Laughing Whitefish Lake Preserve

Visitor info

The Nature Conservancy allows hunting for whitetail deer on this preserve to reduce an unnaturally high deer population in the area and reduce threats too many deer pose to our conservation targets. All hunters are required to receive a permit from TNC as well as a Michigan deer hunting license. Additionally, hunters must report any deer taken from the preserve.

As you walk along the shaded trails of the preserve, you will be following in the footsteps of renowned wildlife photographer George Shiras III who invented the method for nighttime photography on this land. Laughing Whitefish Lake became famous when George’s pictures won prizes at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris and the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, and in 1906 National Geographic Magazine devoted an issue to his photos.

Thanks to committed volunteers who regularly monitor the preserve, remove invasive species and contribute to special projects, Laughing Whitefish Lake Preserve remains a thriving natural area. The preserve is in good ecological condition. However, human activities such as unauthorized motorized vehicle use are a threat to the landscape.

Permitted Activities

• Hiking, skiing and snowshoeing
• Bird watching, nature study and photography
• Research projects and educational studies with approved permit
• Hunting with a TNC-issued permit for whitetail deer
• Fishing, following Michigan guidelines
• Boating and canoeing

Prohibited Activities

• No motorized and non-motorized vehicles, including bicycles
• No building of new trails
• No pets
• No hunting or trapping without a TNC-issued permit
• No removal of plants or animals (alive or dead)
• No removal of rocks, water, or other non-organic materials
• No camping, bonfires, fireworks, or other fires
• No firewood collecting
• No littering