Upper Peninsula Deer Habitat Improvement Grants

The Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative (DHIPI) is a competitive grant program administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. The initiative is designed to foster collaborative relationships between the DNR, sportsperson's organizations, and other partners to produce tangible deer habitat improvements across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Supported by the Deer Range Improvement Program (DRIP) fund, the initiative requires all projects to address three core goals: producing on-the-ground summer and/or winter deer habitat improvements, establishing and promoting cooperative partnerships, and educating the public through coordinated outreach highlighting scientific habitat principles.

Eligible applicants include conservation organizations, sportsperson groups, non-governmental organizations, or local conservation districts that possess a formal mission promoting wildlife conservation and/or hunting as recognized by the DNR. Organizations may be based in the Upper Peninsula or be local chapters of state, regional, or national bodies. Private individuals, hunting clubs, and governmental units cannot apply directly, but may participate as cooperators on approved applications.

Eligible projects must be located in the Upper Peninsula on privately owned lands, industrial forests, Commercial Forest Act-enrolled lands, or federal lands, and applicants must provide written permission from the landowner or land administrator. Projects providing legal public access (at minimum foot traffic) receive higher scoring priority. State-owned lands are ineligible, and municipal or school forest lands are considered low priority. Applicants seeking maximum grant funding can request consideration for a two-year implementation window, and multiple projects can be bundled under a single application up to the maximum award cap.

Interested organizations are encouraged to work with their local DNR wildlife biologist to prepare proposals. Applications must be completed using the official application form and submitted by mail, parcel delivery, or fax to the DNR Norway Field Office addressed to Bill Scullon, Field Operations Manager. Applications sent via email are not accepted. Complete applications must be postmarked or received by March 6, 2026.