This weekend is Free Fishing and Free ORV Weekend
There are plenty of options for outdoor enthusiasts this weekend–most of which are free of charge.
It is part of The Department of Natural Resources’ Free Fishing and Free ORV weekend happening throughout the state. Michigan residents, and even non-residents, can fish and use ORV trails without permits all weekend.
Free Fishing Weekend has been around since the 1980’s, but this is the first year the DNR added the ORV aspect.
“The free recreations weekends we’re offering–the Free Fishing and Free ORV–it’s important for us because it does cost people money to buy licenses to fish and ride their ORV’s and they might be on the fence and say ‘I don’t know if I want to do that this year’, so it’s an opportunity to get them out there, trying the things they do like and reminding them ‘okay this is why I want to buy my license and this is why I want to keep supporting these programs in Michigan’,” DNR Deputy Public Information Officer Debbie Munson Badini said.
Although license fees are waived, residents still have to pay $11 for a Recreational Passport to get into state parks or access sites. But, those fees will be waived Sunday, June 8.
There are a number of free fishing and ORV events this weekend across the Upper Peninsula, and those are listed by county on the DNR’s website.