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The Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that mandatory ice shanty removal dates are approaching and, regardless of date, shanties must be removed as soon as the ice is unable to safely hold them.
For counties in the southern Lower Peninsula, shanties must be removed from the ice by midnight on Saturday, March 1.
The deadline for removal from waters in the northern Lower Peninsula, including Mason County, is midnight on Saturday, March 15. Counties included in this area are: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.
On Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters, ice shanties must be removed by midnight on Saturday, March 15. For all counties in the Upper Peninsula, shanties must be removed by midnight on Monday, March 31.
Following the mandatory removal dates, ice shanties may still be used but must be removed daily from the ice.
Shanty owners whose structures fall through the ice are subject to penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines of $100 to $500, or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse that agency for an amount of up to three times the cost of the removal.
For more information on Michigan’s ice fishing regulations and shanty removal dates, check out the 2013 Michigan Fishing Guide.
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