With Ice fishing season almost to a close, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to remind all anglers are required to remove shanties as soon as the ice is unsafe to hold them, regardless of the scheduled date of removal. Shanties must be removed in the southern lower peninsula must be removed by midnight march 1st, Northern Lower peninsula area by Midnight March 15, and in the upper peninsula must be removed by midnight March 31st. After the mandatory removal dates, shanties may be placed on the ice on a daily basis with caution of the ice conditions, but must be removed daily. Owners who allow the structures to fall through the ice are subject to penalties up to 30 days in jail, and a fine of up to $500. Courts can and may require the owner of the structure to reimburse the government for an amount up to three times the cost of removal.
