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Click here for Map and Legal Descriptions of Commercial Forest Lands Listed in this program. NOTE: Check back often for updates and additional maps availability.
New Withdrawal Penalty - Statue Amended, effective 10/08/2008
The Commercial Forest program provides a property tax reduction to private landowners as an incentive to retain and manage forestland for long-term timber production. Landowners participating in this program pay a reduced property tax. Additionally, the State of Michigan pays $1.20 per acre annually to each county where land is listed in the program.
There are approxiately 2.2 million acres listed in this program under the ownership of nearly 1700 private landowners. Landowners include private individuals, clubs, forest industry, and other businesses.
Landowners in this program agree to develop, maintain and manage the land as commercial forest through planting, natural reproduction, or other silvicultural practices. Applications to list land in the program must be postmarked no later than April 1 to be considered for listing in the next tax year.
Lands listed in this program are open to the public for hunting, trapping and fishing. The CF lands are not public lands. These lands are private lands under the control of private owners, who through CF allow the public the privilege of hunting, trapping and fishing only. The CF lands are not posted or signed as Commercial Forests and may be fenced and/or gated. While permission to hunt, trap or fish on CF lands is not required, we recommend you notify the landowner of your intention to do so. It is a courtesy they will appreciate, and it will contribute to your own safety.
Although the general public has a right to hunt, trap and fish on these lands, the property is privately owned and subject to normal private property rights. Unless you have permission of the property owner, the right to hunt, trap or fish on the land does not extend to associated activities such as the following:
- Littering
- Camping
- The cutting of shooting lanes, or the cutting or destruction of brush, trees or other plants for any purpose.
- The use of nails, bolts, wire, tree steps or other materials or activities which harm, lessen or destroy the value of trees.
- The construction of blinds or the construction or placement of other structures, except for the gathering of dead materials found on the ground.
- Target-shooting or sighting-in firearms.
- The use of ORV's or other vehicles on private property when prohibited by fencing or posting. If vehicles are allowed, care should be taken to avoid blocking access to roads or parking areas.
A person engaging in an activity not allowed by a property owner may be criminally or civilly liable, or both.
The parcel and map lists give you a basic legal description and location of Michigan CF lands by county and political township, and should be used with a county plat map. Throughout the year, some lands will be withdrawn from CF enrollment. Be aware of this when using these land listings and maps, and if in doubt, check with us to make sure the land is still listed.
For additional information regarding this program contact:
Shirley Businski
Commercial Forest Program Leader
DNR-Forest, Mineral & Fire Management
P.O. Box 30452
Lansing, MI 48909-7952
phone: 517-373-1277
email: businskis@michigan.gov
OR
Scott Heather
Resource Protection & Cooperative Programs Section Manager
DNR-Forest, Mineral & Fire Management
P.O. Box 30452
Lansing, MI 48909-7952
phone: 517-373-1219
email: heathers@michigan.gov
Forms and Documents
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