Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative Grant Program

The Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative Grant Program (DHIPI) is a state-funded initiative administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), specifically within the Wildlife Division of the Lake Superior Unit, Northern Michigan Region. It was established in 2009 with a dedicated goal of fostering deer habitat improvements on privately owned lands across Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP). The program is supported through an annual $100,000 DRIP (Deer Range Improvement Program) allocation and remains exclusively focused on the Upper Peninsula region. The purpose of the DHIPI is to stimulate and support collaborative conservation activities that result in tangible improvements to deer habitat, particularly within summer and winter ranges. The program promotes a community-based approach, encouraging partnerships between the DNR and a wide array of local entities such as conservation groups, non-governmental organizations, land conservancies, and school forests. DHIPI is distinct in its focus on community group applicants rather than individual landowners. Qualifying applicants include sportsperson and conservation groups, conservation districts, industrial forest landowners with over 10,000 acres, and enrollees of the Commercial Forest Act or Qualified Forest Program with at least 400 acres and a certified forest management plan. Eligible proposals must concentrate on direct habitat improvements. Examples include planting long-lived conifers in designated deer wintering complexes (DWC’s), planting hard and soft mast trees, and developing wildlife openings. Projects are evaluated on their feasibility, habitat impact, proximity to public lands, level of partner engagement and matching contribution, and the inclusion of a public communications strategy. This strategic outreach is intended to both highlight the partnership between applicants and the DNR and educate the public on the conservation benefits of these habitat enhancements. DHIPI operates on the State of Michigan’s fiscal calendar and awards grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 per project. All applicants must provide a minimum 25% cost share match. The application process is designed to be simple and accessible, with a preference for "napkin-simple" proposals that can be clearly and quickly understood by reviewers. The five main evaluation criteria are: demonstrated deer habitat improvements, scientific and logistical feasibility, public accessibility, applicant participation and cost share, and communications strategy. Since its inception, the program has funded 162 projects throughout every county in the Upper Peninsula, leading to improvements across thousands of acres and benefiting hundreds of landowners. DHIPI has distributed over $1.29 million in state funds and received over $952,000 in partner contributions. The program’s partnerships have included 57 projects with conservation districts, 74 with sportsperson groups, 19 with industrial landowners, and 12 with school forests and other entities. A notable example includes the 2025 Burt Township School Project, which received a $10,673 grant for tree planting in partnership with the Alger Conservation District and engaged the entire high school student body. The program contact is Bill Scullon, Field Operations Manager, Lake Superior Unit, Northern Michigan Region, Wildlife Division, who can be reached via email at scullonh@michgan.gov or by phone at 906-250-6781. The application cycle follows an annual schedule aligned with the state fiscal year. As the most recent slide deck was dated October 8, 2025, and the program is described as annually funded, the next expected cycle would likely open in October 2026. Interested applicants should consult the DNR for the exact opening date and monitor updates for the next round of applications.

Keep proposals simple and focused on tangible habitat outcomes and partnerships