Conservation Corner – Oct. 2026

I’ve recently been asked by multiple people and had conversations with conservation-minded friends regarding who can fill the void created by the dissolution of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. I am glad to be able to report that it’s not all dark and gloomy out there. There are many bright spots in the world of conservation organizations who genuinely add value. For example, Ducks Unlimited (ducks.org). They work at a national (even international) level as well as being highly effective at a local level. Habitat protection and restoration
are among the important things they do. We have OCSC club members who are very involved with DU.

A new arrival in 2026 is the Michigan Anglers Consortium. They are well-organized and have engaged with the same lobbyist used by MUCC to advocate for fisheries and issues affecting recreational angling in Michigan and on the Great Lakes. These are just two examples among many.

In my Conservation Corner article from June, 2026, I listed all the clubs and organizations affiliated with MUCC at the time of it’s dissolution. There were 31 statewide clubs and another 139 conservation clubs that are a lot like OCSC. Among them all are people with strong conservation values that can help ensure we provide a healthy world for the generations that will follow us.

But the battles remain regarding habitat loss, our wildlife, our fisheries, invasive species, and (it has to be said) climate change. Organizing conservation’s biggest champions (sportsmen and women) is necessary and we must find ways to do so effectively. What will happen on the statewide landscape to address issues previously championed by MUCC is yet to be seen, but I am optimistic.

So what can we do as a club to live out the Conservation Pledge we recite at our General Membership meetings? I don’t intend to answer that question without input from you, my fellow club members.

Mike Graham, our President, recently posed this question to me: “In light of the dissolution of MUCC, are there conservation organizations with whom OCSC should affiliate with?”. The answer is a definite yes, but of
course the next question is who? In order to answer that question, I propose we conduct a meeting amongst OCSC members who are interested, to brainstorm questions like:

• What is OCSC looking for in affiliations with other conservation organizations?
• How can we help those organizations?
• What can OCSC gain from affiliations?
• What issues or concerns can we attempt to address with affiliations?

After considering those and other questions, perhaps an outcome is to reach out to some specific organizations and further explore mutually beneficial relationships. We should try to envision what these affiliations look like beyond their logo on our website. But first, I need to hear from you. Be on the lookout for
an invitation to a meeting at the club. If you have feedback you would like to provide directly, please contact me via email or call my cell phone.