Emily Min Hunt Preserve

The Thunder Bay Audubon Society donated the 428-acre Emily Min Hunt Preserve to Huron Pines in March of 2019. The preserve was originally donated to the Thunder Bay Audubon Society in 1989 by Paul S. Hunt in memory of his late wife Emily Min Hunt. The Hunts moved to Long lake from Detroit in 1936 and, for over 28 years, Mr. Hunt was a toolmaker at Besser. 

Located between Rogers City and Alpena, the preserve offers the perfect spot for quiet nature exploration. Just off of Shubert Highway across from Long Lake, the mixed hardwood forest is home to what was once a working apple orchard. The former orchard provides open grassland habitat for birds and other wildlife. The preserve offers opportunities to enhance and manage habitat for diverse plants and wildlife, making it a place for the public to learn first-hand about stewardship best practices and land management.

Visiting the Preserve
The preserve is located off of Shubert Highway, 2 miles west of US-23. A large preserve sign is visible from Shubert Highway to mark the entrance. There is a small parking area next to the main trail that leads into the preserve.

Hunting Update, Oct 21, 2022
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Huron Pines is suspending hunting access at Emily Min Hunt Preserve for the remainder of the 2022-2023 deer season.

Huron Pines typically enrolls in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Hunter Access Program (HAP) for deer hunting only, as a way to manage deer populations on the 428-acre preserve in southeastern Presque Isle County. Because it is no longer enrolled in the HAP, all hunting is prohibited at Emily Min Hunt Preserve after the end of shooting hours Friday, Oct 21. The preserve remains open for public recreational use like hiking and wildlife viewing.

We are grateful to those who have supported and taken part in this program, and apologize for any inconveniences this may cause. Huron Pines will reassess for the 2023-24 deer season. If you have questions, please call Heather Huffstutler, Development Director, 989-448-2293 x11.