35 Munuscong Wildlife Management Area 
wildlife viewing
| directions and facility information
Photo: © Phil Seng
There are three primary viewing sites on
this large, state-owned wildlife area. A flat, grassland area is adjacent
to the Munuscong
River. This area
was once farmed and has many shallow, man-made ponds scattered throughout
the open grassland. The main viewing site is the coastal marsh area on Munuscong
Lake. The lake is
actually part of the St. Marys River, which connects Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Both of these sites are undeveloped,
but some amenities are available at a nearby state forest campground
along the Munuscong River
north of the coastal marsh viewing area. The third viewing area is along
the dike at the east end of the campground. You can walk on the dike but
motorized vehicles are not allowed.
The sharptail grouse is named for its
pointed, wedge-shaped tail.
Like most species of grouse, sharptails
have an elaborate courtship ritual in the
spring that features the male dancing
and inflating his purple neck sacks to
attract a mate.
Photos: David Kenyon, MI DNR
 Wildlife
Viewing
A walk through the open grassland habitat
and viewing site provides a good opportunity to see meadowlarks,
bobolinks, field sparrows, sharptail grouse and
many species of waterfowl and shorebirds. Northern harriers and other
hawks are often seen hunting this open field habitat and may be seen
perched in nearby trees. Rough-legged hawks and snowy owls, raptors that
breed in the far north, use this habitat for their wintering grounds and
hunt the small rodents common in the grassland
habitat. Great gray owls and hawk owls, though rare winter visitors, have also been sighted in this and other
areas of the eastern Upper Peninsula.
There are no designated trails through this grassland/wetland complex,
but visitors are free to hike or ski wherever they choose. This site is
soggy during rainy periods, so come prepared with trusty boots. The
coastal marsh-viewing site attracts numerous waterfowl and shorebirds and
wading birds. Tundra swans and other migratory waterfowl, including
diving ducks such as canvasbacks and redheads, concentrate in this area
spring and fall. Bald eagles, ospreys, muskrats, and many wetland-related
songbirds are also attractions. The parking area is a good place to view
this wildlife, and a pair of binoculars, or better yet a spotting scope,
will improve your wildlife viewing experience. Another viewing site is
found east of the state forest campground. Dikes once used to create a
separate wetland management pool are found at the end of the road east of
the campground. Park at the gate and walk east along the dike, which
provides unique foot access into the emergent wetland habitat on the edge
of the lake, out beyond the natural shoreline.
This area is open to public
hunting. See the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
hunting guide for season dates.
Photo: © Phil Seng
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