Summer is the perfect time to leave the city behind and get back to nature.
Just 65 miles west of Detroit, you’ll find the Sharonville State Game Area, which includes 6,000 acres of hiking, kayaking, canoeing, berry picking, mushroom hunting, bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities.
It’s the perfect day trip, visitors say.
“It’s a great place to get away from your busy life for a bit,” said Dennis Tison, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife technician. “Sharonville State Game Area has beautiful, secluded lakes for those who feel like taking a hike, and a lot of great walking trails.”
Recent habitat restoration work at Sharonville makes it even easier to glimpse wildlife such as songbirds, butterflies, wild turkey, deer, ring-necked pheasant, woodcock, ruffed grouse and more, said Matt Pedigo, chair of the Michigan Wildlife Council.
The Michigan Wildlife Council was created three years ago to promote the importance of wildlife management to the state’s natural resources and outdoor traditions.
“This is a perfect example of managing our natural resources to create spectacular spaces for both wildlife and people,” Pedigo said.
Along with federal, state and regional agencies, much of the day-to-day conservation efforts come from grassroots volunteers allied with hunting and fishing organizations, nonprofit organizations and philanthropies.
The Sharonville staff has been working with volunteers from the Washtenaw County and Jackson County Pheasants Forever chapters and other groups to improve habitat on the state game area.
With chapter funds used as a match toward a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Habitat Grant, several projects have been completed, including removing invading trees and shrubs from 60 acres of grassland and converting a 62-acre field to a diverse prairie. Work also is in progress to plant 60 acres of grassland and convert even more land to diverse prairie.
These improvements open up many areas for better wildlife viewing, too.
“Taking a walk on our trails is just amazing. Now you can look out in so many locations and see the grass waving in the wind and, if you’re lucky, see some wildlife, too,” Tison said.
Trails connect everyone with nature
The trails at Sharonville State Game Area are also a perfect getaway for anyone with limited mobility.
The DNR, in cooperation with Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors (MiOFO), conservation clubs, veterans groups and organizations that advocate for those with disabilities have created rustic trails for use with field-grade mobility devices; an accessible canoe launch on River Raisin; and several habitat projects to provide food and cover for wildlife and enhanced outdoor experiences for visitors.
MiOFO’s mission is to provide improved outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded veterans and individuals with health challenges and to coordinate a support network that facilitates their recovery by connecting with nature.
MiOFO has worked with the DNR in its ongoing quest to improve some of Michigan’s public land so it’s more accessible for wildlife-related recreation.
“We’re always looking for where we have trails and how we can help people with disabilities take advantage of our game area,” said Kristin Bissell, a DNR wildlife biologist in southern Michigan. “The last thing I want to be is a barrier to our natural resources.”
Making it all possible
As with all other Michigan state game areas, you do not have to pay to enjoy Sharonville.
Fees from hunting and fishing licenses make it all possible.
In Michigan, the money that pays for the majority of fish and wildlife management and conservation comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.
These funds have also contributed to the restoration of some non-game species, such as bald eagles, and are used to preserve wild lands that not only benefit wildlife, but can be used and enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts.
Thanks to ongoing wildlife management in Sharonville and across the state, future generations of Michiganders will have a chance to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
“Sharonville is still a hidden treasure,” Tison said. “But it’s just a great spot to get back in touch with nature.”
— For a listing of all DNR wildlife and game areas, please visit Michigan.gov/DNR
