DNR closes state owned shooting ranges, restricts access at offices.

DNR closes state owned shooting ranges, restricts access at offices.

In accordance with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has closed DNR shooting ranges and will restrict general public walk-in traffic at facilities statewide.

The restrictions will take effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 19.

Fishing and hunting licenses, camping reservations and other items will remain available for purchase online. Hunting and fishing guides and digests are also available online. Burn permits are available free at Michigan.gov/BurnPermit.

The affected DNR offices will be open by appointment only to customers who need services such as obtaining hunting, fishing and charter licenses. Regular deliveries will continue.

These facilities include DNR fisheries research stations and hatcheries, forestry and wildlife field offices and visitor centers. Earlier today, the same provisions were put in place for DNR customer service centers and certain field offices.

The Archives of Michigan is closed to walk-in traffic, but will continue to provide service via phone and email. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Visitor Center and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary offices are closed to the public, along with other state museums.

State-managed lands, trails and parks remain open. However, numerous provisions affecting visitor services are being put in place for state parks and recreation areas.

These measures include:

• The opening of the Silver Lake State Park ORV Area is delayed until May 1.
• State park headquarters buildings and contact stations are closed to the public.
• A requirement that a Recreation Passport is needed for state park and recreation area entry has been suspended.
• Mini-cabins, cabins, yurts, shelters and lodges are closed until May 15.
• Campgrounds at state parks remain open. Campers should plan to have a reservation before reaching the park. There may be limited access for self-check-in via personal phones if customers arrive without a reservation. All modern campgrounds become semi-modern with toilet-shower buildings closed. Vault toilets remain open. Current reservation holders who wish to modify their reservation to a later date beyond May 15, without incurring any fees, may contact the reservation call center at 1-800-447-2757 for assistance.
• State Forest Campgrounds remain open with self-registration continued and vault toilets open.
• At day-use areas and boating access sites, vault toilets are open, no organized events are being held.

Check the latest updates for DNR facilities at Michigan.gov/DNRClosures.  

The state is taking proactive steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in reducing the coronavirus risk to Michigan residents.

For current and up-to-date information regarding the Coronavirus visit http://www.Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or http://www.CDC.gov/Coronavirus.