North Manitou Island Contact Station

A good place to get out of the weather.

NPS credit

Quick Facts

Amenities

4 listed

Benches/Seating, Information, Picnic Table, Toilet - Vault/Composting

The Manitou Island Association (MIA), formed in 1926 by island land owners, managed the island's economic and social life. During the 1920s, the MIA earned income from farming and from the sale of cattle, beef, pork and potatoes, and the rental of pasture land, farm labor and draft animals. They also earned income from dairy goods, a cherry orchard, an apple orchard, a sugar bush, fishing, logging, and cutting ice off of Lake Manitou.

The MIA initially focused its operation on agriculture, basing activities at two farms, one located adjacent to North Manitou Village, and the other at the location of the former Crescent lumber camp. During the 1920s the MIA maintained a large free-range beef cattle herd, and substantially expanded the orchard acreage devoted to cherry
production. The MIA also began transforming the island landscape into a more marketable recreational resource. In 1926 the association released a small herd of white-tailed deer on the island with the intent of eventually establishing a population large enough to sustain hunting both for sport and the for the national venison market. The following year the MIA constructed a sawmill near its North Manitou Village farm and began harvesting small amounts of timber to provide lumber and shingles for the construction and maintenance of island buildings.

Both of these ventures--sport-oriented recreation, and timber harvesting--became increasingly important components of the MIA's business during subsequent decades.

The MIA hoped to transform the island into an exclusive fishing and hunting retreat. While Lake Michigan and the island's two small inland lakes provided plenty of fishing, hunting opportunities were limited because North Manitou had no large game. The MIA introduced non-native raccoon and white-tailed deer to the island in 1926 in order to provide more varied hunting for sportsmen.

The Manitou Island Association's office building reflects the MIA's conception of the farm as a business and the association's hierarchical management structure.

Island deer and early deer hunts

Of all the wildlife located on North Manitou, the white-tailed deer is what you are most likely to see. In 1926, William R. Angell introduced six deer to the island. These few deer became the basis for a rapidly expanding herd which supported a hunting preserve for many years.

The first deer hunt on North Manitou took place in 1937 with 18 deer taken. By counts in the early 1980s, there were about 2,000 deer on the island. Because there were so many deer, they would constantly browse the vegetation within their reach. Over the years, the deer have eaten off all the vegetation which was palatable to them and left that which was not. They don't really care for American beech, so you can find it growing in great abundance on the ground. The vegetation on South Manitou Island is different than that on North Manitou. South Manitou has a thick lush understory of shrubs, ferns, and vines. But the deer browse line on North Manitou is five to six feet up, giving the island a manicured look.

Edgar McKee, island manger from 1937 to 1942, often served as a hunting guide (and was the guide when the first deer was shot in the fall of 1937), describes the early deer hunts.

"Hunting was divided into two, three-day sessions each week, starting around Nov 1. It would cost each hunter $150, which covered the boat trip to and from the Island, hotel and meals, a trained guide to hunt with, and a guaranteed deer. Sounds cheap, but back then that was a lot of money.

The island was divided into ten sections. Each guide explored his section in advance, and knew where to find the deer. Only ten hunters were allowed to hunt at one time, and no hunter was allowed out without a guide. This was to assure safety. Also, not hunter was allowed out with a gun if there was any evidence of alcohol impairment."

Most of the island's hunting customers were officials of large companies, invited guests of MIA members. "None of the hardships of hunting and taking care of your deer existed then. The hunter was transported to his hunting spot and picked up at the appointed time. The hunter's job was to shoot the deer his guide pointed out to him. The guide took care of preparing the deer and dragging it to the appointed spot to be picked up."

"Not every hunter took home a deer. During my stay on the Island, most of the hunters killed their deer, but some didn't. It was my job to keep hanging a few choice bucks and does to supply that need. That was no problem. I would take my rifle in the company station wagon with a couple of guides, and drive through the woods. Most of the deer I shot, I shot from the window of the car. It was not unusual to take in four or five deer in on afternoon."
North Manitou Island functioned as an exclusive hunting preserve, much in the tradition of the private hunting clubs that became popular with wealthy men during the late nineteenth century.

Deer hunt still occurs in November managed under the NPS. But, unlike the hunts of Mr. McKee's time, hunters are on their own and have to find and move their deer themselves.