Upper Peninsula Deer Habitat Improvement Grants

The Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative (DHIPI) is a grant program designed to foster productive relationships between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, sportsperson's organizations, interested citizens, and other partners. The primary goals are to produce tangible on-the-ground deer habitat (summer and/or winter range) improvements in the Upper Peninsula, establish and promote partnerships, and showcase these cooperative projects through coordinated public outreach.

Eligible applicants include conservation organizations, sportsperson groups, non-governmental organizations, or local conservation districts with a formal mission promoting wildlife conservation and/or hunting. Private individuals, private hunting clubs, and government entities (city, county, state, federal) are ineligible to apply directly but may act as third-party cooperators.

Partnership projects may be proposed for privately owned lands, industrial forests, Commercial Forest Act-enrolled lands, or federal lands (with written permission from the landowner or administrator). State-owned lands are ineligible. Projects allowing legal public access (foot traffic at a minimum) will be scored more favorably. Projects on lands owned by municipalities, school forests, or other entities will be considered lower priority.

Applications must be submitted via fax, US Mail, or parcel service; email submissions are not accepted. Completed applications must be postmarked or received by close of business on Friday, March 6, 2026.