Upon application of any club or organization having 10 or more members who are citizens of this state, or upon the application of 10 or more citizens of this state, and the payment of a registration fee of $5.00, the department, pursuant to part 13, may issue a permit authorizing the establishment and maintenance by the club, organization, or citizens on land owned by them, or over which they have legal control, of a special dog training area where dogs may be trained at any time during the year. A dog training area shall not be less than 40 acres or more than 240 acres, and permits shall not be issued for more than 6 special dog training areas in any 1 county. In counties having a population of 100,000 or more, the department may issue additional permits as the department considers to be in the public interest.

     Permit holders may at any time during the year train their own dogs or the dogs of other persons on land described in section 42101 or permit others to do so under conditions that are mutually agreed upon and under rules as may be considered expedient by the department. Hunting or the carrying or possession of firearms other than a pistol or revolver with blank cartridges at any time of year on lands described in section 42101 is unlawful.

    The boundary lines of each such special dog training area described in section 42101 shall be kept plainly and conspicuously posted by the permit holder with legible notices at least 10 inches by 12 inches in size placed not more than 100 yards apart which shall bear the following warning:

Special Dog Training Area

Hunting is Unlawful

This Land is Set Aside under Special Permit

For the Training of Dogs

Entering Hereon for the Purpose of Hunting or

Permitting Dogs to Enter without Proper Authorization

Is Punishable by Fine and/or Imprisonment

..............................................

(Name and address of permit holder to be printed here)

    

     The department may establish areas that include the Gladwin, Brighton, Highland, Waterloo, Ionia, Escanaba state forest, and White Cloud areas for field dog trials and dog training on state owned lands or lands under the department's jurisdiction or control and may promulgate rules governing the operation and control of the areas as it considers desirable or expedient. The department may close the areas for any period to the hunting, trapping, or both, of any or all species of wild birds and wild animals or to dog training. The department may establish a fee for the use of the areas established by this section or may require a performance bond to insure cleanup measures and other factors, or may establish and require both a fee and a bond. Fees collected for the use of the areas, subject to annual appropriations by the legislature, shall be used in the care and maintenance of the areas.

     A person shall not willfully, negligently, or maliciously cut, remove, cover up, deface, or otherwise mutilate, injure, or destroy any special dog training area boundary fence or wire or poster placed in accordance with this part.

     A person who violates this part or any rule promulgated under section 42102 or 42104, upon conviction, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or a fine of not more than $100.00 and costs of prosecution, or both.