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A famous quote arose from the 1989 movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, he will come.” The story carried with it several different meanings and accomplished the restoration of one man’s ambition and rekindled the relationship of a son and his father.

Although fictional, the statement has transcended to many various applications along the way including presentations before investors and other ideas in need of final motivation.

One such adaptation could be “If you plant them, they will learn.”

It is for the concept of how the majority of wildlife habitat here in the Upper Peninsula is in private (non-timber producer) ownership. It has also been an overlooked entity for the last twenty years as we seemed to have fallen into a state of expecting someone else to do the maintenance, especially government.

That idea came out of a program started in 1971 through the leadership of then Michigan Department of Conservation Wildlife Division Chief Merrill (Pete) Petoskey and the technical knowledge of Staff Biologist John Byelich, as they developed a Deer Range Improvement Program (DRIP) that became law under Act 106, P.A. 1971. DRIP provided that $1.50 be earmarked from each deer hunting license “for the purpose of improving and maintaining habitat for deer, for the acquisition of land required for an effective program of deer habitat management, and for payment of ad valorem taxes on lands acquired under this section.

Coupled to that was the continuation of intense logging taking place on privately owned corporate timber producing forest land, which in turn created new habitat and what some believe a boon population of deer. It was further accelerated with increased agriculture in deer territory.

It may be considered that most of the hunting public followed the herd and availability of access to put most of their hunting focus here.

Winter feeding of wildlife also grew in scope perhaps as an off-shoot of baiting. Once established, winter feeding became a growing routine statewide, evolving into an annual multi-million dollar part of Michigan agriculture.

The increased prevalence of disease in wildlife in northern Lower Michigan during the mid 1990’s, spurred action by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to ban baiting and feeding in the region. The banning of artificial feeding of wildlife has on the table of the MDNR going back to 1956 when it was the second order of business as the Commission first convened.

In 2002, former NRC Commissioner Bob Garner held a hunter’s summit in the UP and there began the process of reacquainting the non-timber producing forest land owners of the need to do their part in managing habitat towards natural sustainability, the first of “If you plant it they will learn.”

Since reintroduction of the wild turkey to the UP, organizations have banded together with essential feeding programs sanctioned by the MDNR. It was believed that without their being fed, the wild birds would not survive much less expand. Time has come to prove that theory wrong and money formerly used for that purpose is now being invested for long term applications that will benefit all wildlife.

Two years ago, the budget for the Bay deNoc Gobblers Chapter of the NWTF/Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County winter turkey feeding totaled approximately $10,000. Last year it was $632. The difference will now be used in the recreation of habitat, this year with the issuance of fruit bearing trees to those who used to participate in the feeding program.

This spring, 1-2 inch diameter, 5-6 foot tall, northern fruit bearing trees were planted which will provide fall and winter food source and natural sustainability for a variety of wildlife species, including turkeys. Consultation with the MDNR, US Forest Service (USFS) and NWTF biologists determined which was the best tree and shrub species to plant, based upon many factors such as our northern climate conditions, planting zones, fruit production and timing, invasive and non-invasive species.

Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County has worked similarly in the past, giving out fruit trees to their membership on a first come, first served basis. UP Whitetails Association of Delta County did the same this year. All three organizations utilized the services of the Delta Conservation District for the inventory and discounted cost of trees through their annual public tree sale.

The difference between all is that the BDNG/NWTF project incorporated the services of Upper Michigan Land Management Services, Inc., to detail the criteria for planting and maintenance thereafter. Their process included site soil preparation and treatment, placement and protection from browse damage from base to top. Each participating land owner received an instruction booklet, detailing tree maintenance needs thereafter.

From May 1-2, 2009, Dean Francis, Todd Green and Matt Watkeys, planted, pruned, staked and fenced sixty-nine crabapple trees of various varieties, on 23 non-industrial private land holdings throughout Delta County that will produce one-quarter to one-half inch red berries. The fruit will be utilized as a winter food source by wild turkeys, ruffed grouse and non-game bird species.

Additionally, the newly established Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative (DHIPI) that rolled out this spring, will provide up to $10,000 annually towards similar projects sanctioned by area wildlife organizations for private land wildlife habitat. Three of six proposals submitted so far were accepted by the DHIPI Committee and will see work accomplished in Marquette County through UP Whitetails, in Dickinson County through the Merriman Sportsmen’s Club, and the East Dickinson County Sportsmen’s Club, some of which include wildlife openings.

The concept is catching on and proof that it takes an initiative to get things started, and proof that “if you plant it, they will learn” is catching on.

Ken Buchholtz from the BDNG/NWTF chaired the latest project and believes the examples given will aid in expanding the understanding of need for all who hold property to become involved. He recently reminded me of another fitting cliché, “that long term success, albeit a distance away, like any ‘journey of a million miles, begins with one step.”