Deer Hunting at the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy's Bengel Wildlife Center

The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy allows controlled hunting at its 259-acre Bengel Wildlife Center (BWC), employing principles of low hunter density and an emphasis on harvesting antlerless deer.  About one hunter per 40 acres over the course of Michigan’s three month deer season results in 6 to 13 deer being taken each year.  While benefits to vegetation haven’t been as dramatic as witnessed at Chippewa Nature Center, Huron-Clinton Metroparks or certain other private lands, hunting at the BWC is an integral part of land management there.

Although the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy recognizes that sport hunting is a desirable recreational activity at the BWC, the organization has found it necessary to control deer hunting to ensure high quality hunting experiences, encourage a balanced harvest of bucks and does, and maintain the natural appearance of the property.  The following rules applied to the entire property in 2007.

1. Deer hunting was by written permission of the Executive Director.  All deer hunters carried a certification card, which could contain additional person-specific rules and requirements.

2. Deer hunters were generally not allowed to drive past the main gate without same-day permission of an MWC staff member.

3. All deer hunters were encouraged to apply for antlerless deer tags and to take at least one antlerless deer each year.  DURING THE FIRST BOW SEASON (OCTOBER 1 TO NOVEMBER 14) HUNTERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO KILL A BUCK UNTIL THEY HAD ALREADY TAGGED AN ANTLERLESS DEER ON THE PROPERTY.

4. No permanent deer blinds of any type were allowed.  Portable tree platforms could be used but had be taken down after the season.  Only one platform per hunter was allowed, except when a youth hunter accompanied the permit holder.  Portable ground blinds were not permitted.  Any dead material used as a blind had to be put back in its original position at the end of each hunting day.  It was not permissible to cut shooting lanes.  Treestands were required to have the name of the hunter, visible from the ground.

5. During deer hunting season, each hunter was assigned to one of seven zones.  Hunters were asked to access their zone by a direct route, without unnecessarily intruding into another zone.  Hunters were allowed to enter another zone while tracking a wounded deer.

6. Hunters were asked to finish the morning hunt and be at their cars by 9:30 a.m. and could hunt the afternoon starting 3:00 p.m. daily.  Unless there was a conflicting activity at the BWC hunters were allowed hunt all day during the gun deer season (Nov 15 – 30).

7. Baiting and/or use of deer decoys were not allowed.

8. Deer drives were allowed only between Nov 24 – 30, and during the last three days of the muzzleloader season (Dec 21-23). Drives could be organized, and cross zone boundaries.  All drivers were required to be “quiet drivers;” yelling, striking trees, or using noise makers were not allowed.

9. All deer hunters were required to attend a pre-hunt meeting at the Bengel Wildlife Center to ensure that they understand all of the local and state laws and special rules that must be followed.

10. All deer taken were required to be reported to the Executive Director.

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