According to Forest Service personnel, most hunters are responsible and follow the rules, however there is growing concern about the incidence of illegal abandoned (or so-called ‘permanent’) blinds on National Forest System lands. Illegal blinds pose several risks including safety hazards, environmental damage, and hunter conflicts.
“Every year, illegal or abandoned hunting blinds or tree stands are discovered on the Hiawatha National Forest,” said acting Forest Supervisor Shannon Rische. She added that unfortunately, Forest Service officers find evidence of wildlife consuming the plastics, chemicals, and other materials left behind in these abandoned blinds.
Leaving blinds beyond the authorized time limit constitutes abandonment of property and is a form of littering in and of itself, but some blinds are found with additional trash nearby. Many abandoned blinds have become unsafe structures which present a hazard to forest visitors.
“In addition to environmental hazards, abandoning property such as blind or tree stands can also have an economic impact, such as cost of cleanup, habitat rehabilitation, and impact to timber harvesting operations,” noted Rische.
“We know that most hunters care deeply about the resource and want to ensure it is left in good condition for future generations,” said Law Enforcement Officer Shaun Hughes. “While it might be tempting to leave your blind in place for the next season, planning ahead to remove your blind helps to protect humans, wildlife, and the environment. It’s just the right thing to do.”
Suggestions for making it easier to remove your blind include:
Invest in a portable, pop-up blind
Don’t cut vegetation, but find natural cover, perhaps adding a tarp to keep you dry.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resource has established regulations guiding removal of hunting gear:
Deer hunters may place constructed ground blinds on all Zone 1 and Zone 2 public lands from Sept. 1 to the end of the annual deer season. In addition to being subject to criminal penalties, any constructed blind found on public land prior to Sept. 1 or after the end of the annual deer season will be considered abandoned.
Scaffolds, raised platforms, ladders, steps and any other device to assist in climbing a tree cannot be placed on public lands any earlier than Sept. 1, and must be removed by March 1.
Hunters are encouraged to adhere to Leave No Trace principles and remove all blinds, treestands, and other items from the forest after hunting season is over. The Forest Service encourages hunters and the public in general to contact the local National Forest office anytime they notice illegal blinds on federal Forest lands.
Forest Service law enforcement and investigation personnel and other staff will remove abandoned hunting blinds in accordance with the State and federal regulations. For accurate information about hunting regulations in Michigan, hunters should review the current year’s MDNR “Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest,” paying particular attention to rules about, Blinds on Public Lands, Raised Platforms and Tree Stands, Baiting, and Hunting on National Forest System lands.
These regulations include:
Abandoned property, including blinds left in place beyond the State’s removal date, can be removed by the agency as soon as seventy-two hours after they are discovered. In addition to impoundment and removal from the forest, these blinds may also be subject to destruction.
Abandoning property on forest lands is a violation of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as is dumping of property on federal lands. Both are Class B Misdemeanors, with fines of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a legal entity other than an individual, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months.
Offenders may also be charged for violations of Michigan State Law.on NatAccording to Forest Service personnel, most hunters are responsible and follow the rules, however there is growing concern about the incidence of illegal abandoned (or so-called ‘permanent’) blinds on National Forest System lands. Illegal blinds pose several risks including safety hazards, environmental damage, and hunter conflicts.
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