch Year

19

17

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Sex and Age Data Collected from Mallards, 2017

Male, Hatch Year Female, Hatch Year

Male, After Hatch Year Female, After Hatch Year

60

42

39

62

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16. Cropland, Marshland, and Water Level Management Sharecroppers used a 98-day corn variety which stood up well to weather and hunting use. The dry spring enabled corn to be planted by early May, which was one week earlier than 2016 planting timeframe. The corn on the area completed its life cycle earlier than 2016, due to early May planting, which allowed harvest to fall within the window specified in sharecropping contracts.

DNR staff planted and maintained 41 acres of corn. Each row of hunting zones that were planted were trial areas use to identify with corn variety held up to hunting pressure and weather. Two varieties of corn were selected to be used in 2018 planting season from these trials.

There were 260 acres of small grain crops (27 acres barley, 193 acres buckwheat and 40 acres millet) planted and all produced excellent yields. These small grains drew large numbers of waterfowl wherever they were planted.

Maintenance pumping on 520 acres of impounded wetlands also took place throughout the summer. Water levels were increased gradually during the hunting seasons. By the third week of October the area was at or above full pool.

17. Volunteers and Partners The Fish Point Wildlife Association is the largest provider of financial and volunteer assistance. DNR staff has worked cooperatively with this organization for 16 years, 2017 was no different. In 2017 association volunteers contributed time, material and dollars to these projects: • Brush and tree clearing in zones 1-3 • Bridge maintenance • Dressing hunting blinds • Tiling 27,000ft x 120ft, east half of zone 1-3 and 9-13 • Duck and goose banding • Sign posting • Installed writing platforms • Assisted with pump maintenance • Remodeling of the check station • Resurfacing floor in the check station

The Fish Point Wildlife Association was awarded a Wildlife Habitat Grant to install new pumps and gates at the Gaede marsh. This will take place in the summers of 2018/2019.

Additional volunteers contributed their efforts towards brush clearing, assisting with duck and goose banding, waterfowl surveys, brood surveys, blind construction, concrete removal and installation.

Pheasants Forever contributed money to purchase corn for 2 acres of winter food plots for wildlife to use.

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The Frankenmuth Jaycees donated $3,000 to purchase a Kubota Rough Terrain Vehicle (side-by-side)

18. Economic Benefits Below are businesses near Fish Point State Wildlife Area directly benefitting from the economic activity of area users: • The Log Cabin Restaurant, Unionville, 10% of total business • The Lamplighter Restaurant, Sebewaing, 20% of total business • Sunoco Gas Station, Unionville, 15% of total business • Sebewaing River Campground, Sebewaing, 13% of total business • Sebewaing Harbor Marina, Sebewaing, 13% of total business • Jahr’s Sporting Goods, Sebewaing, 35% of total business